Proverbs 28:9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
    even their prayers are detestable.

This verse kind of hit me between the eyes! It doesn’t matter how pious we might seem, if our hearts aren’t committed to obedience, then we are despicable. This is the big argument Jesus had with the Pharisees of His day, and human nature hasn’t changed. We go through assorted motions, thinking they qualify us for heaven, when God is always looking at the attitude of our heart. If we are set in our ways, always choosing whatever we think will advance our agenda rather than listening obediently to God, then He wants nothing to do with us. That actually breaks His heart, because He loves us enough to die for us, but if we ignore Him, what can He do? That is a big part of the mystery of free will. God did not create robots, or even pets; He created children, and generally speaking, children are not by nature obedient. If we want our prayers to be heard, we need to have the right attitude in the first place! God is incredibly gracious, and sometimes prayers get answered almost by accident, as it were, but if we want a consistent relationship with Almighty God, our hearts have to be lined up with Him in grateful obedience.

Of course I’m talking to myself here. I like to pray, and will do so at the drop of a hat, having grown up in a home where prayer was as natural as breathing. That’s why this verse hit me so hard. I cannot assume that because I can use words in a way that moves and impresses others, that those words go any farther than the ceiling. My heart has to be submitted to my Lord before my words are acceptable before Him. My heart attitude must be one of grateful obedience, or I am just playing a game. Over the years I have had real problems with this, with a level of spiritual pride that makes me shake my head just to think about it. I am not to presume on past encounters with my Lord, but always seek to hear and obey Him in every situation. That’s not automatic! Now that I have retired from school teaching, I need to be active and intentional in seeking God’s direction as to the use of my time, doing His will on His schedule for His glory, as I often pray to do. Just because I succeeded in doing that before doesn’t mean that I don’t need to stay focused right now. There are countless distractions, so I’ve got to let Holy Spirit be in charge, and rejoice to go along for the ride.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Feeling like I need to walk to maintain my physical health is awkward in this weather, because I come back soaked with sweat, which doesn’t leave me presentable for the visitation I feel is also on the schedule. Likewise, I need to write out Sunday’s message notes and draw up the August Scripture list for the church, and the heat is distracting from that. Help me hear what You say to me about my use of each moment, so that I will indeed do Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!