Are there any conditions of being heard? Is there a difference of heart for which God hears some prayers and declines others? Some faith healers would say that if the answer did not come it is because your faith was not strong enough. Still even our faith is a gift of God’s graciousness as the Holy Spirit trains us up (sometimes through great trials). So again are their conditions to being heard? In the book of Jeremiah we may see that Jeremiah 11:” 9 And the Lord said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.11 Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.”
God is not and will not be our “get out of jail free” card that is called upon only in a time of desperation. For the unbeliever, a cry out to God in a moment of trial may or may not be answered. God sometimes answers that He might become known to the unbeliever and other times He may not. For the believer, there are times when we have wandered so far from the central core of His will that He may have ordained the storm for the purpose of drawing us back.
Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2010 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws.
God knows and sees the heart whether it is seeking Him for the gifts only or if it is seeking the Treasure of knowing Him.
For those who are seeking to follow Him, He has promised–Jeremiah 33: “2 Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name; 3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
How do you know if you are going to be heard or not?
1. Do you see Him as so worthy of your praise that if He never gave you anything in return; you would praise Him anyway—because of who He is?
2. Do you feel the working of the Holy Spirit in your life, guiding you, coaxing you, and drawing you to His word?
3. Do you feel the sting of sorrow over your inability to be and do all that you should before a righteous God?
4. Do you see glimpses of Christ as Glorious and one to be desired above every treasure?
5. Do you desire to know Him and to love Him more?
Then, I bid you call upon Him and see the mighty things which He will do. And if not, I still bid you call upon Him with a heart that is open.
Can you sing along with this song Because of Who You Are as it is sung here by Vicki Yohe.
© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2010 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws. If you desire copies please go to:
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/broken-and-contrite-heart-ronald-barba.html
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”