Daily Proverb - Proverbs, Chapter 28

"If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable."

How often I have experienced hard times and had people say "I'm praying for you".  And I love to hear them say that, because I know without a doubt, God is in control and my life is in His hands!  But I cannot ignore what the Bible clearly teaches about prayer.  James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."  Did you get that, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."  So the truth is, I want those who pray for me to be counted as the righteous.  It is clear that if you are living a life of sin because you don't care what God thinks of you, your prayer is blown away with the wind and has no effect!  I've heard people who didn't know better say, "oh I have people here and people there that are praying for me", and I knew that those they were referring to were NOT counted with the righteous.  To be righteous, you must have your sins washed by the blood of Jesus, you must have put your faith and trust in Him for salvation from your sins. 

"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

Don't get the wrong idea,  I don't know that it is required that you call the news paper and ask them to publish your sins.  We see people's sins in the news everyday, however I don't think they like it.  To conceal your sins from God, simply means you did not confess them to Him.  Now God knows all of your sins, be sure!  But He wants us to acknowledge our sins before him, and understand that we do fall short of being holy or blameless.  If we could be without fault on our own, Jesus would not of had to die for us.  If you have never asked Jesus into your life as your Savior and Lord, I beg you to do that today.  You just need to confess you are a sinner and cannot save yourself and need Jesus.  After you have become a Christian because of faith in Jesus, you still need to confess to God your sins and ask Him to forgive you, and you can be sure! that He will! (read 1John 1:9).

Just let me beg you, please do not harden your heart by ignoring this message today!  You need Jesus and you need to confess.  If you are willing to open your heart to God, your prayers will not be blown away with the wind, but God will hear your cry for his grace!   

"Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble"

Ask God to soften your heart today!