Deal with It

One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
Proverbs 28:9 NKJV

There are times we feel as though God does not hear us when we pray. It begs the question - How often have we heard ourselves say, Every time I turn around, God’s really been dealing with me about ______? 

So, why haven't we dealt with whatever it is He’s been dealing about with us? Have we stopped - or started - or changed whatever it is? Or do we think something idiotic like, Oh, God knows how I am…

Yes, He does know how we are, that’s why He’s dealing with us about it. Just because He knows about it, doesn't mean He likes it, plus He loves us too much to leave us that way. Yet more often than not, we make excuses or just ignore Him. We do the very thing that we would dole out consequences for if our children did it to us.

God, I need__________. No response.  
God, did You hear me?  Nothing.
God! Are you ignoring me? And exasperated, we ask, God, what ARE You doing?
And He replies, I’m doing what you do when I ask you to do something. How does that feel…?

This is how Proverbs 28:9 reads in the Message Bible: God has no use for the prayers of the people who won't listen to him.

Prayer:

Father,        
            Give us first-time obedient ears to hear You and first-time obedient hearts that will hasten to do Your bidding. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen