When Your Prayers are Blocked

 The enemy sets up limitations that make us miss our answers.

The Kingdom of darkness blocks the answers to our prayers through diversion, delay, and deception. The enemy stands in the way of the believer's testimonies, blessings, victories, opened doors e.tc which are fruits of the answered prayers. The work of the devil is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

In Daniel 10:12-14, the Bible records that Daniel's prayer was answered by God immediately. However, an Angel was assigned to deliver the answers but was held hostage by the prince of Persia for twenty-one days. Many believers pray and receive answers but the answers to their prayers are obstructed by powers of darkness.  Do not, therefore, be discouraged and lose hope in God if you do not receive answers to your prayers timely. You need to understand that God answers prayers. 

In Mathew 13:54-58, The Bible records an account where Our Lord Jesus was limited to perform miracles and heal those afflicted by the devil. The Bible says, "Coming to his home town, he began teaching the people in their synagogues and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked, "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things? And they took offense at him...And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.."

The forces of darkness challenge your answered prayers regardless of your spiritual authority as a believer. They neither recognize nor respect the highest level of anointing. Daniel was an anointed servant of God who was dedicated to a prayerful life. Daniel was full of wisdom and understanding but these demonic powers managed to steal and detain his victory in 21 days. Jesus Christ too came face to face with these territorial powers which challenged his power and authority in his hometown.

The word of God assures us that God has a good plan for everyone. The kingdom of darkness opposes the good plans of God over our lives through deceitful devices. Moses was stopped from entering the promised land because of anger; Abraham, Isaac, Rachael, and Hannah faced barrenness and delay in bearing a child. Remember the word of God assures us in the book of Exodus 23:25-26 that, when you serve Him, He blesses your drink and food and takes away sickness from your home. He also assures us in verse 26 that none will miscarry nor be barren. You can, however, challenge the oppression of demonic powers over your life by the Word of God.

Demonic limitations limit us from attaining our God-given destinies; they steal our victories, exchange our gifts, destroy what we have toiled for, bring diseases, premature death, delay, stagnation, shame, etc. 1 Peter 5:8, 'Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.' "  John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

How to Pray to Overcome 

You need to engage the enemy through a prayer of warfare. Ask God to fight for you, since all spiritual battles belong to the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:15, 1 Samuel 17:47, Psalms 121:1-8). 

1. Ask God to send help from heaven through Angelic intervention. Job 20:12-15, "Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue, though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth, yet his food will turn sour in his stomach, it will become the venom of serpents within him. He will spit it out, the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up."

2. A prayer of warfare requires you to declare the word of God in your petition. The enemy cannot resist the word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit and the truth of God's testimony. The word of God commits God to action. 

Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,  of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

3. Invoke the name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus.

Revelations 12:11, "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;" Romans 10:13, "for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

4. We overcome the kingdom of darkness by the Holy Spirit of God. Zechariah 4:6, "So he said to me" This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. Pray in Spirit. Prayer remains the most effective and most powerful tool that you can use to receive Devine revelation and strength that can save your life.