Hindrances To Prayer — Pierre Chiasson

Why don't we pray? Father, we come in the name of Jesus Christ and we acknowledge our need of you, Lord. We acknowledge, O God, that you are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And that, Lord, we have the privilege of conversing with you, the creator of the universe.

So we bow before you, Father. We give you thanks that you would even regard us, O Lord. And yet not only regard us, but love us. And not only love us, but lift us up to yourself. Lord, you're not like someone who passes by and maybe has a little bit of pity on some poor beggar on the street and gives him a little bit.

But, Lord, you've given yourself completely away to us. That we might be lifted up. You were broken and humbled and you became far less than a beggar on the street. Especially in the eyes of men. And yet you did it to save us.

So we worship you. We thank you. We welcome you into this meeting. Because without you, we can do nothing. The best of words will fall to the ground and bear no fruit in our lives without the working of your spirit.

And I acknowledge this, O God. And look to you to have mercy. To speak into our souls. And to, Lord, transform us more into the likeness of Jesus. So open our ears and our hearts. Let the seed of the word of God find rich soil to grow in.

Tonight. In Jesus' name. Amen. Hindrances to prayer. Some of these subjects we've covered in the little sessions we've had on prayer. Some of these verses. But I thought it would be a good thing for us to go through some of the hindrances to prayer.

That we can experience in our lives. And I suppose if it was the first thing I was to ask you, what would be the greatest hindrance to prayer? You'd probably agree that it would probably be sin. That sin in our lives can have a tremendous dampening effect on prayer.

That's not to say that, of course we know that an unbeliever has no recourse on the basis of coming on even the righteousness of Christ. At first, God does hear sinners' cries because of his goodness and mercy.

But he makes it clear that if we want to have an effective prayer life. Effective communion with God. We have to have communion with God. And sin breaks that communion. That vital connection in relationship with him.

Psalm 66 18 says, If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. That's pretty strong words, isn't it? If I regard iniquity in my heart. If I'm aware of sin in my life. And I don't deal with it.

The Lord will not hear. You know, in the world. And I think I've mentioned this before. But you see it on Facebook all the time. I need help. I need prayer. And lots of people put the prayer emoji or symbols up.

And praying, praying, praying, praying. And you know, I have to say that I'm a little bit skeptical. Of how much actual praying is happening. It's become more of an expression. Thoughts and prayers. Whatever it is.

And I think I've mentioned this a few times before. That when I tell somebody I'm going to pray for them. First thing I do is pray for them. Because if I don't, I can forget. But I wonder how much real praying is going on.

In the world. And even how much real praying is going on in the church. I think I've already mentioned. But I bear mentioning again. Sometimes prayers don't get past the ceiling. I don't want my prayers to just go to the ceiling and that's it.

I want them to go into the ear of God. And here it says the Lord will not hear. So when it comes to prayer. Would you say it's a good idea for a little bit of. Search me O God. Psalm 139. And try me. See if there's any wicked way in me.

And lead me in the way everlasting. That we need the spirit of God to say. A humble heart that says Lord. Show me if there's sin in my life. Because what's the point if I'm going to. Deal with and not deal with sin.

The Lord will not hear. Isaiah 115 says this. When you spread out your hands. I will hide my eyes from you. Even though you make many prayers. I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves.

Make yourselves clean. Put away the evil of your doing. From before my eyes. Cease to do evil. And this passage goes on to say. Come now let us reason together. Though your sins be as scarlet. They shall be as white as snow.

Though they be red like crimson. They shall be as wool. Here it's so graphic. It's not just you know. Some casual praying person. This is someone who is making many prayers. In other words. There's a fervency there.

There's even perhaps a zeal in prayer. Which is I'm not hearing you. I'm not hearing you. Because you're living wickedly. Because your life is wicked. And this is where. The world has adopted. And I don't say all of the world.

I know there's other people that say. You know prayers are stupid. And everything like that. There's a great swath of people. In the world. Who believe in prayer. But. Holiness. No. So. They want prayer.

Without holiness. They want prayer. Without a vital. Living connection with God. They want prayer as a backup. As a rescue plan. For when there's a crisis in their life. That's very common. It really is.

And a lot of people believe in prayer. But there's no real understanding of prayer. And therefore. There's such a hindrance to prayer in their lives. Because. There's no connection with God. And there's a sin in our lives.

I mean without the Lord. Without salvation. God is not under any obligation to answer any prayer. He has obligated himself to answer prayer. If it's according to his will. And if we are. If we are living right.

We are abiding in him. But he's not under any obligation. Now God is merciful. And I would never go to the unbelievers. And say don't pray. Because. Sometimes God will answer prayer. To testify to them.

As I think I've mentioned a verse before. Romans. Says the goodness of God. Romans chapter 2. Is to lead you to repentance. So. God will be gracious at times. And even answer the prayers of unbelievers.

To speak to their lives. And say I'm really here. But it is not just to lead them. In their getting answers. And not walking with God. It's to bring them. To the place of repentance. That's the passion of God.

And we find again in Isaiah 59. One. Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened. That it cannot save. Nor his ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God. Your sins have hidden his face from you.

So that he will not hear. Now most of the instructions that I'm reading here. Weren't to the pagans. They were to the house of Israel. That's who they were too. So it is not that they were not aware of the living God.

And it's not that they didn't have a testimony of the power. And the majesty and the might of the living God. They had received so much of the oracles of God. Already. I mean Isaiah was a prophet to them.

He was sent to them to prophesy. And basically God told them. You're going to prophesy to these people. And they won't listen to you. He said I'm sending you. But they're not going to listen to you. And so this is part of his challenge here.

To them. And so I think it bears well for us to think about that. Not only just to think about lost people. Because for the most part. They're just living in ignorance. But the people of God. Us the people of God.

Ought not to. We can't use the excuse of ignorance of these things. We know that if we don't walk right with God. That it's going to have a great hindrance in our lives. But. When crisis comes oh we're ready to pray.

We're ready to pray. Even as God's people. But all that we would have asked the Lord. Yes give us clean hands and a pure heart. Listen to this Psalm 24 3. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord. Or who may stand in his holy place.

And then he gives some qualifications. He who has clean hands. And a pure heart. Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol. Nor sworn deceitfully. You can see that song we sung earlier. Give us clean hands from this passage.

Psalm 24. Who can come into the presence of God it says. You need to have clean hands and a pure heart. Someone who is not worshipping at another altar. Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol. Now.

Do any of us qualify in ourselves for this? No. No we wouldn't. Thank God for the Lord Jesus Christ. Because Christ has ascended. Christ has come into the holy place on our behalf. But that doesn't mean that we are not to be holy.

It means we are challenged to be holy. And we can have clean hands and a pure heart. We can have. We can forsake idolatry. We can forsake our lying ways. And we can cast ourselves on the mercy of God.

Because we have forgiveness with God. So even though sin may be a hindrance. It doesn't have to be a hindrance. Because what does the Lord do? He forgives sins. But if I continue on in sin. And think.

I have a prayer life. There's something wrong. There's a real problem. It's a hindrance to prayer. That person. Shall receive blessing from the Lord. And righteousness from the God of his salvation. That is the one who has clean hands and a pure heart.

That can only come from Jesus. Okay. It's humbling. Matthew 5 23 says. If you bring your gift to the altar. And that means. You're coming into the presence of God. And then remember that your brother has something against you.

Leave your gift there before the altar. Go your way. First be reconciled to your brother. Then come and offer your gift. Now. There's this sense here. That you can't be. Out of fellowship. With your fellow believers.

And be in fellowship with God. God's not interested in that. His passion. Is that. We walk with him. But we cannot walk with him. If we do not walk. With the people of God. There's a great disconnect there.

If there's some. Division here. Don't think that there's going to be unity here. We are. It's impossible. Because the church is. Called the what? Family of God. I mean. Family of God. The family of God.

What else is a picture. The body. The bride. Yes. But also the very body of Christ. So. I cannot say. I'm connected to the head. But I'm not connected. To the arms. And the. The feet. And everything else.

I can't. I have to. Realize. That my. Standing. With my fellow believers. Is. Is vital and important. First John. Emphasizes that doesn't it. If we don't love. If we say we love God. We don't love our brother.

We are liar. The truth is not in us. It's not true. You can't do this. So the seriousness of sin. Is important for us to understand. When it comes to prayer. If we are unwilling. To deal with these kinds of issues.

Then we are unwilling. We are. We are not going to have an effective prayer life. It's a great hindrance. And as a. It's a great tragedy. Because many are walking in these places. And sometimes. It just leaves me boggled.

My mind boggled. At. How people can live. With such a disconnect. And still think. You know me and Jesus. We got our own thing going. You know. I don't need the church. Or I. You know. Whatever. Or somebody's hurt me.

And I'm done. You know. Or whatever it is. And. And. And. Finding themselves. Contrary. And disconnected. From fellow brothers and sisters. And that doesn't mean. That every. Professing Christian. Is going to be.

Willing. To be involved. In any reconciliation. With you. That may not be the case. There's nothing you can do about that. But you want to make sure. That your heart. Is right. In the matter. That there is not.

Something. That you haven't dealt with. Personally. With someone else. Of course we have the passage. In Mark 6. 14. Which. Says. In. The prayer. To turn to our father. If you forgive men. Their trespasses.

Your heavenly father will forgive you. If you don't forgive. Men their trespasses. Neither will your father. Forgive your trespasses. So. Again. Here. If I hold. A grudge. Towards someone. Then. And I come to God.

And I'm looking. For his mercy. In my life. And I'm unwilling. To grant mercy. To someone else. You're not going to get. The answer. That you want. From God. He's not going to. You might think. You've got it.

But you don't have it. Because you're holding. A bitterness. In your own soul. Your own heart. Towards someone. So. Sin is serious. It is always. Deadly serious. And it has a. Tremendous effect. Because prayer.

Is actually. The expression. Of your communion. With God. We take prayer. Out. And you have no communion. With God. It is. It is the very expression. Of your relationship. With God. Is wrapped up. In the word.

Prayer. Talking. What's that? Talking to him. Yeah. It's relational. It's your. It's your method. Of relationship. Relational. Communion. With God. And if that's. Shut down. What do you actually. Have?

There's no. Abiding. There's no. Everything. Comes to a. Screeching. Halt. In our lives. So. What happens. If we don't deal. With these kinds. Of issues. Then. We're cold. And hard. And dead. And we might.

Go to church. We might. Sing choruses. We might. Have a big. Praise. And. All kinds of things. I think I. Told you. This lady. Had once. Approached me. And she said. I don't understand it. She said. All.

Week long. She said. I hate. My husband and. I hate. My kids. She said. I can't. Stand them. They drive me. Crazy. But at least. When I go. To church. And I. I. I get in the presence of God, oh, she said, the worship and the praise, and oh, she said, I feel the presence of God there.

And I had to graciously tell her, no, you're not feeling the presence of God. You're not worshiping God. She was like, first, very insulted that I would say such a thing. I said, you cannot live in hatred of your own family and think that when you get there, I said, you're having an emotional experience, and you can have emotional experiences and feel like you're in the presence of God, but that isn't a confirmation of being in the presence of God.

What you're feeling, it is the truth that sets you free. And the truth is that if you're living in hatred of your own family, there is no way that you're worshiping God for one hour a week while you're hating your family the rest of the week.

I said, that's not the case. So you need to understand that, otherwise you're deceiving yourself and thinking, well, at least I have this. No, you don't even have that. That's not easy to say to someone because she thought, at least I have this.

And I had to say, no, you don't have this. You need to deal with what's going on here. You need to deal with reality. And that's pretty clear from the scriptures. I don't think I was making something up in that.

I was making it very clear, and I took her to scriptures to show her that reality. And hopefully there was some change for her in that. So sin is a huge thing. It's not a small thing. It has a tremendous effect.

We know that Christ died for our sins as a Christian. We know that the judicial punishment for sins has been dealt with. But fellowship, fellowship is so vital. If you're a true believer, you want fellowship.

And there is no fellowship with God if we are going to continue on in sin. There just isn't there. And sadly, there are probably many who, thinking they have fellowship with God, continuing to walk in sin, who are not really saved at all.

They don't even have the judicial punishment dealt with because there is no willingness to deal with the fellowship issue. There's no willingness to deal with sin. As I said on Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, that we've risen to a whole new way of life and that we're called to live resurrection power.

We need the power of God. The power of God is available. The resurrection power of God is there. And there has to be some kind of transformation. You can't just think, ah, my sins are all forgiven and I can live any way I want.

It's not possible. Another aspect of a hindrance to prayer is to choose to ignore the word of God. Proverbs 28 9 says this, one who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

Isn't that powerful? Whoa. That's not like vague. That is so explicit that if we choose to ignore the word of God, turn away your ear from the truth of what God says, even his prayer is an abomination to God.

It doesn't impress God at all. What do you think of a verse like that?

Isn't that kind of shocking? Yeah. Yeah. And there's an awful lot of people that don't read the Bible.

Well, yeah, they don't even know what the Bible says, but even the people of God. Yeah. It's amazing how many people do not read the Bible and profess to be believers. They choose everything else but the word.

They don't read it. They don't study it. They don't look into it. And so they turn away their ear from hearing the word of God. Even your prayer is an abomination. Boy, this is pretty strong stuff, isn't it?

Yes. And, you know, whether for myself, it makes me realize, oh, God, let me pursue you. Let me hear from you. Let me hear from this. Let's not just think about some other person, but let us consider these things in our own lives because you can neglect the word, can't you?

You can get into a lot of other things and you can even be zealous about those things, but do not ignore the word of God. But, oh, I pity the person who professes to be a believer, ignores the word of God, goes on his way, and then thinks his prayers are going before the throne of grace and they're not even getting...

His prayer is an abomination to God. He hates it. He despises it. Abomination is a strong word. It brings the idea of absolute abhorrence to it. Don't want to hear it. It's awful. It's something ugly and awful.

You ever think of God thinking prayer is ugly and awful? That's something to think about, isn't it?

Well, me even. Even before, you know, we never had a Bible at home. We never read the Bible.

Well, before you're a believer, it's one thing, but people who are professing to believers... I'm challenging the people of God when it comes to prayer here to realize, I can't ignore the word of God.

I can't, you know, just walk away from God's word and think that everything is going to be good. You can see it in 2 Timothy 3 .15. There's plenty of verses that could use about the value of the word of God, 2 Timothy 3 .15, and that from a childhood, you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

It's so valuable, God's word. It's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness. That's the next verse. It's profitable. Well, we didn't have that in childhood.

Well, no, we realized that. But when you have it and you ignore it, it's something else. Remember that in Proverbs, again, it is to the people, to the Jews, to the people who are chosen, called by God, and then choosing to pray but not to know.

I mean, lost people are already under condemnation. They can't be under more condemnation than they're already under in that respect. You're lost, you're lost. And even if they're praying, it doesn't matter until there's a heart prayer where the spirit of God is working and stirring their souls and drawing them to himself.

I mean, if you're lost, you're lost. But once you're a believer or a professing believer and you have the knowledge of the scriptures and you ignore them, it's to our peril that such a thing would happen.

I think what's detrimental, and there's probably people out there, but they go to church, probably are positive they're saved, but the only Bible they might get is from preaching.

They don't bother reading. Yeah.

And there's so... I mean, you get a lot out of someone preaching, depending whom the preacher is. However, there's so much in the Word, and you can read it 200 times and learn 200 new things. Yeah, that's right.

But if you really want to be with the Lord, I mean, that book is there. It's your manual, really. Yeah. It's still like your telephone.

What's that? It's like your telephone. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, you're hearing from God. Oh, yeah. That's why I often encourage when you're praying, pray with your Bible, because God speaks through His Word.

The Word of God is so vital and so important. It can't be ignored. No one is going to walk with God in fellowship if they are feeding on one sermon a week in church. They're just not. You just can't get enough from that.

We need all that we can get. We need to know the truth, because John 8, 32 says, You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. So, I mean, we could spend a year's study on the value of the Word, but to understand that the Word and prayer go together.

There is no real prayer without the truth. We need the Word. We need the revelation of God.

I often think what a blessing it is to have the time and the discipline to read, because when I was working full time, I didn't have, you know, just flying, flying, rushing, rushing. So, I mean, from 6 in the morning until 10 at night, it's just rushing, rushing, rushing.

And it's true, and it's a discipline, and it's not easy, for sure.

But it's not that hard if you have the time. But I just think of the people who are working full time and have a lot of responsibilities and children and meals and transportation and everything that goes with it.

It's a good point. That I feel blessed that I, in the morning, I can sit.

But even for those who are in that situation, here's a little axiom that I often will say. If you take time for Jesus, He will make time for you. Can we have enough faith to believe that if I take this time, even though my life is so cramped and busy, if I take this time, that somehow He will make time for me.

Things go better with Christ. And so, as busy as the day might be and the challenges that come with it, the Lord can smooth things and give you more time back than you ever gave up to meet with Him. And give you the energy.

Those that wait upon the Lord shall what? Renew their strength. That there's a renewed strength that comes from God. And I believe that that could be physical, emotional, mental strength, where you can go through the whole day and say, I don't have time to read the Word, so I have to get all these things done.

The strain of it, of doing it on your own without depending on God, will cost you far more energy and time than if I actually take time to be with God.

Well, you've often told the story about the lady that had a famine.

You have to speak more loudly and clearly because of that mask.

You've also told the story about the woman that had a famine. For half an hour, she... One hour. One hour. Susanna Wesley, yeah. And she would, you know, everybody had to be quiet, and she'd put her apron over her face and pray.

Yeah, yeah.

So, we all have 24 hours in a day. And I firmly believe that if we take time for Jesus, time for His Word, that He'll make time for us.

I think Don Currens talked to us Saturday morning about discipline. And discipline, too. Yeah. He says, I get up at six in the morning, so I have enough time to read my Bible. Excuse me. And then go on with what I have to do.

Yeah. I think that was a really good point.

It is, it is. Now, the fruit of the Spirit is self-control or self-discipline. Because some of us are not very self-disciplined. Some of us are erratic. And I need the Holy Spirit and a dependence upon Him that drives me to the Word of God, that enables me to do that.

Some people, their whole life as well is very disciplined. But God can bring discipline into your life by His power. If I'm willing to yield to the Spirit's power and control in my life, I'm willing to yield to Him in that.

But if I'm unwilling to do that, if I'm unwilling to meet with God, I'm unwilling to get into the Word of God. Well, that's a whole other thing, isn't it? We will not find much freedom if we do not walk in the truth.

We won't walk in the truth if we don't know what it is, or if we're unwilling to read it and listen to it. And I've said before, I think I'm like a sieve. Oh, it only holds so much, and most of it leaks out.

So I need to be constantly in the Word, constantly being filled with the truth of God in my life. So, I mean, there's a lot we could talk about in terms of the Word and memorizing Scripture. Well, it's just a tremendous thing.

So often, a Scripture that you've memorized will come back to you, and you'll find God speaking to you from that memorized verse. Even with not having the Word open in front of you or not going to that particular verse, He will recall verses that you already have.

So, yeah, immerse ourselves in the Word of God. I don't think there's anyone that has an effective prayer life that is not immersed in the Word. I don't think it's quite, you know... I mean, I understand in places where they don't have Bibles, where they can't, you know, and God meets them with what they have.

But when we have that availability and we don't, we are missing the vitality of prayer, because you'll not have a vital prayer life. There'll be a great hindrance to prayer if I am not willing to be in the truth of the Word of God.

So ignoring the Word of God is to our peril. Another hindrance to prayer is unbelief. James 1 .5 says, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. Do you ever find this verse challenging? I do. It is unbelief easy to be there. For let not that man suppose he'll receive anything from the Lord.

He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Wow, it's just... You can almost feel like, Okay, how can I ask with such faith with no doubting? Because if I'm doubting, I'm like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

What does this verse make you feel like when you read it? What's your reaction to that? Don't suppose you're going to receive anything from the Lord.

Any comments? Is it doubting? Huh? Is it doubting that maybe I won't get it, or maybe I won't get an answer? Well, what do you think? That's what I think. I'm asking, but I'm not sure. Right.

What's the point of praying, but I'll pray anyway, but it probably won't come true. Yeah, I probably won't be given, but I'll pray anyway, but I doubt that it will make any difference. What about the man who said, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.

Well, when you read this, let's look at what the prayer was in the first place, okay? If you lack wisdom, ask of God who gives to all liberally without reproach, and it will be given to him. If you are praying, and you know that it is in the will of God, then you are no longer...

See, the idea that praying in the will of God, there are people who get mad, they actually get angry, Christians who get angry when you say, well, you have to ask according to his will, because they suddenly feel like, if I'm asking according to his will, then that's so narrow.

I'm not going to have very much to ask, as if the will of God was small. When the will of God is great, there are many things that you can ask in assurance, for as a matter of fact, can you ask for wisdom and be certain that you'll get it?

Yes. How do you know?

It says it here. Yeah, he gives liberally and without reproach.

He gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Yeah. So this comes back again, and that's why I've tied this one in with the word, because the truth of God's word, I can go to the word of God, and there is much that I can pray with absolute assurance that this is in the will and the way of God.

And therefore, I'm not living in the land of doubt. I'm not living in the land of doubt, because I know this is what God has said, and I can take him at his word. It is a place of actually believing that God is who he is and says what he says is true.

So that's the position to take in prayer. Now, there are things that we are uncertain as to what the will of God may be, and in that respect, we can ask him and ask him to, Lord, show me your way, show me your will in this matter.

Take me further, take me deeper in prayer in this matter. So what he's speaking about here is a doubt, tossed like the wind and the waves, because there is an unbelief in the truth of who God is and what he has already promised.

Is that making sense to you? If God has promised something in his word, I can take him at his word, and I can pray it without wondering, I wonder if this is in the will of God. So often I will encourage people and say, wow, why don't you go through your Bible and find out how much of the will of God there is and start praying there.

And when you start praying there, you will find you have lots to pray about.

Do you mean promises, all the promises of God?

Yes, the promises of God, and also what God has, the way of God, who he is, what his character is like, will he do this, does he, there's so much about who God is.

Yeah, he loves us unconditionally, he loves us no matter what.

Yeah, so to discover his will will bring us into a place of prayer where unbelief is not the mark here. I mean, this is strong words here. He said, don't suppose you get anything from the Lord. He's a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

This is like a real challenge. But the real challenge here is the fact that if God has promised something, I can take it to the bank. I can pray it through with a great confidence that he will do it. So I would encourage you to grow in prayer in this way, to realize, okay, Lord, unbelief, it is a great sin, unbelief.

It really is. It's at the core of lostness, unbelief. So Lord, take me into the place of faith and prayer, of actually believing what you say in your word. There are many things that you may have uncertainties about and those things you can talk to God about them and you can say like the man who said, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.

That's just open honesty. But when you know that something is in the will of God, then there is no room for unbelief. I have to take God at his word. And if I don't take him at his word, I've already decided he's not going to do it.

I'm already living in the place of doubt. I'm like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. No assurance, but it is no assurance because there is no foundation underneath. This really expresses a lack of foundation altogether here because we have much that we can be praying about.

Another hindrance to prayer, this might seem almost obvious. You don't pray. That's a pretty big hindrance to prayer. You just don't pray. James 4 says, where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desire for pleasure that war in your members?

Who is he writing to? He's writing to professing Christians. He's saying, where did all this conflict come from? Don't they come from your desire for pleasure that war in your members that you want, you lost and you don't have?

Your murder and covenant cannot obtain your fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You've abandoned prayer and you thought that what you need and what you want is to be gotten by your own conniving, your own way of going about things.

So you're busy trying to live your life without dependence upon God, without calling on the name of the Lord. And so that means you're left up to your own devices and your own devices are not good. And they give an example of all the wickedness that comes out with the manipulation and all the things that you try to do to get things to happen the way you want them to happen and no prayer.

You don't have because you don't ask. Now we'll get into the asking for the wrong reasons. But here, the challenge here is that you've abandoned prayer and you've trusted in your own devices and this is the result of it.

You don't pray. So when you think about this, you don't pray. You might say, well, that's not me. I'm afraid it is at times. I'm afraid it is probably quite frequently. How easily do you become anxious and you're trying to figure out how to fix something, whatever it might be, and you're not praying it through.

We should be praying about how many things. Philippians 4, 6 says what? Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known to God. Now what's the word, the big word here in the context of what we're talking about?

Thanksgiving? With thanksgiving? No. You're missing it. No. Everything. In everything. Do you get it? You see what I'm saying? In everything. Oh, there's a huge crisis that's too big for me. I need to pray about it.

We're good at that. We know what to do with that because it's beyond us. But do we understand that everything in life is beyond us and that means in everything prayer? And I'm focusing on the word everything here because the other ones are all true too.