A Condition of Answered Prayer. 08/29/2014 (Morning thought)

Psalms 66:18  If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

This passage of scripture outlines for us in precis form, one of the most common deterrents to our prayers being answered, for it states explicitly that the harboring of iniquity and cherished sin, effectively forestalls any intervention by God in our behalf. Some popular preachers and televangelists would have us believe that we can be blessed by God while deliberately disregarding His word, or knowingly trampling upon His laws, and this teaching seems to have legs because of the apparent prosperity and honor that often attend these sooth-sayers. As a matter of fact, this teaching has become so popular with the multitudes that it sometimes causes the true children of God to question their faith, and their relationship to The Giver of all good things.

In order for our prayers to receive any answers from the Lord, we must be living according to the scriptural knowledge we have had, and we certainly cannot be in flagrant violation of any known laws or commandments, for God never blesses disobedience, although satan and his agents would have us believe otherwise. Let's read:

Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

When the children of Israel prayed to God for deliverance from their enemies on several different occasions, He responded in the affirmative, if they were not deliberately indulging any known sin on a continual basis. This sacred truth was cited by God as the reason why Balaam's "Voodoo" could not work on the Hebrews, for they were at that time walking in step with what they knew to be right. Let's read:

Numbers 23:20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. 21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.

But when the same Balaam succeeded in getting the Hebrews to bow down to idols by partying in a lewd and licentious manner, their defense departed, and they then became vulnerable to the assaults of their enemies. The same scenario is true of those who at one time in their experience with The Lord, were living in harmony with God's revealed will, but who afterward turned from righteousness to a life of sin and moral abandon. It's not that God would not hear our prayers, but our petitions must first consist of confessing and forsaking known sin, which then paves the way for God to hear and answer our other petitions.

There was once a very prominent evangelist and pastor who was once active in the cause of Christ, and won many thousands of souls for His kingdom. But after many years of brilliant achievements through the power of God, he began to wander into forbidden territory, and finally succumbed to the wily temptations of the evil one, and on account of his departure, he is now homeless, and living on the streets. Question: Will God hear and deliver such a person out of their troubles? Answer: He may, according to His discretion and will, but we must know for certain that the sins committed must first be repented of and renounced.

In our own experiences, we should always be quick to confess and forsake sin, in any shape or form, when our consciences are enlightened by the word of God and the promptings of The Holy Ghost, for it is never safe to negotiate with evil, and we all desire our prayers to receive an answer. If we walk in the light by the grace and power of God, He makes a solemn promise that He will hear and answer us when we cry unto Him, and He will also give us the desires of our hearts, according to His good will. We therefore end with a promise to those who may have sinned against God, yet desire to be once again brought back into His favor, for if we serve The Lord in sincerity and in truth, His words and promises are as certain as the sun rising in the east. Let's read:

2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

May we ever experience the joy of serving God, and may our petitions to Him receive the appropriate answers, for God is faithful who has promised, and whatever He does is always for our best good. God bless!