James 1:1-8

In previous studies on prayer, we have learned that effective prayer comes from a humble spirit, is earnest in its approach, and is rooted in trust and faith. It is also important to know what can hinder effective prayer, for by avoiding what hinders us in prayer, we can see great effects in a life of prayer.

• Disobedience (Deuteronomy 1)
  • Moses recounts the people’s history at Kadesh-Barnea
    • They were commanded to go and possess the land
    • Refused to go because of the fear of the people
    • Learned of God’s displeasure, so they decided to go and attempt to take the land
    • Experienced defeat because God had told them not to go
  • The result (Deuteronomy 1:45)
    • “You came back and wept before the Lord, but he paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you.”
• Secret sins
  • A warning
    • “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;” Psalm 66:18
  • A declaration
    • “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!” Isaiah 1:15
• Stuborrness
  • “‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Zechariah 7:13
• Instability
  • “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” James 1:6-7
    • The invitation (James 1:5)
    • The condition
      • In faith
      • Not wavering
• Failure to ask
  • “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:2-3
    • Failure to request
    • Failure of reason or purpose

Therefore, we can heed the warnings from God’s Word, avoid the pitfalls and hindrances, and be effective in prayer. God is gracious in pointing these things out to us so we can overcome them. This does not have to be trial and error. He is more willing to give than we are to ask.