Text: Matthew 6:6 NKJV
Further Reading: Mathew 6:5-8
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Matthew 6:6NKJV
MESSAGE
Today we will continue with the hindrances or what makes prayer so difficult many times. In our previous lesson, we noted emphatically that a sinning man will find prayer difficult and ineffective. But what about the things that the devil does to hinder us from praying?
The enemy knows that prayer is a weapon that believers have to counter-attack. He knows that the effectual prayer of the righteous man avails much, so he tries every means to get us far away from prayer.
Today we will look at a few ways the devil tries to keep believers away from praying.
The first is distraction: have you noticed that it is the very time you begin to pray that your phone rings or someone starts knocking at your door? It is not by accident, and the person is not the problem, but your enemy using such to divert your attention.
The Lord Jesus told us to pray in the closet. This way, you will not be easily distracted. Place your phones on silent mode or shut them down altogether.
The enemy also distracts us by placing vanities in front of us so that we will lose focus on what we are praying about. Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
Matthew 4:8 NKJV
Wandering thought is also a tactic used by the devil. He places some thoughts into our minds to get us away from the prayer. You must apply the blood of Jesus to your defence.
Another way the devil tries to hinder us from praying is by using physical and emotional weakness. You must have been at the point when you are too tired either in your body or mind to pray even though you are willing. It happened to Peter, James, and John at Gethsemane. Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:40-41 NKJV
When you are faced with such weakness, ask the Holy Spirit to help. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Romans 8:26 NKJV
Finally, the enemy uses discouragement. Think about Elija who had just won a great victory for Lord in answer to prayers, and a moment later he was so discouraged that he wanted to die. After we get a major victory, the enemy comes with fresh fury to get us discouraged as not to be able to pray. If not for God’s intervention, we don’t know what would have become of Elijah.
When faced with such situation, we must do what David did. He encouraged himself in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6). Never forget that the enemy will use any means to stop a praying man. So you must ask God for His grace to triumph.
REFLECTION
So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.
Isaiah 59:19 NKJV
The enemy will raise strong opposition against your prayer life. You must trust the Holy Spirit to help you to overcome always.
PRAYER
Father, Please destroy every attack of the enemy against my prayer life.
