Does God Listen to All Prayers?

[Bible Speaks]

Lesson for today.

(John 9:31)  "We know that God does not listen to sinners,  but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he listens to this one." 

Clearly, those who show contempt for God’s laws or pray with improper motives cannot expect to be heard by God. Those who disregard God’s Word and law, shedding blood and practicing other wickedness, do not receive a favorable hearing from God; their prayers are “detestable” to him. (Pr 15:29; 28:9; Isa 1:15; Mic 3:4) The very prayer of such ones can “become a sin.” (Ps 109:3-7) King Saul, by his presumptuous, rebellious course, lost God’s favor, and “although Saul would inquire of Jehovah, Jehovah never answered him, either by dreams or by the Urim or by the prophets.” (1Sa 28:6)

Jesus said that hypocritical persons who sought to draw attention to their piety by praying received their “reward in full”—from men, but not from God. (Mt 6:5)

The pious-appearing Pharisees made long prayers, boasted of their superior morality, yet were condemned by God for their hypocritical course. (Mr 12:40; Lu 18:10-14)

Though they drew near with their mouths, their hearts were far from God and his Word of truth. Finally, when we pray about something, we must do everything we can to work at what we are praying for.

For example, if we pray to Jehovah for our daily needs, then we can’t be lazy and expect Jehovah to give us everything even though we are able to work for it.

We must work hard and accept whatever job we are able to do. (Matthew 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10)

Or if we pray to Jehovah for help to stop doing something wrong, we must avoid any situation that could tempt us. God does not accept all prayers.

How, then, can we pray with the assurance that our prayers will be accepted?

Faithful people to whom God listened in former times approached him in sincerity and with the right heart attitude.

They showed faith and backed this up with fine works. We can be assured that Jehovah will listen to those who approach him in like manner today.  

The prayers of those who profess to serve Jehovah but at the same time practice works that conflict with his laws become like an offensive odor to him. (Proverbs 15:8)

Let us, then, continue to keep all aspects of our lives clean so that our prayers are like sweet-smelling incense to God. Jehovah delights in the prayers of those who follow his righteous paths.

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102015157#h=1:0-26:217