Blocked Prayer

Q: If three people are praying together and one of the three is not a Christian, does that block the prayers of the other two Christians?

A: Thank you for your question. No, prayers are not blocked because an unbeliever is praying with Christians. If an unbeliever is praying alone, their prayers are not unheard. And if multiple Christians are praying together it doesn't mean God is going to grant the prayer. Prayer is nothing more than simple communication with our God. If an unbeliever is praying with Christians, I would hope that the unbeliever is either confessing the Lord as their Savior, or at least, has a heart softened to the things of the Lord. In many ways that would be pleasing to God. The Bible says, "The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth (Psalm 145:18)." Hopefully, if an unbeliever is praying with Christians, all three of them are calling "on him in truth." "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)." The truth is that God wants all people to repent of their unbelief in Jesus Christ and turn to Him by faith. Perhaps, that is exactly what is going on when two Christians and an unbeliever are praying together. By the time the prayer is ended, we might have another believer in the family of God!

Jesus Christ said, "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst (Matthew 18:20)." Notice how He did not put any stipulations on who those gathering in His name should be. Therefore, it could be two Christians and an unbeliever or any other combination, including three unbelievers. Personally, I do not believe there is anything we can do that "blocks" prayers. Most often what we consider a blocked prayer is a prayer that is not answered to our satisfaction. It may just be that we are praying for something that God has not promised to give us. How many of our prayers are prayers of the flesh? We pray to be healed of illness, to find a job, to get married and even pray on behalf of others for various reasons. Now, God has and will continue to answer prayers like that when He sees the need to do so. However, the Bible says to "pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Eph 6:18)." To pray in the Spirit is the opposite of praying in the flesh. Rather than praying for blessings of the flesh, we should pray in the Spirit asking God to reveal to us what it is He has already given to us through His will or that which He wants us to know about Himself within the context of the circumstances that drove us to pray.

The will of God is a description of the inheritance we have received as a result of the death of Jesus Christ. Often, Christians pray only about what God wants them to do with their lives or what they want God to do for them. However, many do not pray for understanding about all they already have been given by God through faith in Jesus Christ. If you are believing that a prayer can be blocked so long as an unbeliever is praying with Christians it is probably because you are praying for something you do not believe you currently possess. "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)." Have you ever asked yourself how can you be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances? Given all the suffering we experience this seems impossible. But, when you realize all you already have in Christ your outlook on life will lead you to that conclusion. Christians, amongst other things, have total acceptance, complete forgiveness of all our sins, have the righteousness of God, are holy, blameless, sanctified and justified because of our faith in Jesus Christ. How do you think knowing all that will effect your prayer life?

When we understand our inheritance in Christ our prayers will change. Rather than prayers asking God for something in the midst of our circumstances, our prayers become ones of asking Him to teach us how what we already have in Him can affect how we deal with our circumstances. When you begin praying in this way, you discover that prayer is not something that can be blocked. Furthermore, you will begin to find reasons to be joyful always, continuously prayerful and always thankful. I believe the Apostle Paul's understanding of this is what lead to him to say, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want (Philippians 4:12)." Regardless of his circumstances he was content. Why? Because he was resting in what he already had in Christ that could not be taken away despite his circumstances. That fact alone made him content even though he suffered mightily for the faith up to and including his death. All God has given us is directly related to His unconditional love for us. And it is in experiencing His love that we learn that nothing "in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39)." Since nothing can separate us from the love of God, it is safe to assume that includes not having our prayers blocked because we might be praying with an unbeliever. Thank you and may God continue to reveal to you all that you already have been given through your faith in Jesus Christ. Be blessed.