shortlady
Member
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2005
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Variables that can Affect Prayer
Prayer is a vital part of every believer's life. And we certainly want to know that our prayers are being heard and answered by God. But as you know, there exist variables that can and do affect our prayers. Well, one variable that can detract, divert, and even demolish our prayers is sin. Yep, that's right - sin. Psalm 66 warns us that, "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear." First Peter 3 tells husbands that their prayers will be hindered if their marriage is not in order. The 28th Proverb says that our prayers can become an abomination to God if we turn away from His law.
Jesus went so far as to advise us to forgive others and reconcile our differences before we come to Him in prayer (Mat 5:23-24, Mk 11:24-25). Look at these words from Hebrews 12. "Let us lay aside every sin and every weight which so easily entangle us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus." Sin can and will entangle us. We must set aside these sins and weights in order for us to be free to run the race with endurance. Look again at that powerful passage from Second Chronicles. "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Pray - Seek - Turn from sin. God be with you all...
Prayer is a vital part of every believer's life. And we certainly want to know that our prayers are being heard and answered by God. But as you know, there exist variables that can and do affect our prayers. Well, one variable that can detract, divert, and even demolish our prayers is sin. Yep, that's right - sin. Psalm 66 warns us that, "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear." First Peter 3 tells husbands that their prayers will be hindered if their marriage is not in order. The 28th Proverb says that our prayers can become an abomination to God if we turn away from His law.
Jesus went so far as to advise us to forgive others and reconcile our differences before we come to Him in prayer (Mat 5:23-24, Mk 11:24-25). Look at these words from Hebrews 12. "Let us lay aside every sin and every weight which so easily entangle us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus." Sin can and will entangle us. We must set aside these sins and weights in order for us to be free to run the race with endurance. Look again at that powerful passage from Second Chronicles. "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Pray - Seek - Turn from sin. God be with you all...
