Hindrances to Prayer: Reasons God May Not Answer Your PrayersSample

Unconfessed sin

It has been said that praying to God with unconfessed sin in your life is like praying with a mouth full of rocks. God already knows about our sin. It gets in the way of our relationship with Him when we don’t confess it. When we confess our sin He can remove it from our lives.

Isaiah 59:1-2 - Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

Psalm 66:17 - For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.

All we need to do is ask God to forgive us and turn away from sin. Jesus paid the price for our sin already, and God is faithful to forgive us.

1 John 1:8-9 - If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:16 - Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Proverbs 28:13 - People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

Psalm 139:23-24 - Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 103:11-13 - For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

Reflect: Take time to pray now and ask God to show you any areas of sin you have not yet confessed to Him. Then agree with God and ask Him to forgive you and remove it from your life. It will be gone forever!