Are All Prayers Heard?

King David of ancient Israel was a man of prayer.  As  a divinely inspired psalmist, he sang:  "O Hearer of prayer, even to you people of all flesh will come." (Psalm 65:2)  Jehovah is able to understand prayers uttered in any of the thousands of languages spoken by mankind.  The fact that no human mind could process so much information does not mean that God cannot pay attention to all who pray to him in an acceptable way.

Yet, Jesus Christ-also a man of prayer- revealed that not all prayers please  God. Note what Jesus said about the then popular practice of repeating memorized prayers.  According to the Catholic Jerusalem Bible, he stated: "In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using so many words they will make themselves heard."  (Matthew 6:7) We cannot expect Jehovah to listen to prayers  that do not express our true feelings.

Indicating why some prayers do not please God, a Bible proverb says:  "He that is turning his ear away from hearing the law-even his prayer is something detestable." (Proverbs 28:9)  Another proverb says: "Jehovah is far away from the wicked ones, but the prayer of the righteous ones he hears." (Proverbs 15:29) At a time when the leaders of ancient Judah bore heavy guilt, Jehovah declared: "When you spread out your palms, I hide my eyes from you. Even though you make many prayers, I am not listening; with bloodshed your very hands have become filled." -Isaiah 1:1, 15.

The apostle Peter mentioned something else that could make prayers unacceptable to God.  Peter wrote:  "You husbands continue dwelling in like  manner with [your wives] according to knowledge, assigning them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one, since you are also heirs with them of the undeserved favor of life, in order for your prayers not to be hindered." ( 1 Peter 3:7) The prayers of a man who ignored such counsel might get no farther than the ceiling!

Clearly, certain requirements must be met if prayers are to be heard.  However, many who pray show little concern about doing what God requires of us.  That is why so much earnestness  in prayer has not resulted in a better world. What, then, does God require for out prayers to be heard? The answer has to do with our very reason for praying.  In fact, if we want to know whether prayers do any good, we must understand their purpose .  Why has Jehovah made it possible for us to speak to him?

Next time: WHY Should You PRAY?

The Watchtower, 2000