May 11, 2004
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I received this in my e-mail the other day and it hit me like a rock after I read it. I just thought I'd share it with you all.
“God has stopped listening to her prayers.” I was explaining what a distressed church member had said. “Well, God certainly will not listen to someone who continues to live in sin.
You tell her to deal with unconfessed sin first.” The adamant tone of my friend surprised me. Does unconfessed sin really hinder our prayer? If so, how then can I be certain that God hears my prayer? The Psalmist, who struggle with this “frightful” thought, comforts us:
I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! Psalms 66:17-20 (NIV)
Indeed, God has repeatedly ignored the pleading of His people because they were deeply in sin. God withheld His mercy and pity because they have angered Him with detestable acts of idol worship and violence. Yet, it is perfectly clear that God welcomes and accepts my repentance, and He is always pleased to hear those who seek after Him.
Is my sin a reason my prayers go unanswered? Do I have the confidence that God is always pleased to hear my confession of sin and He always gives me what He deems best in His loving plan?
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