Roadblocks to Prayer

Roadblocks are necessary. Imagine the lives that would be lost if roads were not blocked. Parades on our streets during holidays would be subject to vehicles crashing into them. Construction sites on the road would see accidents and workers injured. There are times when roadblocks hinder instead of help. Recently protesters have blocked roads in mass demonstration. This has hindered emergency response time to those in need. Surely practicing the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) would keep these roads open so the innocent are not harmed by a protest against the guilty.

Imagine calling 911 for help only for it not to arrive in time or in a timely manner because help was blocked. Fortunately, when the Christian calls out to God for help his prayers are not block by the inconsiderate attitude of others. However, the Christian’s own behavior and attitudes can block his prayers for reaching the Throne of mercy and grace. Several years ago I preached a sermon about five things that hinder our prayers from being acceptable in the sight of God. They were: impure motives (Js. 4:2,3); persistence in sin (Ps. 66:18; 32:3-6; Is. 59:1,2); unrighted wrongs (Mt. 5:23,24); marital discord (1 Pet. 3:7); and an unforgiving spirit (Mt. 6:14,15). There are several other things which act as roadblocks in our prayer path.

Since these can also result in our prayers not acceptable before the throne of God, we will consider how these barriers to prayer can be overcome.

Idols of the Heart

An idol is anything that a man puts before God. We can make an idol out of our family, social position, material blessings, hobbies, etc. Idols have always been a hindrance to spirituality. The nation of Israel was beset by them from the beginning (Cf. Ex. 32,33). When they had finally come to the point where they were conquering the problem of outward idolatry, they still had a problem with idols of the heart. Ezekiel rebuked the elders of Israel for this. “Then some elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me. And the word of the Lord came to me saying ‘Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be consulted by them at all?'” (14:1-3).

This is a day of great wealth in the church and material resources. But this tends to be a severe hindrance to strong spiritual forces instead of a help. The days of great financial prosperity in the church have rarely been days of great religious prosperity. A “moneyed” man and a praying man are usually not found in the same man.

Overcoming idols in the heart is a simple three step process, but there are some things that will help. After recognizing the problem one must 1) flee from them (I Cor. 10:14); 2) seek God’s help (Rom. 11:4); and 3) keep from them (I Jn. 5:21).

Unbelief

Some pray like this, “Oh, I might as well pray, it couldn’t hurt.” Yes it can, but it will never help with that kind of motivation. This reflects a heart of unbelief towards prayer. Receiving in prayer is predicated upon believing. Jesus said, “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you.” (Mk. 11:24). James says that one who prays otherwise is spiritually unstable. “But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (Js. 1:6-8). Perhaps, James gives us the key to solving this lack of faith when he says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit” (Js. 5:16-18).

Wandering Attention

There can be many distractions when one tries to pray, such as, phones ringing, birds chirping, kids crying; then your mind starts to wander over all the things you have to do or didn’t do, etc.

Jesus had a simple method of overcoming these distractions. He often went off by himself to pray. “And immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the multitude away. And after bidding them farewell, He departed to the mountain to pray.” (Mark 6:45,46).

Prayer requires that we separate ourselves not so much physically from other things, but mentally and emotionally. The man who can bow the knee in the right spirit, and hold real fellowship with God, is the one who is able to throw off all temporal affairs like a loose garment. Being free from distracting thoughts, he can address himself to God. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10).

Remember, prayer is activity rather than passivity. It takes effort to pray.

– Daniel R. Vess