Unanswered Prayers
There are several reasons why our prayers go unanswered. All of them are faults of ours, and none of them are because God is unable or unwilling to answer prayer. The main problem that leads to our prayers going unheard or unanswered is sin. When God sees that we are harboring sin in our hearts, He will not answer our prayers.(Psalm 66:18,19) This is fairly easy to understand, but we need to explore it some.
Why would God answer the prayers of an unbeliever who just wants God's help, but won't acknowledge the Lord by turning from the sins that separate him or her from God and placing their trust in Him as Lord? If God did answer in those cases, He would be encouraging them to keep sinning. Instead, God wants all unbelievers to deal with their sin problem first, so the first prayer He answers from them is the prayer of repentance from sin and faith in Him.
Why would God answer the prayer of a believer who is sinning and doesn't want to confess it and stop sinning in that way? Again, He would be the "Enabler" in the relationship. God can't do that, just as we should not do it for other people. We must come to Him with sincere faith wanting to do His will and to see His will done. Then, He answers our prayers.
I am glad that this passage affirms that God did hear and answer the prayer of the Psalmist. Of course, we all sin at times, and no one is perfect. However, all it takes is sincere confession and repentance for God to remove our sins that block our close relationship with Him. Anyone can do that, and each of us should do that everyday as we start our day and begin our on-going conversation of God for that day. Let's be sure we are clean when we approach our Holy God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Then, we will see our prayers answered and many mighty works of God around us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 69-71.
Why would God answer the prayers of an unbeliever who just wants God's help, but won't acknowledge the Lord by turning from the sins that separate him or her from God and placing their trust in Him as Lord? If God did answer in those cases, He would be encouraging them to keep sinning. Instead, God wants all unbelievers to deal with their sin problem first, so the first prayer He answers from them is the prayer of repentance from sin and faith in Him.
Why would God answer the prayer of a believer who is sinning and doesn't want to confess it and stop sinning in that way? Again, He would be the "Enabler" in the relationship. God can't do that, just as we should not do it for other people. We must come to Him with sincere faith wanting to do His will and to see His will done. Then, He answers our prayers.
I am glad that this passage affirms that God did hear and answer the prayer of the Psalmist. Of course, we all sin at times, and no one is perfect. However, all it takes is sincere confession and repentance for God to remove our sins that block our close relationship with Him. Anyone can do that, and each of us should do that everyday as we start our day and begin our on-going conversation of God for that day. Let's be sure we are clean when we approach our Holy God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Then, we will see our prayers answered and many mighty works of God around us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 69-71.