Scripture:

Psalm 65:2

 "You who answer prayer, to you all people will come."

"He Hears Us"

Recently, I was watching something on YouTube, a short in which Shawn Ryan shared about the many problems he has and has prayed for, and has not received an answer.   But here in Psalm 65:2, we are clear that God answers prayer, so I thought that I would share with you 8 reasons the bible says that prayers don't get an answer.

1. Unconfessed or Cherished Sin (Psalm 66:18): 
2. Choosing to hold onto sin or ignoring it breaks fellowship with God, hindering prayers.
3. Doubt and Lack of Faith (James 1:6-7): Praying with doubt rather than faith makes a person "double-minded" and unlikely to receive from God.
4. Wrong or Selfish Motives (James 4:3): Asking for things solely for selfish pleasure or personal gain, rather than in accordance with God's will.
5. Mistreating Others/Bad Relationships (1 Peter 3:7): Treating people poorly, specifically being insensitive to a spouse or having marital discord, can hinder prayers.
6. Ignoring the Poor/Lack of Generosity (Proverbs 21:13): A lack of compassion and refusal to help those in need can cause God to ignore cries for help.
7. Pride (James 4:6): God is opposed to the proud, and a lack of humility in prayer prevents answers.
8. Disobedience (1 John 3:22): Purposefully disregarding God's word and commands, making prayers an "abomination".
9. Not Actually Praying/Asking (James 4:2): Simply failing to ask God, or not praying with sincerity, but instead trying to use worldly means to achieve goals

Because the application here is obvious, that we should examine our hearts, 

I want to share another story. A young woman was diagnosed with cataracts in one of her eyes. The condition was progressing, and she had to receive injections to alleviate some of the symptoms — her vision in that eye was severely impaired. On this particular day, she was heading to see her doctor, and while sitting in her car, she prayed. In an authentic, unguarded moment, she told the Lord, "In my head, I know You still heal — that You have the power to heal me, that You can do it — but I don't believe it in my heart. I have doubts. Help what's in my head get into my heart." That day, the doctor found no cataracts. Her eye was fully healed.

I just want you to pause with that... let that simmer.

Lord, may the understanding that is in our heads, make it to our hearts, may doubt not exist in our prayers, may we fully trust you, don't allow unconfessed or unrepented sin block our prayers, let us be reconciled in our relationships, let us be generous, let us not be disobedient or rebellious, lets us always ask, and Lord move mountains, the things that are impossible make them possible, you know the mountains we face, Lord let them move, in in your great love and grace and mercy accomplish it, in Jesus' name, Amen!