Obedience and Prayer

"Many persons, being told that God answers prayer for Christ’s sake, overlook the condition of obedience. They have so loose an idea of prayer, and of our relations to God in it, and of his relations to us and to his moral government, that they think they may be disobedient and yet prevail through Christ. 

How little do they understand the whole subject! Surely they must have quite neglected to study their Bible to learn the truth about prayer. They might very easily have found it there declared, 

“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.” 

“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.” 

“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” 

All this surely teaches us that if there be the least sin in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer. Nothing short of entire obedience for the time being is the condition of acceptance with God.

There must be a sincere and honest heart — else how can you look up with humble confidence and say, "My Father;" else how can you use the name of Jesus, as your prevailing Mediator; and else, how can God smile upon you before all the eyes of angels and of pure saints above!” ~Charles Finney

Let us remember to approach God's throne room with clean hands and a pure heart.  He is holy, holy holy!  Let us remember to Whom we pray and when we seek His face, let us cleanse ourselves of all wickedness.