Mission Venture Ministries

“If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.” (Proverbs 28:9) 

There are some prayers that God detests, strange as that may seem. In fact, our very prayers can even condemn us as Psalm 109:7 points out: “When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn him.” 

God wants us to always have an open and attentive ear towards His instruction. To have no hunger for God’s word or to turn a deaf ear to His instruction is a sign of willful spitefulness and rebellion. Pretending to speak to God from a disobedient heart will avail a person nothing because God is not going to hear or honor the one who neglects His word. 

When a person who deliberately turns “a deaf ear to His instruction”, and prefers to do thing his own way his prayer becomes worthless. God hates such prayers and those who pray them should not be surprised when He does not give them their request. Isaiah 59:1-2 says: “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” 

The Bible states that, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” (1 John 1:8). Therefore, the obvious remedy is to ask the Lord, through His Word, to “see if there be any wicked way in me” (Psalm 139:24), and then to confess and forsake any sin that we are aware of, or that is revealed to us. Because: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). 

Then, having been cleansed from our unrighteousness, we are again made righteous, not only through Christ’s imputed righteousness, but also in righteous, daily living. It is only then that the promises of answered prayer can again become wholly effective, for “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). 

It is vital to know and obey the Word of God, and to recognize how dangerous it is to turn our ears away from it. For God will not be mocked for long! “Because, 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” (1 Peter 3:12). 

God wants us to pray. He has created prayer as a means by which we can enjoy Him (Revelation 3:20), confess our sin (1 John 1:9), ask Him to meet our needs (Psalm 50:15), and align our wills with His (Jeremiah 29:11-12; Luke 22:42). 

One kind of prayer is guaranteed to be granted ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner,’ found in Luke 18:13-14, which describes the prayer of repentance. When we call upon the Lord in humble repentance, He is eager to justify and forgive us. 

On the other hand, when we choose to hold on to sin, rather than repent and change, God will not hear our prayers. “If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable” (Proverbs 28:9). For instance, you cannot be doing something that goes against God’s will, like living together in sexual sin, yet pray for God’s blessing on your union. 

Another way that God will not hear is when we ask according to our own selfish desires. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3). 

When we pray we need to remember to ask with faith, trusting that He hears us and will grant every request that is in line with His will for us (Mark 11:24; 1 John 5:14–15). 

It is very important that we understand that God is holy and desires us to be holy as He is (Leviticus 22:32; 1 Peter 1:16). When He sees that we are seeking that holiness as well, He is delighted to answer our prayers in ways that continue our spiritual growth. Jesus said, “If you remain in Me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). 

The secret to prayer is abiding in Christ so that whatever we ask is in accordance with His will. “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). 

If you are a new believer or one that has know the Lord for many years the best way to pray to God is using His Word. There are many prayers in the Bible; here are some examples that you might want to use in your prayer time so that you can grow in passion, faith and obedience. 

2 Timothy 2:15 – Fill me with the desire to do my very best to present myself to You Lord as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed. Grant me understanding and discernment to rightly read and share Your Word. 

2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 – Because You Lord are faithful, I pray you strengthen me and guard me from the evil one and cause me to be confident in You so I will continue to do the things You command. May You lead my mind into a full understanding and expression of Your love and the patient endurance that comes from Jesus Christ. 

Philippians 1:9-11 – I pray that Your love will overflow more and more, and that I will keep on growing in knowledge and discernment. May I understand what really matters, so I may live a pure and blameless life. Cause me to be filled with the fruit of Your salvation, may Your righteousness be seen in my life as I walk with Jesus to bring You glory and honor. 

Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, then lead me to You in repentance and in Your way everlasting. 

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 – Help me to see the new creation You are making me to be. Thank you that I am reconciled to You Lord and may I take the ministry of reconciliation to those around me. May I be worthy of this task You have given me. 

Ephesians 5:2 – Help me to be an imitator of Jesus in all my thoughts, words and deeds. 

Galatians 2:20 – Cause this verse to be true of my life, my desires and my attitudes: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” 

Philippians 2:3 – Let me do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than me. May You Lord be seen in me in all my ways. 

And as you pray for the lost you can use these verses: 

Romans 10:9-10 – Father please bring (name of person) to the place where (he or she) can confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that You raised Him from the dead. Bring (name of person) to salvation, Your peace and love. 

Acts 4:12 – Grant (name of person) the knowledge and belief that salvation is found in no one other than Jesus, for no one can come to You Father, except through Jesus Christ. As Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). 

And finally always remember, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

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