The Locks of Effective Prayer

Ten Things That Block Prayer

1. Praying without knowing God through Jesus
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

2.Praying from an unrepentant heart
Psalm 66:18
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;but God has surely listened  and heard my voice in prayer.

3. Praying for show
Matthew 6:5
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ⁶But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you

4. Praying repetitive, empty words
Matthew 6:7-8
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
 
5. Prayers not prayed
James 4:2
You do not have, because you do not ask God

6. Praying with a lustful heart
James 4:3
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

7. Praying while mistreating your spouse
1 Peter 3:7
Be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

8. Praying while ignoring the poor
Proverbs 21:13
If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,  he too will cry out and not be answered.

9. Praying with bitterness in your heart towards someone
Mark 11:25-26
And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses

10.Praying with a faithless heart
James 1:6-8
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;



Appendix 1 of The Love Dare
Read the whole book online free at The Love Dare