The question of whether prayer really
works came up recently in a conversation with a church member. One lady adamantly declared
she had given up on prayer because it
doesn't work. Her prayers were never
answered. Some say God doesn't change
his mind. The implication here is that once
a course is set, there will be no way to
change it. Is this true?
Does God Answer Prayers?
A pastor once said that God always
answers prayer: yes, no, and not now! How
do we really know if God answers prayer?
The Bible tells of amazing examples of
prayer being answered.
In 2 Kings: 20:1-11, God changed his mind.
King Hezekiah was very ill. The prophet
Isaiah came to tell him the Lord God said
he was dying and to put his house in order.
Take a look at what happened next:
"In those days was Hezekiah sick unto
death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of
Amoz came to him, and said unto him,
Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in
order, for thou shalt die, and not live. Then
he turned his face to the wall, and prayed
unto the LORD saying, I beseech thee, O
LORD, remember now how I have walked
before thee in truth and with a perfect
heart, and have done that which is good in
thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it
came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out
into the middle court, that the word of the
LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and
tell Hezekiah the captain of my people,
Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy
father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen
thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the
third day thou shalt go up unto the house
of the LORD. And I will add unto thy days
fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and
this city out of the hand of the king of
Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine
own sake, and for my servant David's
sake." (vs. 1-6, KJV)
God answered Hezekiah's prayer! The
LORD not only answered his prayer, but
told him he would protect him from being
killed. The LORD even gave him a sign of
His good faith:
"And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have
of the LORD, that the LORD will do the
thing that he hath spoken: shall the
shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back
ten degrees? And Hezekiah answered, It is
a light thing for the shadow to go down ten
degrees: nay, but let the shadow return
backward ten degrees. And Isaiah the
prophet cried unto the LORD: and he
brought the shadow ten degrees backward,
by which it had gone down in the dial of
Ahaz." (vs. 9-11)
When God Seems Silent
God keeps His promises! So why does it
seem that God doesn't answer our
prayers? Consider these verses for ways we
hinder our prayers…
"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them
according to knowledge, giving honour
unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel,
and as being heirs together of the grace of
life; that your prayers be not hindered." 1
Peter 3:7
"For the eyes of the Lord are over the
righteous, and his ears are open unto their
prayers: but the face of the Lord is against
them that do evil." 1 Peter 3:12
"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask
amiss, that ye may consume it upon your
lusts." James 4:3
Sin hinders answered prayer.
"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,
and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he
have committed sins, they shall be forgiven
him. Confess you faults one to another,
and pray one for another, that ye may be
healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much." James
5:15-16
Unbelief in Jesus as the Savior and Lord of
your life hinders prayers. Why should He
respond to someone who doesn't believe?
However, the prayers of a sincere,
unbelieving man are heard as recorded in
Acts 10:
"And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a
just man, and one that feareth God, and of
good report among all the nation of the
Jews, was warned from God by an holy
angel to send for thee into his house, and
to hear words of thee." Acts 10:22
"Therefore came I unto you without gain
saying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask
therefore for what intent ye have sent for
me? And Cornelius said, Four days ago I
was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth
hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a
man stood before me in bright clothing,
And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard,
and thine alms are had in remembrance in
the sight of God." Acts 10:29-31
Removing What Hinders Our Prayers
The following is a very important passage
because it tells us anyone who fears God
and works righteousness is accepted by
Him. Salvation was not just for the Jews but
also for the Gentiles.
"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said,
Of a truth I perceive that God is no
respecter of persons: But in every nation
he that feareth him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with him." Acts
10:34-35
God heard Cornelius' prayer. He sent Peter
to teach Cornelius and his household
about Jesus. These also received the gift of
the indwelling Holy Spirit as the earnest of
their faith, and were baptized by
immersion (vs. 45-48).
God hears prayers. There is no doubt. We
can understand that sin hinders prayer,
and may cause it not to be answered. We
also can know that God hears and
responds.
Let us remember God hears and answers
the simplest of prayers to the most heart-
rending.
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