Thoughts for another day

March 30, 2009.

Today's verse: Ezek. 20:7. Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Yesterday, while on the topic of prayer it occurred to me that world changing prayers are rarely answered thesedays. Is it that God is not answering those prayers or turning a deaf ear to us now? That’s not possible because God is the same yesterday, today and forever and if He answered such prayer before (as we see in the answers sent for such prayers in the Bible), then He should answer them even today. So where’s the problem? I reckon it lies in us and a clue can be found in our verse today.

I believe when we ask for something, it needs to be asked in faith. Let’s further say, we exhibit some amount of faith and ask but do we fulfill conditions required for an answer? And I know the condition of our hearts, is important for an answer. God tells us in our verse above to cast away the abominations of our eyes because they make our hearts unclean and also that we don’t defile ourselves, meaning, engage in amorous deeds with idols so that we aren’t then seduced into immorality and wrong things challenging His supremacy. You see, either of these put us in an orbit away from God’s dwelling, which means we may pray, but our hearts will be far from God.

God acts on the words of our mouths only when our hearts are fully with Him. He cannot answer superfluous, and meaningless prayer, even if much words are used, as they are, leave alone not properly addressed to Him (just like a mail packet not reaching the intended recipient because of a wrong address), but also so incoherent (as is a letter written in bad handwriting) that there is no scope for Him to act on it. Basically, what I am saying is lack of sincerity and this because of our sinfulness. So heed God’s advice and leave sinfulness and you will see His Hand working mightily in your favor.