Hindrances to answered prayer (2) Hebrews 4:16 NIV

‘Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence.’ Hebrews 4:16 NIV The second hindrance to answered prayer is lack of confidence! When we understand that as God’s redeemed children we have the right to approach Him at any time, we are able to overcome the enemy’s attempts to make us feel condemned. As a result we become confident in approaching Him. We no longer say to ourselves, ‘I know God can do it, but I find it hard to believe He will do it for me.’ We think such thoughts because we don’t think we’re worthy. Jesus has made us worthy! When we come to God, we can count on Him to be merciful to us. ‘Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’ Grace means God will give us what we don’t deserve if we’re confident enough to ask for it. We ask in Jesus’ name, not in our own name. We’re presenting to the Father all that Jesus is, not all that we are. We’re nothing without Jesus! God is willing to do more than we could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). So we need to exercise faith, and avail ourselves of all He can do by asking confidently. Helen Poole writes: ‘My four-year-old daughter would always pray before she went to sleep. One night she prayed and prayed; her voice getting softer, until only her lips were moving. Then she said, ‘Amen.’ I said, ‘Honey, I didn’t hear a word you said.’ She replied, ‘Mummy, I wasn’t talking to you.’’ When you understand that you have the right to talk to God, and that He listens to every word, you pray with confidence.