祷告的障碍
诗篇六十六篇8至20节
8万民哪，你们当称颂我们的神，使人得听赞美他的声音。
9他使我们的性命存活，也不叫我们的脚摇动。
10神啊，你曾试验我们，熬炼我们，如熬炼银子一样。
11你使我们进入网罗，把重担放在我们的身上。
12你使人坐车轧我们的头；我们经过水火，你却使我们到丰富之地。
13我要用燔祭进你的殿，向你还我的愿，
14就是在急难时我嘴唇所发的、口中所许的。
15我要把肥牛作燔祭，将公羊的香祭献给你，又把公牛和山羊献上。（细拉）
16凡敬畏神的人，你们都来听！我要述说他为我所行的事。
17我曾用口求告他；我的舌头也称他为高。
18我若心里注重罪孽，主必不听。
19但神实在听见了；他侧耳听了我祷告的声音。
20神是应当称颂的！他并没有推却我的祷告，也没有叫他的慈爱离开我。
信息分享
圣经亦教导我们说，只要我们奉主耶稣基督的名和按照神的心意祈祷，神终必垂听。然而，有些时候，我们却总是等不到回应，那是甚么原因呢？
神已经在祂的话语里面，把其中一些理由告诉我们。神不听祷告，主要是因为我们有两个地方出了问题──就是我们的家和我们的心。
你是否知道，夫妇之间的问题会构成祷告的阻碍？请读彼得前书三章7节。这当然可以应用到其他的人际关系上；不过彼得在这里直接提醒做丈夫的：「你要与妻子保持和谐的关系，就正如你要与神保持和好的关系一样，如此，神必垂听你的祷告。」这点对你有没有甚么提醒呢？
我们的心又怎样呢？当我们有隐而未认的罪，神便不会垂听我们的祷告。请读以赛亚书五十九章1至2节。神并没有说：「未得救的人不可犯罪，但基督徒却可以。」这点对你有何提醒呢？
一颗不肯饶恕别人的心，也会阻碍我们的祷告。请看基督在马太福音六章14怎样说。饶恕得罪自己的人，有时真的十分困难；可是，我们若想得到神的饶恕，我们若想神垂听我们的祷告，我们就不得不去饶恕别人。另外，请再读以弗所书四章32节。
上述的障碍是可以清除的。第一步当然是悔改和认罪。你想为你的祷告生活揭开新的一页吗？你想过得胜和蒙福的生活吗？那么，你就要先除去一切阻碍你与神相交的障碍。
WHAT CAN HINDER OUR PRAYERS?
Psalm 66: 8 - 20
8 Oh, bless our God, you peoples!
And make the voice of His praise to be heard,
9 Who keeps our soul among the living,
And does not allow our feet to be moved.
10 For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
11 You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
12 You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
13 I will go into Your house with burnt offerings;
I will pay You my vows,
14 Which my lips have uttered
And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.
15 I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals,
With the sweet aroma of rams;
I will offer bulls with goats. Selah
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
And I will declare what He has done for my soul.
17 I cried to Him with my mouth,
And He was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.
19 But certainly God has heard me;
He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me!
Message
The Bible also says that when I pray in the name of Christ and in the will of God, I can expect God to answer. But sometimes he doesn't answer. Why not?
God has shown us in his Word some of the reasons why he can't always answer. There are two main areas which are mentioned - the home and the heart.
Do you realise that a wrong attitude between husband and wife can stop God answering our prayers? Read 1 Peter 3:7. This can apply to our relationships with others too, but here Peter is saying very plainly to husbands 'Be right with your wife as well as right with God, if you expect your prayers to be answered'. Does that say anything to you today?
Then what about our hearts? When there is unconfessed sin in the heart God does not answer prayer. Read Isaiah 59:1-2. God cannot say 'sin is wrong for the unsaved, but it is all right for the Christian'. Does that speak to you today?
An unforgiving spirit can stop answers to our prayers. Read what Christ said in Matthew 6:14. Forgiving someone else is sometimes the hardest thing we are faced with, but if we want to be what God wants us to be; if we want God to answer our prayers, we need to forgive those whom we think have sinned against us. Read Ephesians 4:32 also.
These hindrances can all be taken away. Repentance and confession are the first steps. Do you need to take them today? It could be the beginning of a new life of prayer, victory and blessing. Do you want that? Are you willing to do that today?