There are reasons why God listens to our prayers and reasons why He does not. Those that do His will and confess and forsake their sins does He listen to and respond. However, this is not always in our time, so we must be patient. Now, those who do evil, does God not hear, no matter how much we cry out for help. So if you wish to know what it takes for God to finally listen to you, then read with me the following verses from 1 Peter, chapter 3. It is written, “finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” (1 Peter 3:8-12) Seeing what Peter said here about how God acts around the righteous compared to the wicked should be startling to those in sin. So I pray they repent. I am also not free from sin and know and have also seen God be distant in my life also. However, when I repent and then start doing God’s will, the presence of the Lord is back.
What Peter said about God hiding His face to evildoers is in direct relation to what the blind beggar said to the Pharisees. After being healed by Jesus, He was filled with the Spirit and began to teach the Pharisees. It is written, “the man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.” (John 9:30-33) If you have ever been a victim to unanswered prayers, know that it could be that God will answer in His own time or that sin is in your life. Willful sin causes His eyes to be closed off to us. So if you or anyone else feels like God is distant in their lives or that you have not felt the Holy Spirit for some time, then look at your life. Are you living for God or the world? Who has your heart? It is it God, or something else? Do you willfully sin and continue in them or confess and forsake your sins? Depending on your life, is the reason why God responds to your prayers or denies them. However, if you confess and forsake your sins to the Lord, he will come back into your life like a fire. A fire burning in your heart to do His will as it is in heaven.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that You will help me stay clean, that I may not tarnish my relationship with you again. I know there have been times in my life where I have not heard You for some time because of my sins and I am so sorry. Forgive me for giving into temptation, when I should have cried out to You for help instead. I was weak and You could have given me strength to overcome. I am not able to defend myself on my own. My flesh is weak and will continue to fall unless I have You in my life to help me. Thank You for this week. I have looked to You in faith, not giving into temptation, which is better than last week. And the only reason why it’s been different is because You have been with me all throughout. Although I am alone and my family is far away on vacation, Your presence makes everything better. Thank You, Lord, for Your love for me. You are so patient, loving, kind, merciful, and forgiving. All I need is You in my life and I am happy. Teach me Your ways and I will do them. Lead me by the hand and I will go and do as You say. Truly, in this life, we can either be a vessel for the enemy or You in our lives. As for me, I choose to be Your vessel. Shine Your light in my life. Use me for Your glory. I pray that Your works will be seen through me as it is in heaven. I love You, Lord. I trust in You. Amen.
