Hearken Therefore

“Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭6:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Do we ever consider that our prayers may not be heard? We pray; we ask for prayer; does it ever cross our mind that our prayers may not reach the ears of God? Reading this morning, I hear Solomon pleading with God to listen for the prayers of his people; for God to incline His ear; and to forgive!

Many, many times, throughout The Word, we hear the same:

“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.” ‭Psalms‬ ‭61:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And the reasons why God won’t hear:

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” Psalms‬ ‭66:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And then of course the remedy:

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭7:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Repentance is the key; turning from our wicked ways towards God’s way; obedience to His Word!

“Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭7:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

These conditions still exist today. God listens for the repentant heart’s cry!

“The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.” Psalms‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.” Psalms‬ ‭66:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“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 ‭KJV‬‬

If your prayers are going unanswered, ask God to show you the sin that is hiding in your heart. He will! Then repent!

“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 ‭KJV‬‬

Sin hinders our prayers! But a repentant heart is heard! And Jesus is listening for that cry!

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And He continued: “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Praying with a repentant heart essential to be heard!

Check your heart! 

Repent!

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Psalms‬ ‭24:3-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even so - MARANATHA