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Powerless
Prayer
How
often do we feel that our prayers lack power or persuasion with God?
One
of the compelling reasons for many of us not to pray is
the sense of futility or isolation we feel in our prayer. We want to
break through to heaven but sense that we can barely break past the
room that we sit in. We hope for fireworks and experience boredom
instead. Ever felt that way?
R.A.
Torrey, a 19th century pastor and teacher renowned for his own prayer
life, itemized seven hindrances to prayer that he found in Scripture.
Each hindrance has the capacity to undermine the intimacy and
effectiveness of our prayer. Here's the list.
1.
Selfishness
(James 4:3). When our motives are anything but the glory of God, prayer
falls powerless to the ground.
2.
Sin
(Isaiah 59:1-2). If we harbor sin in our hearts, deliberately nurturing
it, we hold the Father at arm's length.
3.
Idols (Ezekiel
14:3). Is the Father truly first in our lives or do we have a higher
love and higher priorities?
4.
Stinginess
(Proverbs 21:13). Here's a surprise -- generosity empowers our prayer,
particularly liberality toward the poor.
5.
Unforgiveness (Mark
11:25). Bitterness hardens our hearts; our grudges close the ear
of God to our petitions.
6.
Marital discord
(1 Peter 3:7). Failure to respect and honor each other in marriage
ambushes our prayers.
7.
Doubt (James
1:5-7). Unbelief -- lack of confidence -- in the Father's promises
sucks the power out of our prayer.
Perhaps
the issue is not the Father's reluctance to encounter us, but our
heart's resistance to give Him all glory, to pursue holiness, to
discard idols, to be generous, to forgive, to honor each other, and to
believe.
If
prayer feels frustrating or futile to you, pray through this simple
list for a moment. Ask the Father to highlight your greatest hindrance
right now. Resolve to repent. And pray again -- perhaps with renewed
power.
In
HOPE –
David
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