HOW TO AVOID THE HINDRANCES TO PRAYER PART 4 OF 5

TEXT- JAMES 4:1-10

INTRODUCTION

TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH THE SERIES OF LESSONS WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS ON THE TOPIC OF PRAYER.

SO FAR WE HAVE EXAMINED 11 REASONS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO PRAY.

THREE WAYS TO TAP INTO THE POWER OF PRAYER.

AND TEN TIMES IN WHICH WE ARE TO PRAY.

ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE EMPHASIZED THE POSITIVE CONDITIONS THAT NEED TO EXIST IN ORDER FOR OUR PRAYERS TO BE EFFECTIVE.

TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT EIGHT WAYS TO PREVENT YOUR PRAYER LIFE FROM BEING HINDERED.

DURING AN AUGUST 1989 FISHING VACATION IN MAINE, AVID FISHERMAN GEORGE BUSH DIDN'T CATCH A SINGLE FISH FOR SEVENTEEN STRAIGHT DAYS- AND IT ALL HAPPENED IN THE PUBLIC EYE.  REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS FOLLOWED THE PRESIDENT WHEREVER HE WENT IN HIS TWENTY-EIGHT -FOOT CIGARETTE BOAT NAMED FIDELITY.  A "FISH WATCH" WAS CREATED BY THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD, WHICH USED A BLUEFISH WITH A RED LINE THROUGH IT TO INDICATE EACH THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T CATCH A FISH.  REPORTERS WERE SEEN WEARING IMPROVISED PRESS CREDENTIALS WITH A "NO FISH" LOGO, AND WHEN THEY CAUGHT BLUEFISH IN THEIR OWN BOATS, THEY HELD THEM UP HIGH FOR THE ENVIOUS PRESIDENT TO SEE.  FINALLY, ON THE EIGHTEENTH, AND LAST DAY OF HIS VACATION, BUSH APPEALED FOR DIVINE HELP BY PRAYING AT ST. ANN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.  THAT DAY BUSH CAUGHT A 10-POUND BLUEFISH ON A JAWBUSTER LURE.  REPORTERS AND SECRET SERVICE AGENTS IN NEARBY BOATS CHEERED, AND BACK AT THE DOCK THE PRESIDENT WAS GREETED BY A CELEBRATION MORE BEFITTING AN ELECTION-NIGHT VICTORY THAN A TRIUMPH OVER A LONE BLUEFISH.