Why Does the Lord Not Answer My Prayers?
By David Paulson
THAT is a practical question, which deserves a practical answer; and to find the answer in the Bible is safer than merely to depend on human experience. "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." James 5:16. Have you ever observed that confession of faults is just as rare these days as definite answer to prayer? God has linked those two experiences together; and no matter how inconvenient and crucifying confession of faults is, those who propose to omit it will find that God is omitting answers to their prayers. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper." Prov. 28:13. He may try to prosper, he may try to get answers to his prayers, but he is overlooking the necessary conditions for answered prayer. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Ps. 66:18. It does not say, "If I make mistakes," nor, "If I falter and fall," but, "If I regard"—cling to—some pet sin, because it is agreeable and convenient, that will break the connection between prayer and its answer. The only appropriate prayer for such a one is, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Ps. 51:10.