Prayer is one of the greatest privileges we have as believers. Often, however, it can feel like our prayers are not being answered.
If you have ever felt that way, you’re not alone. So today I want to share some clear direction from the Bible on how to pray effectively and remove the barriers that can hinder prayer.
It comes from 1 Timothy 2:8 where the apostle Paul writes…
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
As we look at this verse, we see three key things that have the potential to hinder our prayers…
First, unholy hands can hinder our prayers. Lifting our hands in prayer is an act of worship, submission, and dependence on God. But if our hearts are clinging to sin, our prayers are hindered.
Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” If our hands are clinging tightly to sin, it won’t do any good if we lift them in prayer.
Imagine if my wife said, “Bayless, I love you, and I expect you to take care of me. But I’ve got another man I’m not willing to let go of. I’ll be with him Monday through Thursday, and I’ll be with you on the weekends.”
Clinging to sin while praying to God is not that different. You see, the Church is the bride of Christ, and if I am not willing to let go of sin while asking—even demanding—that God take care of me, then I’m acting unfaithfully.
Second, unresolved wrath can hinder our prayers. Paul warns against praying with anger in our hearts.
The Greek word translated as “wrath” is orgé. It is not the kind of wrath that quickly blazes up and then just as quickly subsides. Rather, it is an anger that seethes and smolders and takes root.
That is why we read in Ephesians 4:26–27, “‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.”
When we allow anger to take root in us, we are essentially giving the devil access to our lives, and he brings destruction, disease, and depression with him, in addition to hindering the effectiveness of our prayers.
I once met a woman who had suffered from debilitating migraines for fifteen years. The moment she forgave her father for past hurts and released her anger, her pain disappeared. The devil’s grip was broken.
Forgiveness is powerful, and it brings healing.
Third, doubt and unbelief can hinder our prayers. James 1:6 tells us that if we doubt, we are “like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
Many times, we want to believe God, but we let human reasoning talk us out of our faith. The key is to stand firm on God’s Word, even when circumstances don’t make sense.
I once had a man tell me, “The uncompromised Word of God means there are no ‘buts’ in this book.” God’s promises are true, and when we align our prayers with His Word, we can trust Him to be faithful.
Friend, God hears your prayers, and He desires to move in your life.
If you’ve been struggling with unanswered prayers, I encourage you to examine your heart. Are you holding on to sin? Is there unforgiveness blocking your prayers? Are you allowing doubt to take root?
When we surrender completely to God, pray with a pure heart, and trust His promises, we position ourselves to receive from Him.
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