Stirred By The Scriptures

I really do have a hard time understanding prayer. I know, I know your are saying “But you’re our pastor!” It has always been a struggle. While I don’t understand prayer I fully realize it is important. I also know it my heart’s condition that is equally important. The verses I referred to this past weekend in the sermon from Isaiah 1 are absolutely chilling to me. “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers I will not listen.(1:15)” Why? That feels so extreme on God’s part. It is all because we miss what is on the heart of God. The prophet tells us to stop doing wrong and learn to do right. To learn to do good - the very thing we are capable of in Christ. The stunning reality is I can get all the religious language down pat, do all the “right” church activities and miss what pleases and what grieves the heart of God. Oh that I would learn to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with my God.