Prayer is powerful. Prayer is effective. Prayer is a lifestyle. But how often do you do it? I have to admit it, if there’s one thing that I’d like to grow more in me, my answer would be my prayer life. Sometimes, I go into my room, close the door and indulge in the presence of God by praying and worshiping for about an hour or so. Then there would be those times that I barely even say a word to God because I get caught up by things that make me “busy” or I feel like God isn’t even answering me. How many of you can relate to that? You just stop praying because nothing’s working.
Well, guess what? It’s not God. It’s you.
“What? What did I do?”
I had the same question too and I’m glad I’ve found some probable answers. A month ago, I stumbled upon this book written by Bill Hybels called “Too Busy Not To Pray”. I sure learned a lot about prayer and what it really is but most of all, the chapter that struck me the most was the “Prayer Busters”.
The Prayer Busters
While we shout in thanksgiving for prayers that God answers, we also tend to get upset when God doesn’t. It’s as if no matter how fervently you prayed, it just doesn’t make any difference. And nothing is more devitalizing than a rope of unanswered prayers.
Now the book mentions about three possible hindrances to each unanswered prayer. The two major reasons are: the request may be inappropriate and the timing may be off. But if you have a long list of unanswered prayers, you might want to consider the third category: there may be a problem in the life of the person who is praying. In the book, Bill Hybels called these reasons as the “prayer busters”. Here is an overview of some of the important ones:
Prayerlessness
This is basically the most common cause of unanswered prayers. As James 4:2 says, “You do not have, because you do not ask.” I’m pretty guilty of this. I have a long list of things (talk about faith goals) that I want to ask for from God but if I think about it, I hardly even pray about it at all! So, why isn’t God answering your prayer? Because you haven’t prayed purposefully, fervently, or expectantly.
Unconfessed sin
One thing that cuts off your communication with God is an unconfessed sin. It says in Isaiah 59:2, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that
he will not hear.” I find it similar to when you get upset with someone because that person committed sin against you. Unless that person approaches you with a sincere heart, says sorry and asks for forgiveness, you will never talk to that person, let alone grant any of his/her requests. Right? As Hybels wrote:
“God expects us to maintain a strict personal integrity…If you’re tolerating sin in your life, don’t waste your breath praying unless it’s a prayer of confession. Receive the Lord’s forgiveness, and then He will listen when you pour out your heart to Him.”
Unresolved relational conflict
Matthew 5:23-24 says, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be
reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” This verse alone was enough of an explanation. Sometimes, we forget how much God value relationships. He is after all a very relational God. He wants us to be in close, personal relationship with him and he wants us to carry our relationship with him into our relationships with others. There’s no point in trying to pray if you are still tied up in ongoing conflict with a family member, a coworker, a neighbor, or a friend.
Selfishness
Out from the selfishness in the heart, we unthinkingly come up with inappropriate requests. James 3:4 says, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend
what you get on your pleasures.” Think about it, if your prayers were to be publicized, how would you feel about it? “I want to get rich more than my friend”, “I want to get super famous”, “I want all the attention”, “I want to succeed above all others”. Sounds pretty selfish, huh?
Uncaring attitudes
Proverbs 21:13 says, “If you close your ear to the cry of the poor, you will cry out and not be heard” (NRSV). God wants us to become people who will reflect his character in the world—caring and compassionate to the afflicted. If your ear is open to the suffering, God will keep his ear open to you.
Inadequate Faith
I can’t imagine having a prayer life without having faith. If you don’t believe that God is able, then there is indeed no use of praying. Have the faith that God will answer you. It may be a no, a yes or a wait. And regardless of his answer, he is sovereign and his plans are far better than what we have for ourselves. So the next time you start praying, plan on seeing a mighty demonstration from God. Mark 11:23 says, “TrulyI tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” Now, that is faith.
Everything I have written down is just a summary version of what’s in the book. So, I highly suggest you grab a copy of it if you can and remember, God hears. Hope you learned something!
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