When God Says He Won't Listen To Your Prayers...
- Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro
- Jan 14, 2019
- 5 min read
“When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims. Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good..." (Isaiah 1:15-17NLT).
The passage above is where it’s starts and ends. I receive so many requests from people to pray for them. Prayer is not a joke to me. I will pray for that person, and many times God will tell me, “I will not hear this prayer. That person is not right before me. Stop praying. Tell them why I will not hear this prayer.” I squirm like a worm, and I hate worms!! I know I have to call the person and deliver that word. I wish I could tell you that for every call the response is repentance. Sadly, it is NOT.
The Word of God is clear, precise, and straight forward. He does NOT hear the prayers of those who insist on living ungodly. “Even though you make MANY prayers I will NOT hear.” Can God get more clearer? Some may ask, “But we are sinful people. We make mistakes.” Very true! As long as we are on planet earth, we will sin. That’s a fact! But God isn’t talking about that. He’s taking about the intent of the person to continue in doing what is sinful and wrong in His eyes. It’s a blatant choice.
Two years ago, I was driving through Connecticut. I was holding and talking on my cell. Talking on the cell phone and holding the cell in Connecticut isn’t allowed. I didn’t know that. The pediatrician’s office was calling for one of my kid’s prescription, and I had to take the call. Next to me was a police car. I kept talking. He kept looking at me, I didn’t get his signal for me to get off the cell. Finally, he pulled me over. He was mad! I was still on the call, and I tried to explain. He said, “Miss, your cell is blatantly in front of me!” Thank God he didn’t give me a ticket. My kids to this day still use that policeman’s line, “Miss, your phone is blatantly in front of me!”
My point is people blatantly, without shame, do things they shouldn’t do. They don’t heed the Word of God. Instead of repenting, they continue, insisting on living life their way.
God hates sin. The people in this passage did the “Church” thing. They only did the religious things. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough then, and it’s not enough now. Last night, I was discussing this with a real good friend of mine. I said, “If you want God’s blessings you must do things His way.” This is always where my friendships continue with people or they end. Some make the choice to no longer be my friend because I will not compromise. Thank God it’s not the case with my friend.
God is too important to me. I can’t sin willfully. I don’t care who likes me or who doesn’t. I don’t care who welcomes me into the church and who asks me to leave. People of God and ministers of God’s Word want people of holiness around them. They surround themselves with people of moral character, integrity, and godliness. When a person of God gets on their knees to pray, God hears the prayer of the righteous but rejects the prayer of the wicked.
REFLECTION: Think about this today. Do you want God to hear you? Turn your back on evil. Do what is right before God. Shun evil! Walk uprightly. This life will cost you much. There are many hypocrites out there pretending to be people of God or preachers of God’s Word, and they are wolves in sheep clothing. You must know God’s Word. David said, “I have hid Your Word in my heart so I will not sin against you.” Have you hidden God’s Word so you can fight the temptations that will come your way, and NOT sin?
Before anyone asks, “We live under grace because of what Jesus did on the cross.” That’s correct, we do. The Cross is NOT our license to continue to sin. We are forgiven for our sins, we don’t continue to sin on purpose. We have a free will. God can’t make us do anything we don’t want to do. However, He has the power to hear, or not hear your prayers. I fear God too much to blatantly sin in any way, form, or shape.
I draw the line and will not cross it. Please do the same. Choose God and God’s ways. Don’t blatantly do things that are evil in His sight. So, what are the sins I’m talking about? Take a look at the following passage. God plays no games!
"These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren."
Proverbs 6: 16-19
Write that list down and be sure your not sinning in any of those areas. Remember, being tempted is not a sin. However, actually doing any of them is a blatant sin before His eyes. That policeman was gracious to me. I broke the law and right in front of Him. I have and continue to drive through Connecticut. I still talk on my cell, but NOT holding the cell. I learned my lesson. I follow the laws of that State. God’s expectations are the same. We are to follow His laws.
I will be taking each of those seven sins and discussing them with you. Take a moment today and ask God to show you if there is anything blocking your prayers. To be clear, unanswered prayers don't mean you are sinning. This devotional isn’t about that. Sometimes the answer is no or wait. I’m talking specifically about blatant sins in our lives. We have the Holy Spirit that shows us exactly what is and isn’t pleasing to God. He gently uses that thing we call “Guilt” which is not really guilt. It’s called "Conviction." He is our moral compass. Unfortunately, too many people ignore it or make excuses. When we do that, our coincidence becomes seared. Then, we find ourselves in the position of this passage above. God then says, “Cease from doing evil and learn to do good.” When we then repent from doing evil and choose to do good, our prayers are answered and we live blessed lives.
Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You are the Righteous One, and You are the One Who Can Destroy Both Body and Soul in Hell. Father, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Father, I'm sorry for sinning against You. Forgive me, and fill me with Your Spirit. Let me walk the old godly way once again. Remind me to always hide Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Help me to remain steadfast and walk in obedience to Your laws and commands. May they be my delight and constantly be before me as I reflect on them. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Linda A. Knowles
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