Reasons Behind Unanswered Prayer November 5, 2007
Posted by Han in : Prayer , trackbackDo you have unanswered prayer and wonder why God did not answer? Could it be a lack of faith? Could it be you are not persistent in your prayer? Could it be you are asking for something that is not in line with God? Could it be this? Could it be that? Truly, there are lots of “could it be” that leave you scratching your head!
I believe many share the same experience and can identify with what I am saying. Some are frustrated and many have given up on praying. Sadly, many have this feeling in them, “What’s the point of praying, anyway no answer!” And they start to do thing by themselves without seeking God.
However, this is not the will of God. God wants us to trust and seek Him rather than to put confidence in ourselves (Psalms 118:8). So now we are caught in between seeking God (where there is no answer) and doing it our own way. Honestly, many people are living in such a dilemma. And my purpose of writing this article is to trace the root of the problem and hopefully your prayer will be unhindered and answered, amen.
Before we look at the reasons for unanswered prayer, I would like to share with you a very important principle about prayer – having a “right standing” with God. What do I mean by that? Our lives need to be true and holy before Him.
Paul mentioned in 1 Timothy 2:8, I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. We need to ensure our lives are holy. Our words, actions and thoughts must be consistent with the bible. Or else our prayers will be hindered and it will not reach the throne of grace. The important thing here is even before we utter any prayer, we have to check our lives and make sure we are in the “right standing” with God. Indeed, I must confess it’s tough.
Ok, let’s take a look at the reasons behind unanswered prayer. From the bible, I would like to list down 10 reasons for unanswered prayer.
1) Breaking a vow
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Ecclesiastes 5:4-6
2) Dishonoring parents
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3
3) Secret sin
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Psalm 66:18
4) Pride
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6
5) Lustful motives
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. 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. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:1-4
6) Desiring to be rich
A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him. Proverbs 28:22
7) Committing adultery
Keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife. Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes, for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. Proverbs 6:24-25
8) Unbelief
And he (Jesus) did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Matthew 13:58
9) Unforgiving Spirit
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.. Matthew 6:14-15
10) Repaying evil for good
If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house. Proverbs 17:13
In conclusion, no one is perfect. All of us in some way or another fell. This article is not to condemn you of your shortcoming but to restore your position back again. You must have a “right standing” with God; at which point you fell, you repent and ask God for forgiveness. Then you can experience the joy of praying and the mighty power of God, Amen.
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