Praying to Whom?

Hello all,
There is news on the car; we will be getting it repaired. Praise the Lord for good insurance. When I saw the estimate,  I wondered if it might be totaled.

I spent several hours sitting and waiting this weekend, while Alex tries to fill his deer tag. In fact, I wrote some of this article in the pickup waiting. I hope part of the result will be more patience for both of us, and maybe some venison for the freezer.

Here is a verse of scripture that caught my attention this week:1 Peter 3:12..." For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

I read, and sometimes hear, people promise to pray for a person or situation. I also know some of these who would pray, and I wonder, to whom do they pray? I hope it is the God of the Bible, because if it is any other god, those "prayers" are just wasted effort. The above verse from Peter's letter indicates that God hears the prayers of his people, not those who deny his existence. Proverbs 15:29 reads, "The Lord is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous."

The word "righteous" indicates right standing with God. No one is righteous in God's sight without having placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Only then are we in right standing with God, and only then does he hear our prayers. Romans 3:22 says this: "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." James tells us, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).

As a footnote; as far as the prayer of an unbeliever goes, I believe the one prayer God is obligated to hear is when that person comes in confession and repentance, asking for forgiveness and inviting Christ into his or her heart. It is that person who God hears, and whose prayer he answers.

It is indicated in other places, that there are things that hinder the prayers of God's people, but that will wait for another time.

In His amazing love,
Pastor Jerry