Have you ever asked yourself the question, “Why aren’t my prayers answered?”

In scripture, there are at least three answers given.

The first one is that there is unconfessed sin that we love. The Psalmist David said in Psalm 66:18, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”

This is where there is sin in your life that you don’t want to stop committing. We need to deal with the sin first, then that will open the lines of communication between us and our heavenly Father.

Another hindrance to answered prayer is the lack of faith. James instructs us in chapter one, “When you ask (pray), you must believe and not doubt … That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”

Before Jesus ministered to those who brought needs to him, he asked this key question: “Do you believe I am able to do this?”

Their answer was usually, “Yes, Lord.” On one occasion the answer was, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief.”

When we feel like our faith is weak, we need to confess it to our heavenly Fatherand he can help us build our faith in him. Is there something you have asked God for but really question whether or not he can bring it to pass?

The last hindrance I want to mention is praying with wrong motives. James tells us in chapter 4, verse 3, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

This is where we pray out of selfish motives. God is only going to answer us with what is good for us and that which will bring him honor and glory.

Sometimes we think God is not answering us when in fact he is, but the answer is “no.” Sometimes we don’t get what we desire because we don’t go to our heavenly Father with our needs.