Have you ever been in a place where you couldn’t get any connection on your cell phone, like in a basement or valley? In the same, cell phones can be a lot like prayer.

One thing that can get in the way and block connection is if there’s something wrong in our relationship with others. Matthew 5:23-24 says this: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come offer your gift.”

What that means is that if there’s something going on between you and someone you know, try to fix that relationship before deepening you relationship with God. Call or visit your friend, sibling, or parent, whoever, and try to make amends.

Another thing that can get in the way of connection is if there’s something wrong in our relationship with God. The first chapter in Isaiah describes a rebellious nation where everyone has rejected God and his commands. Verse 15 says that “When you spread your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.” Don’t take this verse in the wrong context, God will always be there for us. What this means is that God would rather you pray one, real, true, genuine prayer than dozens of them done only out of obligation.

One thing that can really kill connection is sin. David, one of the biggest pray-ers ever in the Bible, said this in Psalm 66:18: “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.“

When you’re talking with someone on the phone and another person tries to call you, you have to switch to ‘the other line’. You can’t talk to both of them at the same time. It’s the same deal with prayer. You can’t be pursuing sin and trying to deepen your relationship with God at the same time. But, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

But I think that one of the most common connection-killers is if we have the wrong motives. Sometimes we treat God like the pizza delivery guy. We list what we want, then hang up. James 4:3 says that “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.“ Prayer isn’t supposed to be just a vending machine. Just like a cell phone, it’s meant to help us communicate with God and have a better relationship with Him.

What do you think is blocking your connection with God? Sin? Pride? Wrong motives? It’s about time to fix the connection.