Growing up, I always dreamed about traveling to Europe, especially to
Germany, since that country is at the root of my ancestral background.
It's something that I had hoped I would have a chance to do once in my
lifetime. Well, that dream came true for me several years ago when, prior
to being in the ministry, my husband had to go overseas on business and
took me with him. We were fortunate to find someone trustworthy to watch
our children for us, and off we went with another Christian business associate
and his wife for the week. The flight was much longer than I anticipated;
yet it was exciting for me when the pilot finally announced many long
hours later that if we looked out the window we would see the city of
Paris in the morning light. It was beautiful! I couldn't
believe MY eyes were actually beholding a well known city in a foreign
country on the other side of the ocean that I had only ever read about!
When we landed a bit later in Switzerland and got through customs, acquired
a rental car and found our hotel, I of course, called the children to
give them our number and let them know we had arrived safely. I will never
forget how FAR AWAY I felt from them when I heard their wee little voices
say, "Hi Momma!" over the phone. My excitement quickly melted away and
my heart sank for missing them so! I suddenly realized the vast distance
between us when I thought about how long it would take me to get back
to them should anything go wrong. I didn't like that feeling of being
so far away from my children at all! When we were taking off at the airport
back home in the states, I hadn't considered experiencing the emotions
that were flooding my heart in that moment! I was only filled with the
anticipation of finally visiting Europe firsthand. Well, I said all that
to say that my mind drifted back to that moment in my life which now,
in turn, helps me to truly understood the depth of the meaning to the
words "far from" in reading Proverbs 15:29…
The Lord is FAR FROM the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
The Bible says those that do not care to live for the Lord, which do not
care about what HE says is wicked, are separated from God by their sin.
Not just a little bit separated - ALOT separated! People who are determined
to live a life pleasing to their own fleshly desires are unaware of the
vast distance they have created between themselves and God with their
sinful, selfish living! The pleasure of our sin numbs us and distracts
us, making us totally unaware of just how far we have traveled from the
Lord! Do you know when we begin to realize the extent of that distance?
Do you know when we understand how far is far? When we decide to give
God a call - when it's time to pray! Then we finally realize just how
far away we are from Him, as I did when I called home…
Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your
sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Psalm 66:18
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
Ladies, it's time to sober up and recognize that our sin is a major hindrance
to receiving answered prayers from God! Most of our prayer is centered
on our will, and not God's. How do I know this? Because we are always
asking the Lord to fix things for us, do things for us or others, but
rarely are we found confessing and clearing up the wicked sins that separate
us from a HOLY God who loves us and wants close fellowship with His people.
Sin must be properly confessed before God can be effectually addressed
- prior to getting an answer from the Lord to our request. Praise God
that our heavenly Father makes it necessary to deal with the issue of
our sin, for if He didn't, we certainly wouldn't!
John 9:31
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper
of God, AND doeth His will, him he heareth.
Don't you want your prayers to be heard, to avail much? Is there any sin
in your life at this time preventing that from happening? Can you honestly
say that you are righteous before God's eyes? Better take some time to
think about that one, for the righteous are the ones who get answers to
their prayers! Unless of course, you just like the religious exercise
of honoring God with your lips while your heart is far from Him… Why waste
time praying if you aren't certain you will be heard??
Psalm 4:3-4a
But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the
Lord will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not...
We must return to possessing a godly reverence for the Lord in our lives!
This is the key to remaining righteous so that we can be assured our prayers
will be heard! How would you describe your relationship with the Lord
at this time? Near or far? Would you say you are standing in awe and sinning
not? Or is that far from the words you would use to describe the attitude
and actions you are extending toward your heavenly Father? An attitude
of godly reverence is usually coupled with a rich and fulfilling prayer
life, filled with security and confidence in receiving answers from God.
Isaiah 54:14
In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression;
for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
Let's learn once again from the example of Elijah as we peek at his prayer
life in James 5:17-18 which says:
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly
that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of
three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain,
and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Imagine that, a man just like us, an average person, receiving such a
major answer to prayer! Before you get too excited, I want you to notice
one thing - Elijah was subject to like passions but they did not enslave
him! Hence, circumstances beyond Elijah's control were strongly affected
by his prayers… How did it happen, how did he get the power to change
even the weather?? We know Elijah was not perfect by nature, but the Bible
says he was a righteous man; he was obedient to the Lord and trusted in
Him. As earnestly as Elijah prayed, is as earnestly as he lived for the
Lord! So you see ladies, God's promises of answered prayer are for all
His children who would live right, not just for the ones we may consider
the "spiritual elite".
James 5:16
…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Yes, Elijah's prayers availed much - do yours?? He was a success on his
knees, he had Heaven on his side, and he was close to God! Are you in
such standing today? What circumstances beyond your control can you affect
through prayer? Do you typically experience adequate power or force in
your prayer life to produce like results? What sin do you need to take
care of in order for that to happen? Have you been feeling far from the
Lord lately? Are you remote in your affections and obedience to Him? It's
foolish to wait till there's a great need to pray to find out how far
from God you've really traveled! How far is far? You can never be too
far from sin, but we should never be too far from God! Bridge that gap
today by living right. Though we are prone to live at a distance from
the Lord, His is not a distant deity…
Acts 17:27
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and
find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
