Locks and Keys: Part 1

As we begin to explore prayer in a new way, I encourage you to search your heart.  I not only want to see our relationships deepen with Him, but I want our prayers to be effective for the Kingdom.  I want to rejoice with you as we see prayers answered.  I want to see His mighty Hand at work.  

The Locks: 10 things that can hinder our prayers

1.  Praying without Knowing God through Jesus
John 14:6 - Jesus Said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

2.  Praying from an Unrepentant Heart
Psalm 66:18-19 NIV - "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 - "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men.  Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full."


4.  Praying Repetitive Empty Words
Matthew 6:7-8 - "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.  So 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."

6.  Paying in Selfishness
James 4:3 - "You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures."

7.  Praying while Mistreating Your Spouse
1 Peter 3:7 - "You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way...and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered."

8.  Praying while Ignoring the Poor       
Proverbs 21:13 - " He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered."

9.  Praying with Bitterness in Your Heart toward Someone
Mark 11:25-26 - "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.  But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."

10.  Praying with a Faithless Heart
James 1:6-8 NIV - "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

~ Locks and Keys of Effective Prayer - The Love Dare Copyright 2008 by Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick

~ All scripture used in the locks and keys is from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise stated.