Why do we need to be cleansed from sin before we pray? Listen to this message to review that prayer takes us immediately into the presence of God. Sin prevents prayer from being heard by God so, as believers, we need to confess any known sins. See how this is a theme throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Prayer does not make us spiritual. We pray because we have been made spiritual when we believe in Christ as our Savior. The issue here is not forgiveness of sins but cleansing.