Five Common Hindrances to Prevailing Prayer
David Wilkerson discusses five common hindrances to effective prayer and emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in overcoming them.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the necessity of prayer in every circumstance, urging believers to pray without ceasing as commanded in the Bible. He identifies five common hindrances to effective prayer: doubts about being accepted by God, guilt for praying only in times of trouble, misconceptions about the need for loud or exhausting prayers, the tendency to focus solely on mental prayer, and the essential role of the Holy Spirit in guiding our prayers. Wilkerson encourages Christians to seek the Holy Spirit's assistance in prayer, which can lead to a deeper and more fulfilling prayer life. Ultimately, he reassures that God hears all prayers, regardless of the situation or manner in which they are offered.
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Throughout the Bible, God's people are commanded to pray at all times -- in good times and bad. No matter what our situation or condition, we are to pray without ceasing. "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
I believe every sincere Christian wants to pray but even mature believers slack off or find it difficult at times. After much prayer and study of God's Word, I believe the Lord shed some light on this subject for me. Here are five common hindrances to prevailing prayer:
Difficulty believing your prayers are accepted. Even after hearing the gospel of grace preached for years, some Christians still lack confidence that they are accepted before the Lord.
Feeling guilty for praying only when you are in trouble. The Bible tells us, "He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer" (Psalm 102:17). God will never reject our prayers simply because we offer them in a crisis.
Mistakenly believing prayer has to be exhausting or loud. Sometimes fervent prayer is appropriate, but God will hear us if we don't raise our voices.
Emphasizing mental praying at the exclusion of praying aloud. I believe quiet, unspoken prayers are effective; indeed, when Paul speaks of "praying without ceasing," I believe he is referring to mental prayers. But praying aloud can be a blessed relief at times.
Prevailing prayer is impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes, "The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us" (Romans 8:26).
Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you to pray. He will put a spirit of thanksgiving in your heart and as you respond to his voice, you will find a river of godly prayer flowing from your soul.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Difficulty believing your prayers are accepted. - Feeling guilty for praying only when you are in trouble. - Mistakenly believing prayer has to be exhausting or loud.
- II points: - Emphasizing mental praying at the exclusion of praying aloud. - Prevailing prayer is impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit.
- III points: - Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you to pray.
Key Quotes
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” — David Wilkerson
“He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer.” — David Wilkerson
“The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Recognize and address the doubts that hinder your confidence in prayer.
- Embrace both quiet and vocal prayers as valid expressions of communication with God.
- Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer life and cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving.