Written by Pastor Mark Driskill
October 18, 2011

Read Ephesians 3:20-21

I am becoming increasingly convinced that I am the greatest hindrance to my prayers. It would be convenient to blame the devil or others or even God’s displeasure. But truth be told I am the greatest culprit in keeping my prayers from being answered. Our scripture today bears this out.

In Paul’s beautiful doxology we can see the hindrances to prayer buried beneath the sand. Paul begins by affirming God’s ability to go beyond and do the unthinkable. So we know right away that God is not the problem. He is more than able regardless of our circumstances. So what keeps the answers from coming? What are the limitations in the sphere of prayer?

1. Our asking is limited. God is able to do “more than we ask.” Jesus said to his disciples, “until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and receive that your joy may be full.” He is never found telling anyone they ask too much, even when James and John asked for thrones on his left and right. But our Lord is often found chiding his followers for asking too little. Beware the religious spirit that tempts you into false humility. How we often are tempted to brag about how little we ask of God, as if we were afraid of wearing our poor deity out. You haven’t even begun to tap into the holy power of God. Something has gone wrong in our thinking when we believe we must not ask too much of our God. He who parts seas and silences storms laughs at the thought. This idea of wrong thinking leads us to the next hindrance to prayer.
2. Our thinking is limited. “more than we ask or think (imagine).” We don’t use any thought or imagination when we pray. Or our imagination goes in the direction of fear rather than the direction of faith! How often have you been in the midst of a need and found yourself invaded by the “what if’s”? What if this trial wipes me out? What if God has forgotten me? What if it goes from bad to worse? And so on. I have a what if for you. What if God is able? What if you used some holy imagination and began to have “what ifs” of faith rather than fear? What if you started dreaming God sized dreams and praying God-sized prayers? What if instead of mealy mouth wimpy prayerlets you really began to imagine great things to ask of God? What would your world be like if you began to expect God to be awesome? But even great prayers can be hindered by the next problem.
3. Our obedience is limited. “According to the power at work within us.” Paul reminds us in this doxology that God usually involves us in the process of seeing prayers answered. Don’t ask God to save your spouse unless you are willing to answer his call and walk in his power. You say you feel no power? That’s because power follows obedience, not the reverse. You ask God to move, and then take steps so that God can move through you. We experience the power of God to the degree that we walk in the obedience of faith.
4. Our motives are twisted. “To him be the glory in the church.” James tells us we have not because we ask not and we ask and have not because we ask with wrong motives, that we may consume it among our lusts. How true. I must often ask myself why I am asking from God. Do I want healing so I can get back to my disobedient lifestyle unhindered? Do I desire revival so my church can bring me glory? Do I want God to save my friends so my life will be easier? Or am I seeking God’s glory? You see of all the motives we can have in prayer the purest and highest is to simply desire God to be glorified in his church and in his son. This is where our flesh has the greatest trial. When we come to the place where we will gladly have a prayer unanswered if that means God is glorified then we can stand in the fire of trial like Shadrack and his friends, and not be burned. When God so changes us that we pray for God’s glory above all things then we experience a joy and peace and power greater than we can imagine.

Today as we pray let us ask great things that our great God may be glorified in us. Be blessed today.

Pastor Mark Driskill
Web Minister of Begotten By the Word web ministry
See our website at http://ourchurch.com/member/b/bbtw
and
www.facebook.com (to group “begotten by the word”)
Begotten By the Word is a ministry of Helping Hands Christian resources-Evangelism Outreach
www.hhcr05.org
(Feel free to copy in any way that will bring glory to God and further his kingdom.)