“If I had CHERISHED SIN IN MY HEART, the Lord would not have listened.”
—Psalm 66:18.

Known sin short-circuits the power of God in our lives; it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1, 2). This doesn’t mean you have to be perfect in order to get an answer to prayer. It simply means you can’t hang onto sin with one hand and reach out for divine help with the other. Sincere confession and repentance solves the problem.

If we’re not willing to allow God to free us from evil thoughts, words, and deeds, our prayers won’t be effective.

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
—James 4:3.

God isn’t going to answer “yes” to selfish or mean-spirited prayers. Keep your ears open to God’s law, His will, and He will keep His ears open to your petitions.

“If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.”
—Proverbs 28:9.