One of the most important things to do is to find out what things actually keep God from hearing our prayers.

One thing is doubt. It is doubting God and what He is actually capable of doing. Some people make their problems bigger than God. Some people believe that because they ask God for a prayer, that God is obligated to answer because He was asked. This is not what scripture says. In Hebrews 11:6 it reads, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Another way that God doesn’t hear our prayers is when a Husband or wife has an ungodly attitude toward their spouse. In I Peter 3:7 it says, “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers” To the wives, Ephesians 5:24 says, “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” Prayer is direct communication with God that will come to a stop if Husbands do not love their wives as Jesus loved the church and success must respect and submit to their Husband’s headship, if they want God to listen and answer their prayers. To submit means to be within God’s will, so if a Husband or wife is demanding anything that goes against God’s will and Word, there should be a godly Mediator that can guide the couple into what they should do, according to scripture.

Unconfessed sin is another major way to prevent God from hearing our prayers. Isaiah 59:2 reads,  “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” David recognized this when he wrote,  “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” Psalm 66:18. We need to search our hearts daily and make sure we don’t have unconfessed sin. Yes, we still have to confess, even though Jesus has forgiven all our sins. In I John 1:9 it reads,  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

When we live according to the flesh, we are sitting the door to God hearing our prayers. We choose to live according to our will and not God’s will. Our old nature creeps up on us, but Romans 8:13 tells us,  “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” So let’s get rid of selfishness and what our will is because if it doesn’t line up with God’s will, it’s still not God’s will. I John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

Lastly, unforgiveness blocks prayers to God because He forgave us an immense amount of sin so by not forgiving someone that sinned against us, is like telling God, “My will is above you, God.” It is a slap in God’s face and a huge insult. Just read Matthew 18:23-35 about the unforgiving servant and how that turned out!

So let’s sum up the 5 steps:

1. Do Not Doubt God and What He Can Do, But Have Faith

2. Do Not Be In Conflict With Your Husband Or Wife

3. Confess Unconfessed Sins And Ask For Forgiveness

4. Do Not Live In The Flesh, But In God’s Will, Not In Our Own Will

5. Forgive Others, Despite Who Is Right Or Wrong

Open the doors of communication with God today!