In Reply to: About God hearing the prayer of the righteous posted by Thinker on January 20, 2003 at 09:35:45:
here is one to chew on...
"2 men went up into the temple to pray;the one a pharisee, the other a publican. the pharisee stood and prayed thus w/ himself, "God, i thank thee that i am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. i fast twice in a week, i give tithes of all that i possess." and the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying "God be merciful to me a sinner."
i tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
(lk.18:10-14)
there are so many passages that deal w/ getting God to hear our prayers. (the importunate woman, the guy who needed bread for his guest etc.) at times it seems like they don't all line up neatly. i've come to see the scripture as a whole, not chopped up into "bullet points" for a proof text class. some truths seem paradoxical... to be held in tension w/ seemingly different statements elsewhere. (i.e. freedom of choice / predestination; or God's sovereinty, and the power of intercession, etc). it's all a bit mysterious at times. an " art" as well as a "science". but a desire to know and obey his will seems to be a key to some level of understanding. jn.7:17. like a kid will know what his father means, even different things at times w/ the same words, due to relationship.
well, now that i've made that as clear as mud...