Devotionals

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(excerpt from Morning Meditations by Martin Wiles)
Proverbs 28:9 The prayers of a person who ignores the law are despised. (NLT)

I’ve prayed regularly for them since they were born. For God to protect them, that they would enter a personal relationship with him, and that they would follow him obediently.

Sometimes it appeared God answered my prayers but on other occasions my prayers seemed to hit sheetrock. And prayers concerning my children weren’t the only ones that didn’t always seem to reach heaven. Did God only listen sporadically or was I guilty of voicing ceiling prayers?

The sage says God despises the prayers of those who ignore his laws, and the psalmist said if he regarded iniquity in his heart, God would not hear (Psalm 66:18). Does this mean my actions affect my prayers for my children and other people? And even myself?

A little philosophizing is in order. If God is God, doesn’t he hear everything? Is it even possible for him not to hear? If it is, then events are occurring he is unaware of. That conclusion contradicts the bible’s message. So what do the sage and psalmist mean when they say prayers are despised and not heard?

In some respects prayer is a complicated matter. From another viewpoint, it is one of the simplest ways to interact with our heavenly Father. We talk and listen, and God talks and listens. But when we pray ceiling prayers an interruption occurs.

Prayers don’t have to transcend ceilings for God to hear them. He is Spirit and everywhere, including the hearts of his children. But unconfessed sin and confessed sin that we intend to repeat as soon as we finish praying and confessing it affect the prayer’s height and our spiritual breadth. God hears alright but the answer is affected and so is our hearing. Sin crowds out God’s voice, and he never rewards disobedience.

Obedience, confession, love and service take our prayers beyond the ceiling and into the heart of God. Honesty brings his attention and answers. Determine what keeps your prayers earth bound and turn it loose so God’s voice can be clearly heard.

Prayer: When we’re tempted to hang on to sin, Lord, unhinge our clasped fingers so we can hear You plainly. www.morningliteministry.com

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