Relationships and Prayer

As we continue in our month of prayer and fasting, I was reminded there are many reasons that some prayers are not answered. While there can be many, I believe one of the main reasons is because of strained relationships. Each Christian has the responsibility to be in a right relationship with other people. In Romans 12:18, Paul instructs us, “…do your best to live at peace with everyone.” Not your friends, or co-workers, but everyone, and the burden is upon each of us. The blame game will not work here…regardless of fault, history, or problem. God clearly places the burden on us believers to be at peace with all people, and if you violate this spiritual law, your prayers will not be answered. Satan is so clever…he builds imaginary walls in our relationships with other people that effectively build walls between God and us, hindering our prayer life. Warren Wiersby writes that in ancient times "hinder" means to break up a road so the army cannot get through...to block the road with trees and rocks, anything to prevent the opposing army from advancing. This should not surprise us; satan’s only goal is to alienate us from God. Consider this: Your vertical relationship with God will determine your horizontal relationships with people AND your horizontal relationships with people will determine your vertical relationship with God. The two go hand in hand! Now, I don’t know who your struggles are with, but you might now reconsider taking actions toward reconciliation. And here’s a gift from God: the first move is always yours. There is no one who can take that opportunity away from you. We should want to do whatever it takes to make things right with other people…not tomorrow, but today! Our relationship with the Father depends on it!