Whose Prayers Does God Answer?

Not all who pray to God get a hearing ear from Him. Those who approach God in prayer should not expect God to favorably hear their prayers as long as they see no need to repent works of the flesh, such as sexual immorality, spiritism, fits of anger. If one refuses to become cut to the heart over his sins--if he refuses to let the spiritual and moral standards of God's Word the Bible convince him that he must repent his sinful way of life--, then he will not find favor with God even if he prays many times during the day. James 4:8-10 puts it this way: "Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you indecisive ones. Give way to misery and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into despair. Humble yourselves in the eyes of Jehovah, and he will exalt you." If one sincerely desires to do the will of God no matter the cost to himself, then the God of the Bible will draw that repentant person to Himself; God will open wide his heart to accept His Son Jesus Christ as his ransomer from sin's wages, death. There cannot be a fine relationship with God if there is no fine relationship with Jesus Christ (cf. John 17:3). Jesus has told us this: "No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). And this: "[Jesus] said: What I teach is not mine, but belongs to him who sent me. If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or I speak of my own originality" (John 7:17). God Himself makes sure of it. So, if one truly has God-granted assurance that he is getting a hearing ear from God, then it is because he is a true Christian, a real disciple of God's Son Jesus Christ. Like Jesus, he will be delighted to be doing what is truly God's will.