DELAYED ANSWERS TO PRAYER
#winnersmentality
Winners do not like losing, so when things don’t go our way, we need to know why. When we’re experiencing delays to our prayers it can be frustrating. When you have been praying, fasting, seeking the face of God and waiting upon the Lord, but still no answer. It happens to everybody at some point in their life, but sometimes there maybe a reason to the delay in answers to your prayers.
Here are 12 reasons you maybe experiencing a hindrance in your prayer life.
1. There is a Spiritual Hindrance
In Daniel 10:12 -14, Daniel prayed for 21 days at the end he was visited by an angel who explained he was hindered by a demonic force named the prince of Persia. This was unknown to Daniel he only was told of this as he continued to fast and pray. We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood Ephesians 6: 10-12
2. Sin.
Sin will always hinder your prayers. Isaiah 59:1-2 Sin had separated God and his people and had caused him to hide his face and that he would not hear you. It did not just hinder their prayer but separated man from God. Remember when we sin we have an advocate with the father (Jesus) 1st John 2:1, But this is not an excuse to sin.
3. Unbelief. & Doubt
Lack of believing what you have really asked will not get you the results you desire. “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.” Mark 11:23. The key element here is having no doubt, believe that you receive and you shall have.
4. God is building your faith
If you got everything you asked for when you asked for it, there would be no need for you to use your faith and without faith it is impossible to please him, God wants you to please him(Hebrews 11:6) God will allow your faith to be built, tested and tried, because this Christian walk is from faith to faith.
5. Its not in accordance with Gods will
“If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us" (1 John 5:14). Whatever you are asking for, That man/woman/job/house/etc is it in accordance with his will.
Daniel prayed the right way. First, he went to the Scriptures and searched out the mind of God. Having gotten clear direction, and sure of God's will, he then begins to petition the throne of God with a mighty assurance. "And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer" (Daniel 9:3). When what we are asking for is not in God’s for our life will he won’t want you to have it, rest assured whatever he does not want you to have is an indication he has something better in store for you.
6. Wrong motive
"Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lust" (James 4:3). Why do you want it, what is the motive behind what you are asking for? Is it for God’s Glory? Or to make you look good? Is this desire emanating from the flesh or from the spirit? What is the real reason behind what you are asking for? God know s the heart.
7. If our heart is not right
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" (Psalm 66:18). Holding a grudge, bitterness un-forgiveness, slander, backbiting, hatred (the list can go on) is taken very seriously by God. It’s important that we keep the right sprit, in order to get our prayers answered, so we’re in tune with God and with others.
8. When we make no effort to assist God In The Answer
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You can’t pray for a job and don’t go looking for a job. Faith without works is dead, (James 2:17). If you are struggling in an area of your life and have been asking God to deliver you but fail to submit yourself to God when the thing you have prayed about comes your way, it will not help. You cannot blame God for not answering your prayers if you're not listening to his call to obedience and the promptings of the Holy Spirit on how to overcome what you are facing.
You maybe praying for God to heal your body and at the same time God maybe saying if you forgive your nieghbour I can heal your body. Work with him.
9. Not prepared to wait
Abraham was a 100 years old when Isaac was born; God is a God of time. I heard it say that God is never late and he is never early he is right on time. He knows the right time to bring answers to your prayers. The disciples prayed for 10 days for infilling of the Holy Spirit, but God knew the right time to do it, When Pentecost was fully come. When all the Jews from all over came to Jerusalem then I’ll send the Holy Spirit and everybody will hear the gospel in their own native tongue.
When we are impatient it leads onto us trying to make it happen ourselves which shows that we don’t trust him. Wait for him, wait upon him.
(Proverbs 3:5-6) Trust in the lord with all thine heart and lean not onto thine own understanding
10. When we are not thankful
(Luke 17:11-19) 10 lepers were sent by Jesus to go and show themselves to the priest as they went they were cleansed, however, only one returned to give thanks. Jesus makes this statement are the other 9? The leper did not know, Jesus then said to the thankful one “go your way your faith has made you whole. Nine were cleansed, the thankful one was made whole.
11. When you don’t treat your spouse right.
For husbands: This is plain and simple right there in black and white, Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7) You cannot get much clearer than that. Treat your wife unfairly/badly in any way will hinder your prayers.
12. Lack of Persistence
Luke 18 tells a story of a widow who would not give up until she saw justice served. Jesus relays the parable in relation to prayer, that men should always pray and not to faint. Jesus explains that this woman wearied the Judge with her petition which cause him to cave in. He explained that this is the type of behavior we should portray in prayer. Keep petitioning the heavens until you see the manifestation of what you have been asking for.
Winners never give up. Keep Praying.