Many people want to know a couple of things about God. One, does he answer prayer, and two, why does he require his followers to be holy? The answer to these two questions is closely linked. In one sense we know that God answers all prayers for there is nothing that God does not know and no voice that God does not hear, but we also know that this does mean that God grants all men and women a favorable response to their prayers, and that is really what we are after here. Does God answer prayers favorably?

The bible, as always is our guide in these matters, and so, we turn to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Here we hear the Almighty speak and declare: “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.” 2 Chronicles 7:14–16 (ESV)

We should see immediately how the holiness of God’s people is directly connected to the open ears of God. There is an expectation of humility and repentance on the part of the petitioner. It is when we are humble before God and repentant of sins, turning away from wickedness, that God in heaven hears our prayers, forgives our sins and heals our land. I think we are safe to apply the concept of healing our land to healing the effects of sin in our life and in our world. And so we come to recognize that God does answer prayers and he does so for them that would treat him as God and seek to imitate him in all ways and seek to put away all those things that are the antithesis of holiness and godliness. Because it is our sins that take us far away from God, it is our sins with which we must do battle.

But, I do not want to leave you with all the weight on your own shoulders for God does not leave you there. He continues with the joyful proclamation that for those who humble themselves and repent of their sins a special thing occurs. God consecrates them. He puts his name on them, claiming them as his own forever. He declares that his eyes and his heart will never depart from them. You see, God answers the prayer for the humble and repentant by making them his forever. With the coming of Jesus this reality is fully experienced for in Christ we place our trust, we bow down before him as God, we turn away from trusting the things of this world and loving the things of the flesh, and we place all our hope and affection on him. And we become children of God, who by the grace of God and righteousness of Jesus have unmitigated access to the Holy Place where God hears all our prayers. Even more, we have a Father whose eyes never stop watching over us in loving kindness and whose heart never stops loving us and working for our good.

So, should you want the assurance that God hears and affirms your prayers, simply humble yourself, repent of your sins and trust the Holy Spirit to convey your heart’s groaning to your heavenly Father, who gladly hears and loving responds.

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