Scripture
“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Mark 11:24

Observation
What keeps prayers from being answered? The secret is in the verse above and the verse below.

The first shark under the water is doubt. It isn’t doubt alone that is the problem; it is where the doubt is kept.

“…And does not doubt in his heart…” (Mark 11:23)

Doubt stored in the heart is dangerous to faith. It is the fear unspoken that is most debilitating. The safest place for fear is in the presence of God. Prayer is more than telling God what we believe he can do; it is also confessing what we are afraid he cannot.

The second setback is unconfessed resentment.

“…Whenever you stand praying, forgive…” (Mark 11:25)

The choice to forgive is the release of the problem from our hands and placing it into the Lord’s. In a state of unforgiveness, God cannot help us because we are clutching the trouble. But when we forgive we release and the Lord takes control.

Application
I need to assess what I’m clutching in my hands and in my heart and bring it out into the presence of the Lord.

Prayer
Father, I want to approach you today with open and empty hands and heart. Amen.