Hindrances to prayer can come from without and within.  The enemy, the devil, would like to keep us from God’s best.  We have to make a conscious decision not to let even seemingly urgent things crowd out the importance of prayer.   Just as Jesus Christ, while on earth, would take time to pray, we too have to make time to pray.

There is a poem about how when one doesn’t take time to pray, the day is more difficult.  The time we spend with God and His Word will be more than amply paid back during the day.   In this modern age, we choose to turn to God first before turning  on the computer or the many other gadgets than can take our time.

Then there are hindrances to prayer that come in the form of unconfessed sin.  We have to be watchful that we are always walking in love toward our fellow Christians and those we meet.  

1 John 2:9   He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.    ¹⁰ He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

A Christian who is married has to be on guard that there are always clear communications with our spouses.

1 Pet 3:7           Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

When we pray, we want to believe God’s Word.  We can’t be double minded about God’s ability.    A person who is wavering won’t received anything of the Lord.

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.

We can’t be double minded about our willingness to live for God.

We have to remember to walk in humility before God and people.  One aspect I see about walking in humility toward God is with regard to sin.  We can’t act that we are smarter than God and plan to get away with sin.  God sees everything about us.  We show our humility toward God by obeying His Word the best way we can.

James 4:6         But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Pet 5:5           Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

We have to stay alert so that we don’t let sin creep into our lives.  Every day we can check up on ourselves.

1 Cor 15:33       Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

When we read the Word of God, it is like a mirror.  We can see how what we are doing  and compare it to what God tells us.

2 Cor 11:3         But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

We ask God to check us, that we haven’t deceived ourselves by some wrong practice.

Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

We take responsibility for ourselves when it comes to not being deceived by sin.

James 1:13-16       Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.    ¹⁴         But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.   ¹⁵         Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.   ¹⁶         Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

The apostle Paul was aware of the need to keep checking up on himself.   He wasn’t going to be deceived!

1 Cor 9:27         But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

We trust God and reply on His promises to help us avoid temptations.  We humbly rely on God to make a way of escape away from sin.

1 Cor 10:13-14       No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.   ¹⁴         Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.   

In our western society, there may not appear to be idols in a temple.  We still have to be on guard that we do not let anything idolize our time or attention away from living for God.  We want to be single minded in serving God!

Jesus spoke of how the spirit may be willing but the flesh in comparison is weak.  We can be proactive in prayer.  We can pray before temptations come.  And when they do appear, the can be like water running off a ducks back.  They don't need to find a resting place in our minds.  We can stay strong in the power of God's might.  We can walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

Matt 26:41  Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Gal 5:16    I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Of course, the first step to avoiding deception is receiving Jesus Christ as Savior.  When we become a Christian, we are transferred out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of God.

Titus 3:3-6          For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.    ⁴          But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,    ⁵          not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,    ⁶          whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,