Hindrances To Intimacy With God

October 1, 2019August 19, 2020
by Kevin Bart

What are the hindrances to intimacy with God ? We have previously written about the Keys to Intimacy With God. Now we will focus on the hindrances to intimacy with God. The things that hinder us from enjoying close fellowship and intimacy with God.

There are various things in our life that can hinder our relationship and intimacy with God. The hindrances to intimacy with God include unconfessed sin, a lack of faith, willful disobedience, a lack of transparency with God, unforgiveness… Let’s take a look at the hindrances to intimacy with God.

Hindrances To Intimacy With God

1. UNCONFESSED SIN

“If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” Psalm 66:18

2. LACK OF FAITH

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.” James 1:6-7

“Without faith it is impossible to please the Lord.” Hebrews 11:6

3. WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE

“Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him.” 1 John 3:21-23

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15

“He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” 2 Corinthians 5:15

4. LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WITH GOD & OTHERS

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16

5. UNFORGIVENESS

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

6. WRONG / SELFISH MOTIVES

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:3

7. IDOLS IN OUR LIVES

“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all ?” Ezekiel 14:3

“I thought you would call me Father, and not turn away from following me. But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you have been unfaithful to me.” Jeremiah 3:20

8. DISREGARD FOR OTHERS

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

9. DISREGARD FOR GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY

“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10

10. UNSURRENDERED WILL/ REBELLION

“For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.” 1 Samuel 15:23

“Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted.” Isaiah1:5

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46

11. LUST

“But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28

12. COMPLAINING

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” Philippians 2:14-15

13. IMPATIENCE WITH OTHERS

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

” And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14

14. STRIFE

Colossians 3:9

15. PRAYERLESSNESS

“You do not have because you do not ask.” James 4:2

16. BITTERNESS

“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.” Hebrews 12:15

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” Ephesians 4:31

17. NOT THANKFUL / NOT GRATEFUL

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

“in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

18. LYING

” The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” Proverbs 12:22

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Colossians 3:9-10

19. UNRESOLVED CONFLICTS

“Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” Matthew 5:23-24

Thankfully God has given us instructions and guidance in the Bible on the hindrances to intimacy with God, and how to have close fellowship with Him. God has also given us a way to reconnect with Him and re-establish our intimate fellowship with God. It is called confession. If there are sinful things in our lives that are hindrances to our intimacy with God, we can humbly go to God and confess our sin(s) and receive forgiveness.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

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