21. Hindrances to Prayer

(1) Sin in the life. Not walking in fellowship (John 4:22-23; Jude 20; Eph. 6:18; Ps. 66:18; Eph. 4:30; 1 John 1:9)

(2) Failure to spend time in the Word of God (Prov. 28:9; John 15:7; Ps. 119)

(3) Failure to pray in faith (Matt. 21:22; 1 John 5:14-15; James 1:5-7; Heb. 11:6)

(4) Failure to ask because of a spirit of self-dependence (James 4:2)

(5) Failure to ask from the right motives, without concern for God’s will (James 4:3, 15; 1 Cor. 4:19; Matt. 6:10; 26:42).

(6) Failure to endure, fainting under pressure (Luke 18:1; cf. 1 Sam. 27:1-3 with Isa. 40:31)

(7) Wrong relations with people, an unforgiving spirit (Mark 11:25-26)

(8) Pretentious praying, praying to impress people (Matt. 6:5-8)

(9) Religious zeal in the form of vain repetitions and cultic ritual (Matt. 6:7; 1 Kings 18:26-29; Rom. 10:2-3)

(10) Domestic breakdown in the home (1 Pet. 3:7)