Kurt and Kate mornings. Not just on the radio. It's a.

Kurt and Kate mornings. Not just on the radio. It's a.

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What are some of the most common hindrances to answered prayer? Have you ever thought to yourself, Kate, at some point during your walk with Jesus where you're like, okay, I'm praying and praying I'm not hearing an answer. And is it me? Is it something else? Is it spiritual warfare? Is it, you know, fill in the blank. Have you ever been through all that?

What are some of the most common hindrances to answered prayer? Have you ever thought to yourself, Kate, at some point during your walk with Jesus where you're like, okay, I'm praying and praying I'm not hearing an answer. And is it me? Is it something else? Is it spiritual warfare? Is it, you know, fill in the blank. Have you ever been through all that?

Yeah. And I usually find out it's me.

Yeah. And I usually find out it's me.

It can be. It's not always.

It can be. It's not always.

Not always. But a lot of time. It's.

Not always. But a lot of time. It's.

Self-examination is a very good thing, isn't it? We had a chance to chat with Ken Berding. He's a professor at Biola University. He had written an article that caught us off guard in the best possible way. 11 Hindrances to Answered Prayer. Um, some things he had to say were obvious. Other things? Well, they might surprise you. This is something that all of us can identify with. We have been asking ourselves, perhaps we've been praying for something, and, uh, we haven't received the answer yet. And then we start to have some doubt and we're thinking, okay, um, God, I'm trusting you for this, but is it me? Is there something hindering all of my prayers? And I know that we can be too introspective and get ourselves in a ditch, and that's one of the dangers. But I think it is healthy for us to ask the question and maybe even ask God, you know, Lord, is there something that is that is happening in my life, something with me that is hindering the answer to my my prayers? And Ken has written a whole article on this 11 Hindrances to Answered Prayer as he dives into Scripture, I can. I'd love to share some of these. Um, let's start with number one. Not asking for anything. Seems kind of obvious, doesn't it? All right.

Self-examination is a very good thing, isn't it? We had a chance to chat with Ken Berding. He's a professor at Biola University. He had written an article that caught us off guard in the best possible way. 11 Hindrances to Answered Prayer. Um, some things he had to say were obvious. Other things? Well, they might surprise you. This is something that all of us can identify with. We have been asking ourselves, perhaps we've been praying for something, and, uh, we haven't received the answer yet. And then we start to have some doubt and we're thinking, okay, um, God, I'm trusting you for this, but is it me? Is there something hindering all of my prayers? And I know that we can be too introspective and get ourselves in a ditch, and that's one of the dangers. But I think it is healthy for us to ask the question and maybe even ask God, you know, Lord, is there something that is that is happening in my life, something with me that is hindering the answer to my my prayers? And Ken has written a whole article on this 11 Hindrances to Answered Prayer as he dives into Scripture, I can. I'd love to share some of these. Um, let's start with number one. Not asking for anything. Seems kind of obvious, doesn't it? All right.

James four two says you do not have because you do not ask. A lot of us don't receive answers to prayer. Just just because we don't ask for anything. Um, I even I even remember somebody who, um, one time said that we shouldn't ask God for things. You know, that's not what you know. That's not what we're supposed to do in prayer. And. But the Bible teaches that God is our father. He loves to give good gifts to his children. So, um, I think that the Bible encourages us to ask.

James four two says you do not have because you do not ask. A lot of us don't receive answers to prayer. Just just because we don't ask for anything. Um, I even I even remember somebody who, um, one time said that we shouldn't ask God for things. You know, that's not what you know. That's not what we're supposed to do in prayer. And. But the Bible teaches that God is our father. He loves to give good gifts to his children. So, um, I think that the Bible encourages us to ask.

Yeah, I agree.

Yeah, I agree.

And you don't know what's too big. Nothing's too big for God. Nothing's too small for him.

And you don't know what's too big. Nothing's too big for God. Nothing's too small for him.

Exactly. And we don't know what his specific will is. Which, by the way, the Holy Spirit, I don't know. The way I view this is that the Holy Spirit is our filter when we pray. Because many times we can ask amiss, if you will. And what we're praying for obviously would not be the best thing for us. And the Holy Spirit kind of fills in the gaps there and prays according to the will of God. Which which is so encouraging, isn't it?

Exactly. And we don't know what his specific will is. Which, by the way, the Holy Spirit, I don't know. The way I view this is that the Holy Spirit is our filter when we pray. Because many times we can ask amiss, if you will. And what we're praying for obviously would not be the best thing for us. And the Holy Spirit kind of fills in the gaps there and prays according to the will of God. Which which is so encouraging, isn't it?

That's right. And I think also the Holy Spirit helps us too, when we pray. The verse that you were just talking about, that's Romans 826, and there's a little Greek verb there that has a preposition on the front of it. And don't mean to nerd out on you here, but it's not just that the Holy Spirit helps us when we pray, but that he joins to help us when we pray. So he actually is helping us as we pray, so that our, even our minds and our hearts are moving in the direction of praying according to the will of God, which is also a key part of praying, because one of the reasons we don't get our prayers answered is because we're we're not praying according to the will of God. So one of the goals in prayer is that our hearts will align with God's heart, that our minds will align with God's mind to the degree that we can. I mean, we are we are limited and we have, you know, immaturities in our own lives. We admit that openly before the Lord. Yeah. But to the degree that we do that, I mean, if God wants something to happen, then it's going to happen. And so we we try to align with that. It's not just that we ask anything that we want. We want to ask for what God wants.

That's right. And I think also the Holy Spirit helps us too, when we pray. The verse that you were just talking about, that's Romans 826, and there's a little Greek verb there that has a preposition on the front of it. And don't mean to nerd out on you here, but it's not just that the Holy Spirit helps us when we pray, but that he joins to help us when we pray. So he actually is helping us as we pray, so that our, even our minds and our hearts are moving in the direction of praying according to the will of God, which is also a key part of praying, because one of the reasons we don't get our prayers answered is because we're we're not praying according to the will of God. So one of the goals in prayer is that our hearts will align with God's heart, that our minds will align with God's mind to the degree that we can. I mean, we are we are limited and we have, you know, immaturities in our own lives. We admit that openly before the Lord. Yeah. But to the degree that we do that, I mean, if God wants something to happen, then it's going to happen. And so we we try to align with that. It's not just that we ask anything that we want. We want to ask for what God wants.

Yes. And that is what will truly satisfy us and be good for us. And sometimes we don't know what is the best for us. I mean, yeah, because God sees the whole picture. We see this teeny tiny little moment in time, and he's got this massive plan because he is so big and he is so other. He is so good. So James also talks about in chapter four, you ask and you don't receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions. There we go. Uh, selfishness can come into play. Uh, and all of that. So we have the wrong motives sometimes. Yeah.

Yes. And that is what will truly satisfy us and be good for us. And sometimes we don't know what is the best for us. I mean, yeah, because God sees the whole picture. We see this teeny tiny little moment in time, and he's got this massive plan because he is so big and he is so other. He is so good. So James also talks about in chapter four, you ask and you don't receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions. There we go. Uh, selfishness can come into play. Uh, and all of that. So we have the wrong motives sometimes. Yeah.

That's right. I remember when my, uh, when my kids were young. They're they're more grown up now, but when they were younger, I'd be like, oh, Lord, I pray that they would obey me. But sometimes my motivation was not for, uh, for their sake and their love. And you know, that that that they would love God, that they would grow in him. But just so that my life would be easier. You know, I don't know if anyone else who's listening today has ever experienced that.

That's right. I remember when my, uh, when my kids were young. They're they're more grown up now, but when they were younger, I'd be like, oh, Lord, I pray that they would obey me. But sometimes my motivation was not for, uh, for their sake and their love. And you know, that that that they would love God, that they would grow in him. But just so that my life would be easier. You know, I don't know if anyone else who's listening today has ever experienced that.

I think so.

I think so.

Um, or James says, you know, because you you ask, but you're going to spend it on your pleasures. So you're asking for God to provide finances or goods of some sort. But the goal is that you're just you're just going to be, you know, entertained with them or something like that.

Um, or James says, you know, because you you ask, but you're going to spend it on your pleasures. So you're asking for God to provide finances or goods of some sort. But the goal is that you're just you're just going to be, you know, entertained with them or something like that.

Yeah. Right.

Yeah. Right.

And you want something that really isn't good for you. There we go.

And you want something that really isn't good for you. There we go.

We get back to that point. You know, and trust in God with all of that.

We get back to that point. You know, and trust in God with all of that.

Thank you for taking some time to listen to this episode of the Kurt and Kate Mornings podcast. We always welcome a review with your thoughts and comments, and please feel free to subscribe and follow us as well.

Thank you for taking some time to listen to this episode of the Kurt and Kate Mornings podcast. We always welcome a review with your thoughts and comments, and please feel free to subscribe and follow us as well.

We're going to go to Psalm 66 first. Here it is 66, verse 18. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. What does that really mean? Cherishing iniquity.

We're going to go to Psalm 66 first. Here it is 66, verse 18. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. What does that really mean? Cherishing iniquity.

Right? It doesn't look like it's just talking about, um, a sin that someone commits and then confesses it to the Lord. We all have to be sensitive towards sins that we commit, uh, whether we do them just straight up intentionally, which is not good at all for our, our spiritual life or, or God brings to mind something that we have done that is not right, even though we were not as aware of it when we first did it. This seems to be more like harboring sin, cherishing sin, holding on to it. Um, and it doesn't mean. I mean, I guess actually, I was going to say that it doesn't it doesn't mean that you're you're just, um, just doing it because you enjoy it. Although some people do do that with sin, but it is, um, it is that you're you're holding on to it. You're not willing to let it go. Um, I don't know if you have a responsibility for someone in your life that you really need to be taken care of. Um, someone who's older in your life or or a child, and you're, like, convinced by the Lord that you need to be spending more time with them, or taking care of them, or taking them to wherever they need to go to. And and you're just like, I don't want to do that. You know, I care more about, you know, my own, my own time or my comfort or that person's hard to hang around with. That could be an example of something that would be nurturing or holding on to or or, um, you know, staying with a sin. And that would really hinder our prayers. It definitely does.

Right? It doesn't look like it's just talking about, um, a sin that someone commits and then confesses it to the Lord. We all have to be sensitive towards sins that we commit, uh, whether we do them just straight up intentionally, which is not good at all for our, our spiritual life or, or God brings to mind something that we have done that is not right, even though we were not as aware of it when we first did it. This seems to be more like harboring sin, cherishing sin, holding on to it. Um, and it doesn't mean. I mean, I guess actually, I was going to say that it doesn't it doesn't mean that you're you're just, um, just doing it because you enjoy it. Although some people do do that with sin, but it is, um, it is that you're you're holding on to it. You're not willing to let it go. Um, I don't know if you have a responsibility for someone in your life that you really need to be taken care of. Um, someone who's older in your life or or a child, and you're, like, convinced by the Lord that you need to be spending more time with them, or taking care of them, or taking them to wherever they need to go to. And and you're just like, I don't want to do that. You know, I care more about, you know, my own, my own time or my comfort or that person's hard to hang around with. That could be an example of something that would be nurturing or holding on to or or, um, you know, staying with a sin. And that would really hinder our prayers. It definitely does.

Yeah. I'm glad you explained it, because it's because we look at ourselves and we're like, oh my goodness, I am more sinful each and every day, even as a believer, than I could possibly imagine. And, you know, I know that the righteousness of Jesus when I receive him as Lord and Savior, his righteousness is transferred to my account in terms of having peace with God and being justified in forgiven of my sins. But then the battle is still raging in the here and now, right? Between the flesh and the spirit. What I don't want to do, Paul writes in Romans seven, what I don't want to do, I do what I do want to do, I don't. And it's the flesh warring against the spirit. So all of that we could really get ourselves. We have to be so careful, because the enemy can somehow get in to our thinking and and tell us or lead us to believe that if I have any sin in my life, You know, I better make sure I have everything confessed. Because if I don't, then God is not going to to hear my prayers. So it's the motivation. It's the it's the direction of our hearts. It's not a matter of being sinless necessarily, but it's just holding on to these sins and not having that tender conscience where we just repent. And that's the other thing, too, Ken, we should point out we should be really good repenters, shouldn't we?

Yeah. I'm glad you explained it, because it's because we look at ourselves and we're like, oh my goodness, I am more sinful each and every day, even as a believer, than I could possibly imagine. And, you know, I know that the righteousness of Jesus when I receive him as Lord and Savior, his righteousness is transferred to my account in terms of having peace with God and being justified in forgiven of my sins. But then the battle is still raging in the here and now, right? Between the flesh and the spirit. What I don't want to do, Paul writes in Romans seven, what I don't want to do, I do what I do want to do, I don't. And it's the flesh warring against the spirit. So all of that we could really get ourselves. We have to be so careful, because the enemy can somehow get in to our thinking and and tell us or lead us to believe that if I have any sin in my life, You know, I better make sure I have everything confessed. Because if I don't, then God is not going to to hear my prayers. So it's the motivation. It's the it's the direction of our hearts. It's not a matter of being sinless necessarily, but it's just holding on to these sins and not having that tender conscience where we just repent. And that's the other thing, too, Ken, we should point out we should be really good repenters, shouldn't we?

Yeah we should. And it's it's one of those interesting things about the Christian life. Uh, wonderful in one way. But as you grow in Christ, as you mature in Christ, sometimes your awareness of your sin increases.

Yeah we should. And it's it's one of those interesting things about the Christian life. Uh, wonderful in one way. But as you grow in Christ, as you mature in Christ, sometimes your awareness of your sin increases.

Yeah, that's so true.

Yeah, that's so true.

And and that's actually a good thing. You may actually be sinning less, but you are more aware of it. And that helps you to then grow in further holiness. I should add this too. It's not just that we kind of go through our lives and, and just think about whatever, whatever we Whatever we want and, and, you know, live however we want. And then we come to prayer and then we're like, oh, no, let me go through the checklist here. Have I sinned in any way? I need to confess this to the Lord. What we really want to have is an open communication with the Lord throughout the day, so that we're talking about kind of everything in our lives with him and that, um, you know, to do that or even to want to do that, you're going to be bringing to him the things that would not please him, even a thought that crosses your mind and you're like, no, Lord, I don't want this. What I really want is you. And so you'll be bringing that to him throughout the day. And that helps a lot to the degree that you can just do everything in your life with the Lord. Uh, I even walk into classes sometimes. I've got one later on today, and, um, you know, I'll just as I head into class, I'll be like, Lord, I don't I don't want to do this on my own. I want to do this with you. Or as Paul would talk about in you. And when you have that type of type of posture, then you know it's much you're much closer to dealing with. Or someone said a spiritual writer said keeping short accounts with God. And that's what I want to do in my life. And I know you do, too.

And and that's actually a good thing. You may actually be sinning less, but you are more aware of it. And that helps you to then grow in further holiness. I should add this too. It's not just that we kind of go through our lives and, and just think about whatever, whatever we Whatever we want and, and, you know, live however we want. And then we come to prayer and then we're like, oh, no, let me go through the checklist here. Have I sinned in any way? I need to confess this to the Lord. What we really want to have is an open communication with the Lord throughout the day, so that we're talking about kind of everything in our lives with him and that, um, you know, to do that or even to want to do that, you're going to be bringing to him the things that would not please him, even a thought that crosses your mind and you're like, no, Lord, I don't want this. What I really want is you. And so you'll be bringing that to him throughout the day. And that helps a lot to the degree that you can just do everything in your life with the Lord. Uh, I even walk into classes sometimes. I've got one later on today, and, um, you know, I'll just as I head into class, I'll be like, Lord, I don't I don't want to do this on my own. I want to do this with you. Or as Paul would talk about in you. And when you have that type of type of posture, then you know it's much you're much closer to dealing with. Or someone said a spiritual writer said keeping short accounts with God. And that's what I want to do in my life. And I know you do, too.

Yeah. That's great. Here's another hindrance to answered prayer not believing. Okay, this is where a lot of us could get hung up as well. Um, this whole idea of. Okay, well, I need to have faith. Uh, James. Uh. Let's see. Let him ask in James chapter one. Uh, let him ask in faith with no doubting. For the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. Okay, now I've got some doubts. Um. You know, I haven't received the answer to my prayer. Maybe because I don't have enough faith we can beat ourselves up really bad over this one. Would you help us understand what James is really trying to communicate here?

Yeah. That's great. Here's another hindrance to answered prayer not believing. Okay, this is where a lot of us could get hung up as well. Um, this whole idea of. Okay, well, I need to have faith. Uh, James. Uh. Let's see. Let him ask in James chapter one. Uh, let him ask in faith with no doubting. For the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. Okay, now I've got some doubts. Um. You know, I haven't received the answer to my prayer. Maybe because I don't have enough faith we can beat ourselves up really bad over this one. Would you help us understand what James is really trying to communicate here?

Yeah, I find myself wanting to say what you should do is just close your eyes really, really tight, you know, until you see sparklers and just try really hard, you know, not to have doubts. And, you know, you probably tried that. I've tried that before. And that's. That doesn't work at all. Have you ever tried to get rid of some some thought that you have? Yeah. Yeah. It's in your mind. Yeah. You can't do it that way. That's not the way it works at all. So one of the things that I've gotten a lot of help with in this is, is to realize that faith, even faith, is not something that you generate. It's something that God actually does in you. There's some discussion, even in the fruit of the spirit, where it comes to the word faithfulness there in Greek, it could be possibly faith. That is, it's a fruit of the spirit that God actually produces in you. And that helps me a lot, because what that means is not that I'm trying to generate the faith, but rather I'm cooperating with what God is already generating in me. So then as that faith increases, um, then I pray in accordance with that faith. Now this is where it gets a little bit complicated, I think. Um, because I think that one of the ways that God, God helps us to know that we're praying according to his will is that he increases our faith. Even in the Gospels, the the disciples won't say, increase our faith, Lord. And so what we what we, what we seek to do as we pray, is to be discerning as to whether or not our faith as we continue to pray about something, whether or not that is increasing. And sometimes God redirects us in our prayers by us. Just I don't know how to put this, but just not getting any traction in our prayers. And Yes. And yet, sometimes, as you pray, increasingly you get a sense like, yes, I'm praying in the right direction, and I need to stay with this and even stay a long time with this.

Yeah, I find myself wanting to say what you should do is just close your eyes really, really tight, you know, until you see sparklers and just try really hard, you know, not to have doubts. And, you know, you probably tried that. I've tried that before. And that's. That doesn't work at all. Have you ever tried to get rid of some some thought that you have? Yeah. Yeah. It's in your mind. Yeah. You can't do it that way. That's not the way it works at all. So one of the things that I've gotten a lot of help with in this is, is to realize that faith, even faith, is not something that you generate. It's something that God actually does in you. There's some discussion, even in the fruit of the spirit, where it comes to the word faithfulness there in Greek, it could be possibly faith. That is, it's a fruit of the spirit that God actually produces in you. And that helps me a lot, because what that means is not that I'm trying to generate the faith, but rather I'm cooperating with what God is already generating in me. So then as that faith increases, um, then I pray in accordance with that faith. Now this is where it gets a little bit complicated, I think. Um, because I think that one of the ways that God, God helps us to know that we're praying according to his will is that he increases our faith. Even in the Gospels, the the disciples won't say, increase our faith, Lord. And so what we what we, what we seek to do as we pray, is to be discerning as to whether or not our faith as we continue to pray about something, whether or not that is increasing. And sometimes God redirects us in our prayers by us. Just I don't know how to put this, but just not getting any traction in our prayers. And Yes. And yet, sometimes, as you pray, increasingly you get a sense like, yes, I'm praying in the right direction, and I need to stay with this and even stay a long time with this.

Yeah, we give up too soon. I think Jesus himself, uh, gave two thumbs up, if you will, to perseverance in prayer. We need to seek and keep on seeking. Ask and keep on asking. Right.

Yeah, we give up too soon. I think Jesus himself, uh, gave two thumbs up, if you will, to perseverance in prayer. We need to seek and keep on seeking. Ask and keep on asking. Right.

Yeah, that's exactly right. And I remember.

Yeah, that's exactly right. And I remember.

I'm sorry. Go ahead. No, I just often think when God seems to always make me wait until I almost give up. And that's like he's stretching me. He's he's helping me grow. And though I hate that, but it's. But I would really rather like when will I learn and just give it to me now and I'll be good. But it doesn't work that way.

I'm sorry. Go ahead. No, I just often think when God seems to always make me wait until I almost give up. And that's like he's stretching me. He's he's helping me grow. And though I hate that, but it's. But I would really rather like when will I learn and just give it to me now and I'll be good. But it doesn't work that way.

Yeah, that's. I think that's because prayer is not just about what we're asking for. It's it's also about what God is doing in us. And he's trying to transform us into his image. He wants to make us more. Like him. More humble, more faithful in our lives, dependent upon him. So one of the ways that he does that is that he does it in his timing rather than our timing. And that timing sometimes is a little later than we would like it to be.

Yeah, that's. I think that's because prayer is not just about what we're asking for. It's it's also about what God is doing in us. And he's trying to transform us into his image. He wants to make us more. Like him. More humble, more faithful in our lives, dependent upon him. So one of the ways that he does that is that he does it in his timing rather than our timing. And that timing sometimes is a little later than we would like it to be.

I would tend to say most of the time, no pun intended. Yeah, my experience.

I would tend to say most of the time, no pun intended. Yeah, my experience.

Has said that it's that way a lot too.

Has said that it's that way a lot too.

Yeah, God's never late, but he sure passes up a lot of opportunities to be early. That's just kind of the way I said you were going to mention something a moment ago, maybe share a snapshot out of your life or something.

Yeah, God's never late, but he sure passes up a lot of opportunities to be early. That's just kind of the way I said you were going to mention something a moment ago, maybe share a snapshot out of your life or something.

Yeah. Um, I, my wife and I, we lived in the in an unreached country in the Middle East for seven and a half years when we were younger, and there was a woman in our city who is a godly woman. I mean, there were very few Christians around, but she was a this godly woman. And she came one time to a prayer meeting that we would hold every week, and we would pray a half night of prayer every week. Just asking God to break into this place where there were so few Christians. And she came and she said, I believe that God wants us to pray for ten people to be baptized this summer in this city. Now you got to understand, you know, there were like almost no Muslim background believers in the city. And this this was an audacious prayer. But she she said, I've been praying about it. I cannot get it out of my mind. I think we need to pray for this. It would be like if you were in a church here of, I don't know, 150 people, and you were praying and believing that God was you're going to have 100 people come to faith and be baptized by the summer. It would be it would be much harder than that. Yeah. And so we we didn't have any faith at all about this, but we began to pray with her, you know, once a week about this. And as we prayed, people started coming to the Lord. The first person I led to Christ in the Middle East came to the Lord, and then another. And then someone moved into the city who had never been baptized. And then someone else came to faith, and then someone was healed. And they came to faith too. And I was there that day when ten people were baptized. By the way, in the history of mission work in this country, no more than two people had ever been baptized at once. And I was there that day with ten people were baptized. I think that was an increase of faith in hers first, but also as we prayed along with her.

Yeah. Um, I, my wife and I, we lived in the in an unreached country in the Middle East for seven and a half years when we were younger, and there was a woman in our city who is a godly woman. I mean, there were very few Christians around, but she was a this godly woman. And she came one time to a prayer meeting that we would hold every week, and we would pray a half night of prayer every week. Just asking God to break into this place where there were so few Christians. And she came and she said, I believe that God wants us to pray for ten people to be baptized this summer in this city. Now you got to understand, you know, there were like almost no Muslim background believers in the city. And this this was an audacious prayer. But she she said, I've been praying about it. I cannot get it out of my mind. I think we need to pray for this. It would be like if you were in a church here of, I don't know, 150 people, and you were praying and believing that God was you're going to have 100 people come to faith and be baptized by the summer. It would be it would be much harder than that. Yeah. And so we we didn't have any faith at all about this, but we began to pray with her, you know, once a week about this. And as we prayed, people started coming to the Lord. The first person I led to Christ in the Middle East came to the Lord, and then another. And then someone moved into the city who had never been baptized. And then someone else came to faith, and then someone was healed. And they came to faith too. And I was there that day when ten people were baptized. By the way, in the history of mission work in this country, no more than two people had ever been baptized at once. And I was there that day with ten people were baptized. I think that was an increase of faith in hers first, but also as we prayed along with her.

I love to hear these stories. You know, these are the the stories that fuel our faith. That's awesome. So you got to work like that. How about refusing to forgive others? Unforgiveness is a major roadblock to answered prayer. I mean, it's it's very obvious. Jesus himself said, if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses. Um, by the way, that verse, a lot of people stumble over that. They're like, okay, if I have any forgiveness or unforgiveness rather in my heart, does that mean I'm not forgiven? And then they make it a salvation issue. We have to be careful, right?

I love to hear these stories. You know, these are the the stories that fuel our faith. That's awesome. So you got to work like that. How about refusing to forgive others? Unforgiveness is a major roadblock to answered prayer. I mean, it's it's very obvious. Jesus himself said, if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses. Um, by the way, that verse, a lot of people stumble over that. They're like, okay, if I have any forgiveness or unforgiveness rather in my heart, does that mean I'm not forgiven? And then they make it a salvation issue. We have to be careful, right?

Yeah we do. But another thing about living in the Middle East is that I lived in a place where people often really, really struggle with forgiveness. I don't think I ever met a person, ever, in all the years that we lived there who didn't have a broken relationship with someone somewhere. And so when they would show interest in the gospel, one of the things we had to deal with really early with them is the issue of forgiveness and broken relationships. And so we had to encourage them to go and mend these broken relationships. And the reason for that was because they didn't receive the forgiveness that God was given to them until they actually learned how to forgive others, and I began to understand this verse a lot better. It's, you know, because we, we we until we turn around and we are willing to forgive others. Um, yeah. We don't really understand what God's forgiveness is. And so that helped them to receive. So I think it's it's something along that line. It's not that we just lead with this, but if we harbor, you know, unforgiveness like we were just talking in general about harboring sin in our lives, it definitely gets in the way of our prayers, maybe unforgiveness more than almost anything else.

Yeah we do. But another thing about living in the Middle East is that I lived in a place where people often really, really struggle with forgiveness. I don't think I ever met a person, ever, in all the years that we lived there who didn't have a broken relationship with someone somewhere. And so when they would show interest in the gospel, one of the things we had to deal with really early with them is the issue of forgiveness and broken relationships. And so we had to encourage them to go and mend these broken relationships. And the reason for that was because they didn't receive the forgiveness that God was given to them until they actually learned how to forgive others, and I began to understand this verse a lot better. It's, you know, because we, we we until we turn around and we are willing to forgive others. Um, yeah. We don't really understand what God's forgiveness is. And so that helped them to receive. So I think it's it's something along that line. It's not that we just lead with this, but if we harbor, you know, unforgiveness like we were just talking in general about harboring sin in our lives, it definitely gets in the way of our prayers, maybe unforgiveness more than almost anything else.

Yeah, I think you're right. Another one I want to mention here before we let you go this morning is first John chapter five, verse 14. This is the confidence which we have before him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. Verse 15 says this. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask. We know that we have the requests which we have asked from him. Praying according to the will of God. Because sometimes Jesus in the Gospels is like, you know, ask and you will get your answer. You know, seek and you will find, etc. knock and the door will be opened. Ask anything in my name and I will do it. Sometimes we look at that as a blank check, and we need to look at the entirety of Scripture. And I think these two verses out of First John really help us.

Yeah, I think you're right. Another one I want to mention here before we let you go this morning is first John chapter five, verse 14. This is the confidence which we have before him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. Verse 15 says this. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask. We know that we have the requests which we have asked from him. Praying according to the will of God. Because sometimes Jesus in the Gospels is like, you know, ask and you will get your answer. You know, seek and you will find, etc. knock and the door will be opened. Ask anything in my name and I will do it. Sometimes we look at that as a blank check, and we need to look at the entirety of Scripture. And I think these two verses out of First John really help us.

They really do. And we need to seek to, again, as we said earlier, align our wills with what God would want. But this is actually the hardest one of all the things we've talked about. Because in the Bible, the idea of the will of God, uh, does not always mean the same thing. So you've got God's sovereign will. That's like what he ordains, everything that's going to take place, and we don't actually have access to that because that's the secret will of God. Um, but there are other categories as well, just the moral will of God. And, you know, like where God reveals what you should do and should not do and even God's permissive will. So there are some things that God allows to take place in, you know, even in, in a broken world, which would be not this way in, you know, the Garden of Eden or the new heavens and the new earth, but that he permits that. And so people get mixed up on this. Sometimes they think, well, the Bible says that, um, you know, that, uh, that something is wrong. I remember a friend talking to me one time about, um, I know that God doesn't want people to be divorced, and this person is moving toward divorce. And so because it's in the Bible, I'm just going to pray for it. And I should have confidence that God is going to do it, because that's the will of God. And she was close. But it's not exactly right, because the will of God praying according to the will of God also has to give space for God's permissive will, in which he allows people even to do things that are not right sometimes. And he has greater purposes, not that he ever intends anything evil. The Bible clearly teaches doesn't teach that, but that he he allows, um, allows people sometimes even to do things that are harmful to them, things that are not honoring to him. And then he's going to work with that to move them into conformity to the place that he wants. He has the long picture. We don't always see that. And so, yes, we should definitely pray according to the moral will of God. If it says it in the Bible, we should pray, God, please, we don't want this to happen. I'd like to pray that someone you know doesn't go through on a divorce, let's say. Uh, and by the way, I didn't mean to open up a big topic like divorce.

They really do. And we need to seek to, again, as we said earlier, align our wills with what God would want. But this is actually the hardest one of all the things we've talked about. Because in the Bible, the idea of the will of God, uh, does not always mean the same thing. So you've got God's sovereign will. That's like what he ordains, everything that's going to take place, and we don't actually have access to that because that's the secret will of God. Um, but there are other categories as well, just the moral will of God. And, you know, like where God reveals what you should do and should not do and even God's permissive will. So there are some things that God allows to take place in, you know, even in, in a broken world, which would be not this way in, you know, the Garden of Eden or the new heavens and the new earth, but that he permits that. And so people get mixed up on this. Sometimes they think, well, the Bible says that, um, you know, that, uh, that something is wrong. I remember a friend talking to me one time about, um, I know that God doesn't want people to be divorced, and this person is moving toward divorce. And so because it's in the Bible, I'm just going to pray for it. And I should have confidence that God is going to do it, because that's the will of God. And she was close. But it's not exactly right, because the will of God praying according to the will of God also has to give space for God's permissive will, in which he allows people even to do things that are not right sometimes. And he has greater purposes, not that he ever intends anything evil. The Bible clearly teaches doesn't teach that, but that he he allows, um, allows people sometimes even to do things that are harmful to them, things that are not honoring to him. And then he's going to work with that to move them into conformity to the place that he wants. He has the long picture. We don't always see that. And so, yes, we should definitely pray according to the moral will of God. If it says it in the Bible, we should pray, God, please, we don't want this to happen. I'd like to pray that someone you know doesn't go through on a divorce, let's say. Uh, and by the way, I didn't mean to open up a big topic like divorce.

No, that's that's okay.

No, that's that's okay.

And I recognize that there are some conditions in the Bible related to that. So sorry about that. I'm actually talking about prayer at this moment.

And I recognize that there are some conditions in the Bible related to that. So sorry about that. I'm actually talking about prayer at this moment.

Yeah. Yes, yes.

Yeah. Yes, yes.

Um, but rather that, um, we try to be attentive to what God intends in this particular moment. So again, we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. We need to allow him to guide us in our prayers. Um, and and that's, by the way, that's what Paul talks of as praying in the spirit. Jude also uses that expression.

Um, but rather that, um, we try to be attentive to what God intends in this particular moment. So again, we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. We need to allow him to guide us in our prayers. Um, and and that's, by the way, that's what Paul talks of as praying in the spirit. Jude also uses that expression.

Thanks for listening to Kurt and Kate Mornings podcast. Please take a minute to follow, subscribe and review us. And no matter where in the world you are, you can listen to us live from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays on the Moody Radio app.

Thanks for listening to Kurt and Kate Mornings podcast. Please take a minute to follow, subscribe and review us. And no matter where in the world you are, you can listen to us live from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays on the Moody Radio app.