Emotional Religion or Answered Prayers?

“Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to me, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. [Zechariah 7.13]

Is this really a place we want to be? I think not. But everything I see around me says this is exactly where we are.

When will we ever get to the place that our unanswered prayers alarm us to the point of repentance?

First, we will have to concede that our unanswered prayers are a call to repentance. But, to do so, we will have to believe everything the Bible says about God instead of glaringly false doctrines concocted about God by men. We will have to believe that what the Bible calls a curse is indeed a curse and, as such is God's way of signifying the presence of sin and need for repentance. We will have to directly address our hard-hearted pride and arrogance! We will have to admit that we were sold into sin in the Garden of Eden and are unable of our own efforts to correct the problem - understanding without reservation that we are not victims of Adam's sin, but participants in it!

We simply must reject the proud notions that curses are blessings! We must understand that curses signify one thing: sin. And, we must repent of sin! As long as we dwell in this fallen world, we must repent. Repentance must be our way of life. Repentance must be embraced as our only way to faith and restoration of that which sin and its curses have tainted.

We must learn to repent. We must get good at it. If we are ever to overcome our lifestyles of unanswered prayers, then we must repent. And, repentance must be accompanied by faith. Repentance without faith is self-inflicted emotional religion. Repentance with faith is answered prayers.

So, what do we choose? Emotional religion or answered prayers?

Father, I want answered prayers. Forgive me for pride and arrogance. Forgive me for faithlessness. Help me to get it right.