Daily devotional, 18 July 2024 Deaf ears
"When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood."
Isaiah 1:15
I have been exposed to deaf people for about a couple of years. Most of them have been deaf since birth and are trying their best to live a normal life. I see groups of them hanging out with each other, having fun. To my mind, they seem like they are living a peaceful existence because they need not hear worthless noises and chatter, and could only pay attention to what they are interested in.
The Bible tells us that God can turn a deaf ear on us too. He can choose to not listen to us and our prayers, especially when we are not following Him.
"We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him."
John 9:31
So why will God purposely not hear our prayers? Like a dutiful parent, the Lord is disciplining us. What kind of parent will allow their child to ruin himself without telling him off, and not try to instill discipline on Him right?
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you,because the Lord disciplines the one He loves,and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son.” Hebrews 12:6
While God is loving and merciful, He is also a just God. He must punish us for our sins, not just to wield His power and authority, but also for our own sake. If He will allow us to get away with bad things, how will we ever learn? How will we be protected from the natural consequences of the bad choices we make, and the wrong lifestyle we live?
"God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
Hebrews 12:10-11
For instance, should a parent whose child was caught shoplifting, just go on life without chastising his child? If he won’t what kind of person will his child become?
"The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."
Proverbs 29:15
So how do we get God to listen to us again as we pray? The answer is to confess our sins to Him, repent from them, step away from sinning, and surrender your life to Jesus.
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14
While being righteous does not guarantee automatic answered prayers, at least, we will have peace amidst difficult circumstances. We will know in our heart that we are with God and that He will be there for us to help us endure and get through the inevitable dark valleys in our life journey.
"Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him."
1 John 3:21-22
That while our life would not be pain-free, it will be filled with God’s joy and contentment. We will feel that despite life’s troubles, we feel like we do not lack anything. We feel secured in the thought that we are serving a Sovereign God who has good plans for us, and will hear us when we call Him.
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me,is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:27-30
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Hebrews 12:4-12 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Do you feel like your prayers are falling in deaf ears?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for listening to our prayers. Thank you as well for reminding us to be conscious of your disciplining. Give us the strength to continue aligning our will to yours so that we could live a life that is pleasing to you. Amen.
