Devotionals
WHAT KIND OF PRAYERS DOES GOD ANSWER?
Shared by Ptr. Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: 2 Chronicles 6:36-42 & 2 Chronicles 7:1-6,14

2 CHRON 6:36-42 & 2CHRON 7:1-6,14

36 "When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near; 37 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly'; 38 and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; 39 then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.
40 "Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
41 "Now arise, O LORD God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.
May your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your saints rejoice in your goodness.
42 O LORD God, do not reject your anointed one.
Remember the great love promised to David your servant."

WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART AND RECOGNIZE THEIR SIN AND ARE NOT AFRAID TO ADMIT THEIR FAULTS. WHEN THEY CAN REALLY LOOK AT THEMSELVES AND SEE HOW LOWLY THEY ARE WITHOUT GOD IS WHEN GOD MOVES TO ANSWER THEIR PRAYERS. IT IS CALLED BEING HUMBLED. NOW TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT TYPE OF PRAYER IS OFFERED BY SOLOMON LOOK AT 2 CHRON 7: 1-6. ----

1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it.

WHEN WE REALLY LEARN OUR TRUE ESTATE AND HUMBLE OURSELVES, GOD WILL ANSWER IN A BIG WAY, SO MUCH SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW FOR SURE THAT YOUR CHANGE OF HEART WAS PLEASING TO GOD.

3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "He is good;
his love endures forever."
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. 5 And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God.

HAVE YOU DEDICATED YOUR TEMPLE TO GOD FOR REAL?
TRUE WORSHIP WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW TRUE REPENTANCE. THEY WERE WILLING TO GIVE ANYTHING TO GOD WHEN THEY UNDERSTOOD HOW GRACIOUS AND FORGIVING HE IS, ANOTHER THING THAT WILL FOLLOW WILL BE THAT THE CHURCH WILL GET IN ORDER. LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN VERSE 6

6 The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORD's musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, "His love endures forever." Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.

LATER IN VERSE 14 IS A SUMMATION OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A TRUE CHANGE OF HEART AND SEE THEMSELVES FOR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE AND TRULY HUMBLE THEMSELVES.

NOW GO TO 2 CHRON 7:14-17 ----
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

FOR OUR PRAYERS TO BE ANSWERED ALL THE TIME THERE HAS GOT TO BE A TRUE HUMBLING OF OURSELVES. I BELIEVE WE SOMETIMES TRY TO FAKE HUMILITY, BUT GOD KNOWS. THE PRAYERS AND REPENTANCE PRODUCED RADICAL RESULTS WITH FIRE FALLING ON THE ALTAR. I REMIND YOU THAT THIS WAS OLD TESTAMENT AND WE ARE NOW UNDER A NEW AND BETTER COVENANT. COULD IT BE THAT WE ARE JUST IGNORANT ABOUT WHAT HUMILITY AND REPENTANCE REALLY IS BEFORE WE PRAY. WE CAN SAY PLEASE FORGIVE ME BUT ARE WE SINCERE OR ARE WE JUST GOING TRUE A RELIGIOUS MOMENT.

LET US PRAY.

Related article: What kind of Prayer does God answer?