DaySpring Daily Word of Inspiration: Proverbs 15:29 – The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
Today as we examine our devotional we get a chance to see how our mindsets and lifestyles can affect our blessings; namely our prayers being received by God.
Did you know that God’s presence is what produces a miracle in trials? It’s not that a trial is resolved and then God shows up. God showing up is the only way that trials, problems, situations, and circumstances receive a miracle working power. However, if we’re not able to communicate with God while we’re in our various seasons of trials, why do you think he would show up? So the question would be what will hinder my ability to communicate with my Lord?
The answer is written in our passage from today. It lets us in on the fact that we have an obligation to perform, conduct, and deny ourselves of acts, mindsets, and character flaws that are in direct opposition to what the Word of God teaches. We can’t think we can live anyway we want and expect God to show up (with his miracle working power) and answer our prayers for his help. We are highly mistaken if we believe that we’re at liberty to continue in our natural ways of sin and think we have any real, rich relationship with God to where he hears our cries and calls for assistance. God’s word even tells us that prayers may be hindered if we don’t do what is right (1 Peter 3:7)! Now, although the scripture I just mentioned is speaking about husbands and wives, it has all to do with the responsibility that we have to each other in conducting ourselves as children of God. As a parent, you know your child’s voice and they know yours. If there was ever a time when you were separated or needing to get their attention (or vice versa), the recognition of your voice or theirs would get each other’s attention. The same can be said about our Father God! God’s children know his voice and God knows his children’s voices. Listening to and being obedient to the Words of our Father are signs that we are his children. So if we have a trial or problem and call out to him, he will hear our voices and eventually answer our prayers (in his timing). If you’re living a lifestyle that isn’t a representative of the family of God and continue to do acts and deeds of wickedness, can you really consider yourself a child of God and more importantly, do you think He will be answering your cries for help; your prayers?
Today we pray that each of us take a look at our own lives and evaluates where we really stand in our relationship with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Don’t have your prayers hindered or completely unanswered because of your disobedience. It will only push God further away from you. The further away from God we become, the less likely we are to have him answer our prayers, hear our cries, or have a relationship with him at all. Take on the righteousness of God and let his ears be inclined to you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!