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Does God Hear Prayers Unconditionally?

"Does God hear prayers without condition?" This is a good question. The only way we can answer that is by letting the Bible speak concerning this matter.

 If you answer this question with a "Yes," then how do you explain the following scriptures? David in Psalm 66:18 says, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear me:" Maybe David was thinking of Saul as an example. Saul would not listen to God, which resulted in God not listening to nor answering Saul in his time of need (1 Samuel 14:37 and 1 Samuel 28:6).

 If you think the answer is "Yes," then how do you explain what Jesus said in Matthew 6:7, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." Jesus tells us that vain repetitions are a "no go" in prayers. Additionally, how do you answer Peter when he said in 1 Peter 3:7, "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with themaccording to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be  not hindered." Peter tells us our prayers are hindered if we engage in domestic abuse. John says in 1 John 3:21-22, "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." John tells us that what we ask we receive because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing to Him. John was repeating what Jesus says in John 15:7, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

 When all is said and done, the Bible tells us from the Old Testament through the New Testament, that if we want God to listen to us, then we need to listen and do according to God's Word.

 Charles Royal, Decatur AL