The prayers of husband and wife may be hindered, as is taught in 1 Peter 3:7 (JND), "Ye husbands likewise, dwell with them according to knowledge, as with a weaker, even the female, vessel, giving them honor, as also fellow-heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered." If the husband does not honor the wife as a co-heir of eternal life, communion in prayer will be hindered, and the effect of united prayer will be lost.
James gives several moral hindrances to prayer. First, there is "double-mindedness," no real godly earnestness or definiteness of purpose. "Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." James 1:5-8. Second, asking amiss. "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your [pleasures]." James 4:3. The word "pleasures." given in the margin of the Authorized Version, is correct. It is not "lusts," but "pleasures"-and that, not necessarily bad pleasures. What is contemplated is self-pleasing, the mere desire of the natural mind; God's glory or our own spiritual profit is not considered at all, and God's people (see succeeding verse) are living in friendship with the world, which is, spiritually, adultery.
In comparison with opposition and hindrances, let us take notice of a great and substantial aid to prayer, namely, thanksgiving-"In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Phil. 4:6. "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving." Col. 4:2. Probably the advantage of thanksgiving as an aid to the soul is not fully seen. How often when the well of prayer seems dried, thanksgiving will cause the stream to flow! The recollection of mercies received, and blessings in possession, refreshes the soul, begets the sense that we are in communion with a giving God, and imparts new courage to approach Him with our requests. How many answers are received to prayers gone by, which are not recognized as answers, because in the interval the very prayers that were made are forgotten! Thus the opportunity for praise and thanksgiving is lost to the soul, a loss of happy and profitable exercise. Besides that, it is a failure in what is becoming towards God. Is it a fit thing to receive a gift and not return thanks? Between man and man it is a breach of manners, and that God takes notice of such failure towards Him is certain from the case of the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19). Only one of the ten who had been cleansed returned to give thanks, and how touching is the comment of the Lord! "Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger!" God looks for our gratitude, and that not only in the heart, but the positive expression of it, and He desires expression too, not merely in a general way, but definitely as to definite instances. Praise "is pleasant; and praise is comely" Psa. 147:1. A thankful soul is a happy soul. We can never get into circumstances where we have not cause for thanksgiving, and thanksgiving naturally leads to prayer.
Another aid and stimulus to prayer is private reading-reading God's Word itself, and the valuable written ministry which in the present day He has supplied to His children so abundantly as to be within reach of all. Such reading, in a proper spirit, begets prayer. It awakens the sense of need and encourages confidence towards God, leading to prayer, with blessing as the consequence. In the Word, God is speaking to us; in prayer we are speaking to Him; in both together, the circle of communion with God is completed. Neither will do without the other. The Christian who prays without the Word tends to become somewhat of a mystic. He who reads much without a corresponding measure of prayer, will get his head stocked with knowledge, but his soul will be barren. E. Thomas