There are those among us who believe we have an innate, almost intuitive sense of how things work and are put together, mechanically speaking. For lack of a better word, we call them "men." To the everlasting consternation of women everywhere, they regard the instruction manual as a tool of last resort -- a troubleshooting guide that explains why there are three screws left over once a project is done.

When it comes to things of the Spirit, however, the instruction manual -- the Bible -- should hardly be a tool of last resort. It should be consulted first. It is the lamp unto our feet. But it can explain why we may pray and find three screws loose at the end of our prayer.

Dr. Michael Youssef presents to us today six reasons why our prayers might never get off the launching pad. The Bible explains "What Hinders Answers to Your Prayer." Before we give up on prayer or conclude that it just doesn't work for us, maybe a careful study of our instruction manuals will correctly diagnose the problem.

"What Hinders Answers to Your Prayer" by Dr. Michael Youssef

PRAY

Thank You, Father, for giving us the guidance of Your Word, for showing us the things in our lives that unnecessarily keep us from getting through to You. Remove them from our paths that we might grow closer to You. In Jesus' Name ... 

REFLECT

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” — Isaiah 59:2.

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear” — Psalm 55:18.

"In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. ... Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered." — 1 Peter 3:7

RESPOND

Jesus talked about the importance of persistence in prayer. The Apostle Paul talked about "pressing toward the mark." Lysa TerKeurst touches on both those themes in our next lesson.