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Thursday, November 03, 2016

Hindered Prayers Part 2


“If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.” Proverbs 28:9
Have you ever wondered about those who ignore wise counsel and continue to live in their own destructive ways and then wonder why God isn’t listening to their prayers? 
Is God not gracious?  Is God not merciful?  Is God not kind? Is God not patient?  Is God not Love?
God is all those things and more but He is also a good father.  He knows when we just want a quick fix and then go back to living like those heading for hell.  All the way back with Adam and Eve in the Garden, God has told us there are consequences for our actions.  Consequences teach us something…
We can tell a child the stove top is hot repeatedly but some children are stubborn and ignore such warning and find out first hand that the stove top is indeed hot with a lingering reminder on their finger.
“The LORD is far from the wicked: but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29
We cannot think our prayers will be heard … if we are continuing to choose to live in sin. 
We have heard this verse a lot in regards to our country but what about in our personal life?
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:13-17
I find when we boil the meat of wickedness which is sexual sin, greed, foul language, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, gossip, backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, boastful, disobedience, and unforgiving you find the bone that holds such things… this bone is refusing to acknowledge, reverence, obey and trust God. 
What does a person have when they don’t uphold God as their source of their “well” being?
Who does the mind think it’s accountable to then?  Who then decides your moral compass if there is no acknowledgement to God?
Romans 14:12 says, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
True answered prayer is “life” giving wisdom that comes from God.  It’s living wisdom not wisdom that just in your head but wisdom that lives in your heart.  It is hope when there seems to be no reason for hope. It is peace when there is no reason for peace.  It’s assurance when there is not reason for assurance.  
Proverbs says, Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.  Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.  Instead fear the LORD and turn your back on evil.  Then you will gain renewed health and vitality.
Don’t let your own wisdom and understanding make an “impression” on you… where you think of yourself so highly or you are so self-absorbed in self-pity that you can’t even see what God is doing around you at “this” moment.
Truth is not “just” what we see… which can fool us but truth is found in trusting in the truths of God.
Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
If you hold on to the past or your own stumbling understanding - you are truly not acknowledging the living God.  You are either in a prison or on a hamster wheel going no where… I have been there.
Jesus said, “If the Son of God has set you free then you indeed are set free.”
God has opened the door to that prison but you chose to stay there or not.  Acknowledge God… turn your back on evil… Turn from the evil that has either happened to you or you have done or is manipulating you now.  Apologize to God for your wrongs and accept God’s love and truth in your heart over anything else…
And watch God answer.    


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