Psalm 66: | 18: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”
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Proverbs 15: | 8: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.”
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Proverbs 28: | 9: He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” |
Of course, doubt is a very human and popular practice. But doubting
God and His word is deadly. Doubt is a major obstacle to spiritual
progress. Remove doubt and the impossible becomes easy - even
commonplace. Yes, doubt is a major hindrance to answered prayer.
Matthew 21: | 21: “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22: And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” |
Mark 11: | 22: “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24: Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” |
James 1: | 6: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7: For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8: A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” |
Romans 14: | 23: “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” |
Yahweh, however, looks upon the heart. He recognizes our motives
and His answer is often ‘No.’ Therefore, if
we are to be successful in prayer, we must diligently and constantly
examine our own motives; a difficult task I will agree. But failure to
carry it out will result in fruitless prayers. Self deception is a common
fault.
James 4: | 3: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” |
Luke 22: | 42: “...nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” |
Mark 11: | 25: “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26: But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” |
Job 42: | 10: “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” |
Judges 6: | 14: “And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?” |
2 Chronicles 31: | 20: “And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God. 21: And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.” |
2 Chronicles 32: | 5: “Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. 6: And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, 7: Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: 8: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” |
Matthew 18: | 19: “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” |
Matthew 17: | 21: “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” |
Failure to show gratitude when the Most High grants a request will frustrate future prayers, reducing their prospect of success.
Ingratitude is a cruel blow to any giver. It kills future generosity. In
the spiritual realm ingratitude stifles prayer. It is a major reason why
many prayers go unanswered. Indeed ingratitude is classified
as one of the sins of the last days.
2 Timothy 3: | 1: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, UNTHANKFUL, unholy, 3: Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4: Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” |
1 Thessalonians 5: | 16: “Rejoice evermore. 17: Pray without ceasing. 18: In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” |