5/20/2009 - Hindered Prayers

Quiet Time 5-20-09:   Hindered Prayers 

1 Peter 3:7 (NLT)  In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. 

My morning quiet time included a devotional from the Promise Keepers Men of Integrity daily devotional booklet.  The devotion discussed some of the differences in men and women (husbands and wives) and explains that these differences are complimentary and in a relationship rooted in Christ the two can be more superior together than they can be individually.  This is good stuff that we probably all know even if we don’t understand it.  The devotion is based on 1 Peter 3:7, but it only uses the 3rd sentence of this verse.  

This morning the Holy Spirit has focused my heart on the other three sentences of this verse, particularly the last one – “Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.”  This means that if husbands do not respect their wives and seek to understand them so that they are able to take care of them; then their prayers will be hindered.  To be hindered means to be impeded, obstructed, at a disadvantage, prevented from movement, or encumbered.  That certainly is not what I want happening with my prayers.  I want my prayers to be fully released and effective.  That may sound a little self-centered, but it all depends on the content of the prayers. 

The verse says that in order to have unhindered prayers husbands must treat there wives the right way.  There are many places in the Bible that tell us the right way to treat our wives and I certainly need to focus and improve on that daily, but I believe that hindered prayers can occur as a result of any relationship that is not as it should be.  Matthew 5:23-24 instructs us that our relationship with others must be right before worshipping the Lord.  We have relationships with anybody we come in contact with, whether at home, church, work or school.  First and foremost our relationship with Christ must be as it should be, only then can we seek right relationships with family, brothers and sisters in Christ, and the rest of the world. 

What relationships are hindering your prayers today?  I know my list is long and I request your prayers for me as I seek to have relationships that will bring glory to God and allow unhindered prayers.  

. . . make smart choices, love everybody, be a blessing, I love you and have a great day.