Prayer Dynamics (iv)

Concluding our series on prayer, today we consider yet another important aspect that we cannot ignore if we intend to remain strong and fruitful in this ministry – possible hindrances. Yes, it is true – our ability to see the results of prayer can be hindered and we only help ourselves when we understand what the Scriptures have taught in this regard. It was apostle Peter who wrote, “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) – by “weaker vessel”, the apostle referred to the woman’s nurturing and softer nature, which makes her prone to offence and grief – and he calls that the husbands should understand this in their dealings with them for the sake of their prayers. While the apostle taught in the context of man and wife, the same can be said for offence in all relationships and the same sentiment is echoed by Apostle James, who wrote, “For where envy and strife exist, confusion and every evil thing are there” (James 3:16). Strife has the ability to open all doors to Satan, there is simply no telling what kind of evil will follow through – all things become possible! To this point, the Lord Jesus taught, “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). The Lord also emphasizes the same message of dealing with offence and strife quickly before coming to give your prayers and offerings to the Father. If you recall that you have caused an offence and if it is in your power to mend such an offence; the responsibility has been placed on you to steer resolution. Yes, it is not up to the next person to come and request for an apology first before you heed, the Lord is stating that the child of God must assume responsibility and ensure he remains free of the guilt of offence. He continues, “Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court” (v.25a) – because He knew that the reality is in some instances you will indeed be wrong, and to deal with the sting of condemnation and to remove power away from the accuser, believers must be quick to admit their sin and hold to the mercy of God as their deliverance.

The Lord Jesus also teaches from the point of view of the one who has been offended. He taught, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother” (Matthew 18:15). Unfortunately this is not what most of us do; instead of telling the person one-on-one, we tell everyone but the person in question, voicing our grievances on every corner. But that is not the way to go, we should first speak to the person quietly, and only after they refuse to listen, does the Lord then say, “…take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established” (v.16b). Indeed even if we are the ones who have been offended, we have the responsibility to handle the matter with discretion and love, because there is no profit to winning sympathy and arguments but losing a fellow brother or sister in Christ. 

So a prayerful Christian believing to see the fruit of prayer cannot afford to live a life that gives and takes offence, nor one that gives heed to the condemnation of the devil –  it becomes a dire necessity to watch over such an open door to ensure nothing stands as a snare to undo your labors. King David too wrote, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear” (Psalms 66:18) – the concept of regarding here is sin consciousness, being overly aware of your own shortcomings that you struggle to accept the sacrifice of Christ to your benefit, where you have yielded yourself to be condemned by the devil. The psalmist shows us the right attitude to have in the following verses, “But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me” (v.19-20) – we should be confident in knowing that God has indeed heard our prayers, and that His mercy is sufficient to cover all our infirmities. 

Additionally, there are times in life where we will be so distraught that words will escape us, but there is comfort in reading the words of the psalmist “You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?” (Psalms 56:8). Not every prayer is expected to come in the form of words, even our wanderings and tears come up to the Father as prayer and He takes careful note of these! What a good Father! This can also be seen as we read from Luke 18, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me’” (v.1-5). The Lord aimed to bring emphasis to the fact that men should not give up and accept defeat in prayer, which is often caused by weariness and exhaustion – because if an unjust man, who has no fear of God or regard for anyone in his heart will yield to the request of the woman because of her persistence, how much more a loving and compassionate Father? Jesus was not by any means implying that God relents to hear and heed our prayers like this unjust judge, we know by Scripture that before we even utter a word, He knows it; and we also know that He has given unto us freely all things that pertain to life and godliness – so it cannot be that this same God, who did not withhold His most priciest possession, Jesus Christ, would then require relentless begging to come to our aid. To this, Jesus concluded, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (v.6-8). God has done everything, the hindrances are not on His side but on our side: sometimes we are harboring strife, sometimes condemnation, other times we are impatient, and sometimes – the Father is actually protecting us from that which we are not aware of! He is good, and all things that He permits or disallows in our lives are all working together for our good – this should be the meditation of our heart! He makes no mistakes, and nothing takes Him by surprise! He hears our prayers, but there is also divine timing to the breakthroughs we seek that will work for our own benefit! Do you trust God or are you too buried in what you seek that you cannot stop to see His workings throughout everything? Remember, He is a good Father!

Prayer

Praise the LORD, ‘o my soul! Bless His Holy name, all that is within me! From the rising of the sun, to its setting, His name remains hallowed! He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies, He has loved us with an everlasting love, He showers us with mercies new every morning, He lifts up the poor from dust, He lifts the needy from the ashes, and He has seated us together with His glorious Son, who reigns forever more. Whom shall we fear? Whom shall we be afraid? What greater joy than Him! Look unto Jesus, ‘o my soul!