By Dr. Peter Masters

Prayer is the ultimate form of communication. Operating in a spiritual zone or 'waveband' far beyond the reach of human technology, prayer can convey the faintest thought-waves across all known barriers and into the spiritual presence of man's Creator.

The great question is - how can anyone be sure that his or her prayers are heard by God?

Along the highways of the USA there are numerous road signs carrying words such as: 'Channel 9 monitored'. If your car is fitted with a Citizens' Band transmitter-receiver you can take advantage of the fact that the local police department has someone listening-in to that channel 24 hours-a day. Any emergency call will be heard immediately.

God is constantly listening to prayer and everyone can approach Him. Listen to the grandeur of the opening words of one of the psalms of the Bible: '0 Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come.'

Tragically, however, many thousands of people never, or hardly ever, approach their God in prayer. And many others who do pray make such serious mistakes in their approach that God refuses to hear them.

The Lord Jesus Christ once told a parable about a man who 'prayed with himself', and the Bible states clearly that God will not hear the prayers of such people. As far as He is concerned a great deal of prayer is just so much hot air.

According to the Bible, prayer will only be heard by God if it fulfils certain simple conditions. What sort of things can we do wrong when we try to approach God? What kind of prayer is defective and useless?

Before the apostle Paul was converted to Christianity he engaged in prayer several times every day, yet God would not answer those prayers. We know this because when Paul saw that blinding light on the Damascus road at the time of his conversion, he realised he had never really known God at all. Suddenly he saw himself as a fanatical, religious bigot and a hypocrite. He realised that his claims to know and represent God were all an empty sham.

In great turmoil of mind, he came to acknowledge his real character and behaviour. He began to pray to God in a new way, asking sincerely for forgiveness and spiritual life.

Then the record of the Bible tells us that the Lord said, 'Behold, he is praying.' At last Paul's first real prayer was heard in Heaven.

Right terms
What was the difference between the hundreds of prayers that Paul had previously offered as an unconvected religious leader, and this latest prayer? The difference was that now he came to God on the right terms. He came as someone who was truly ashamed of his past life. He came not proudly, but humbly.

A verse of the Bible reads - 'If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.' It is very obvious therefore that one type of prayer which God absolutely refuses to hear is prayer made by anyone who has not truly repented of sin and sincerely sought His forgiveness.

Many people have never faced up to the problem of their guilt and the great barrier which it forms between them and God. They do not like to admit to their inner selfishness and pride.

They close their eyes to their deceitfulness, possessiveness, greed, temper, and so on, and the thoughts and deeds which God hates. There is so much in everyone which is offensive in God's sight, but these people do not see themselves as God sees them. From time to time in their self-confidence and ignorance they will attempt to pray without feeling any need to seek forgiveness or real conversion to God first.

We must never lose sight of the fact that God is not fooled by our claims to decency. He is not impressed by the pretences of middle-class self-righteousness, or any other kind of self-righteousness. If I think myself worthy to approach God, justify my sins or make excuses for my failings, then one thing is certain - God will not listen to me at all. He only listens to those who acknowledge their sin and rebellion and approach Him scarcely thinking it is possible for them to be forgiven.

There are several other kinds of prayer which God will not hear. Occasional prayers get no hearing in Heaven. A man or woman who has no intention of seeking God and turning to Him merely prays occasional prayers. Often people have no intention of seeking a new life from God and truly living for Him. They just want His help in some immediate problem, and then the Lord can leave them alone again. But the Lord will not hear such requests.

When people are overpowered by problems they often pray, 'Lord, help me.' When plunged in grief they may cry out to God for relief. When burning with desire for some possession, or some high job, some will say, '0 God, let me have this! '

As a pastor I have heard all kinds of people tell me about the things which they have prayed for when at the time they had no intention of turning to God.

It is well known how the hardest of men will sometimes call to God in moments of seeming doom when real fear grips the mind. Whether before operations, or in war, or at sea, at some time, almost everyone prays.

Tranquillisers
Christians believe that sometimes God does hear such prayers, even selfish prayers coming from people who have no intention of turning their lives over to Him. But He hears them, on occasions, with a view to encouraging such people to believe in Him and seek Him in a deeper way.

The clear warning of the Bible is that generally speaking, God will not listen to the occasional prayer. He will not hand out help or blessing to anyone who is not interested in seeking and finding Him.

Tranquilliser prayers are equally useless. Some people pray simply because it makes them feel better. It may be (for some) a fairly successful psychological ploy to escape from worry or trouble, but it is nothing like prayer.

If by prayer I mean a rehearsing of my fears and problems to a vague, unknown god, just to get it all off my mind, then that is tranquilliser talk, not prayer.

Another kind of prayer which is no use at all is ritual prayer. However beautiful some may think the words sound, liturgical prayers intoned feelinglessly by aloof clerics bear no resemblance to the praying of the Bible.

Prayer is real words which we feel and mean. What are empty chantings? The Saviour Himself condemns them as 'vain repetition' - in other words they are worthless.

To be effective
The prayer of a real seeker, or a truly converted Christian, is altogether different. What sort of prayer is real? What kind of prayer will bring us to know God?

This advice comes straight from the teaching of the Bible. To be effective, prayer must be accompaniedby a surrender of the life to the Lord God.

The psalm already quoted says:- '0 Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come.' But the psalm also gives this condition: 'Unto Thee shall the vow be performed.' True prayer involves keeping a vow.

Do we really want to seek and find God? Are we really convinced about our urgent need of forgiveness and new life? Do we really desire to taste and experience and know God? Then we must hand over our entire lives to Him, so that He can rebuild them. Then, and only then, can we pray.

Remember also that true prayers are always reverent. All the examples of prayer in the Bible are both humble and reverent.

Then, supremely, we must realise that we can only approach God at all because the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour, has made it possible. Our sin has brought us to the position of condemned sinners. We deserve no favour from God at all. But because the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to suffer the penalty of sin in the place of all who turn to Him, we can be forgiven.

The Saviour has paid so that we can pray, and real prayer is made on these terms alone. Genuine prayer can be made by anyone who realises what the terms are. We must go first to Jesus Christ the Saviour for pardon and conversion, and to have our lives completely rebuilt. He must bring us to life spiritually. The Saviour's purpose is to save us.

What amazing love our God has. We, who have lived as prayerless, ungrateful, unseeking, spiritually dumb people, can find Him after all. If we come on the right terms God is still ready to hear and to forgive.

How many will leave prayer too late? Ask yourself - Why do I not pray to God? Is it because of pride or self-confidence? Or is my mind ruled by materialism, ambition or sensual things?

Have you ever really closed your eyes and spoken to God in true prayer? No matter what you have done in this life, His arms are still open to receive seeking sinners, and no-one will ever be turned away.

How can we really know if prayer is answered? Could it be, after all, merely the work of an overactive imagination?

It is a fact that people who have become real seekers (on the terms just described), and who have found the Lord, are always totally and absolutely sure that God has worked in their lives. For them, the question no longer arises.

The great change
When a person finds the Lord the experience is so dramatic and profound that there can be no question of it being a matter of imagination. The fundamental character of that person is unmistakably changed so that traits which could never have been altered by any amount of effort, are altered.

One's feelings and outlook change also as the words of the Bible come true - 'If any man is in Christ, he has become a new creation. Old things have passed away; new things have come .'

The great change is far too great to be mistaken. And over it all, the person who finds the Lord truly comes to love Him and sense Him. No wonder in times of persecution countless Christians have faced death rather than deny the Lord. Genuine seeking prayer leads to the most certain and definite experience a person can ever have.