Here we come to another principle that runs throughout the Bible.

“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (Jas. 5:16). Effective praying depends on right living.

“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way… so that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Pet. 3:7). Effective praying depends on right living.

“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psa. 66:18).

This does not mean that you have to be perfect before you can pray. The reason that we come to God in the name of Jesus is that none of us can come before Him with hands that are entirely clean or hearts that are entirely pure.

But these Scriptures clearly teach that if there is sin in your life that you refuse to face, God says, “If you will not deal with your sins, I will not listen to your prayers.”

That’s why self-examination and confession of our sins is so important when we come to God. God has made an inseparable connection between your relationship with Him and your responsibilities toward other people.

In the Lord’s Prayer, when we come and ask God to forgive us for our sins, He immediately asks us to look around and see if we need to forgive someone who has sinned against us. How can we receive from Him what we are not willing to offer to others?

Is there a sin in your life that you are aware of, but have been unwilling to face?