Have you ever wondered if God hears your prayers?
Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been thinking about prayer. So far we’ve taken a deeper look at this timeless practice and established that prayer is more than a list of requests, it’s an intimate conversation with God. We’ve also thought about how to approach praying – using the Lord’s prayer as a template.
It’s been wonderful reflecting on the intimacy that we can have with God in prayer, and it’s been important to remember that we pray through Jesus to a God who deserves reverence.
But from research that I’ve carried out, one of the most common questions around prayer is ‘can anyone talk to God?’
So, let’s explore this tricky but crucial topic. It includes thinking about the God that we are praying to and a word called ‘repentance’.
Repentance…
What comes to mind when you think of this word?
You may be all too familiar with it, and be practicing it daily.
You may think you know the meaning of repentance because it’s a word that’s thrown around a lot at church but when you look at your life, you struggle to see where this word practically comes into play.
And finally, you may have no idea what this word is – or just think it’s one of those mumbo-jumbo words that you hear religious people talking about.
Wherever you stand on the understanding of this word, please do stay tuned because it’s a pivotal part of prayer, and something that’s helpful for us all to be reminded of.
What is repentance?
In it’s simplest form, repentance purely means acknowledging wrongdoing and actively turning away from it.
It’s crucial to remember that God doesn’t expect perfection, but a sincere heart that seeks Him and desires change. Repentance is not about shame, but about transformation through God’s grace.
It means recognising that the way I’ve been living, or something I’ve done, is a grievance to God, so confessing this to God and then repositioning my heart and mind towards Him.
The turning away from the wrongdoing is a really important part. Before truly becoming a Christian, I would pray to God. I would say sorry for something, acknowledge a wrongdoing… but then go and do the same thing again and again!
I thought I was repenting but I now see that really I was just making empty promises because my heart wasn’t truly in it.
I will take a deeper look into repentance at a later date but for now I want to highlight it’s importance in regards to prayer.
So why do we need repentance to pray?
The first thing to establish is that we’re praying to a God who is holy and wants to have a relationship with His creation (us). However, our natural state of being is shutting God out, and being the rulers of our own lives.
God isn’t looking for distant, religious rituals; He wants to be close to us. And repentance is about restoring that closeness when we’ve drifted away.
The second thing of note is that God is morally pure so prayer and a relationship with Him requires a heart pointing in the same direction. The darkness and evil of this world grieves God, so if we are looking towards that, He cannot have a relationship with us.
There are a few Bible verses that highlight this:
“Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.” (Proverbs 21:13)
“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” (Psalms 66:18)
“When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!” (Isaiah 1:15)
These verses show that God cares about the states of our hearts, and the need for repentance become more understandable. It is a privilege to have a relationship with God and for Him to hear our prayers. Why would He listen to us if we are purposely doing things that grieve Him?
Just like King Charles wouldn’t want to be friends with someone plotting treason, God desires a relationship with those who genuinely seek His will, not those intentionally turning their backs on Him.
So that this post isn’t too long for you, feel free to click on the option below that’s the most relevant to you. Or, if your interest is piqued, read both parts – they’re helpful to think about no matter your spiritual positioning!
- What does repentance look like for someone exploring faith?
- What does repentance look like for a Christian?
What does repentance look like for someone exploring faith?
Seeking a relationship
Essentially when you’re first exploring faith and looking to seek a relationship with God, the greatest thing to ‘repent’ of is having rejected God up until this point.
We are born into a natural state of putting ourselves first. Even if you grew up in a Christian home and believe in God, by following your own way rather than His, you are still rejecting Him. Relationship with God isn’t about belief, it’s about aligning your mind and heart towards Him.
If you relate this to the relationships we have with people in our every day lives – just because you’re aware of someone’s existence, it doesn’t mean you automatically have a relationship with that person.
And as the Creator of this whole world and everything in it, God has a certain standard required in order to have a relationship with Him. But as humans, we can’t meet His morally pure standards…
And this is where Jesus comes in
Before Jesus, people had to follow specific rituals and sacrifices to connect with God. But when Jesus came to this earth as fully man and fully God and died on the cross, He became the ultimate sacrifice.
This means that rather than following the old age Jewish rituals and sacrifices, we can now have a relationship with God through Jesus’ sacrifice (which is why Christians go on about Jesus so much – He’s kind of the centre to it all).
Because of Jesus, we don’t have to be perfect to approach God in prayer. His grace covers our imperfection, and repentance allows us to draw nearer, acknowledging where we’ve fallen short and seeking His guidance to do better.
This means we can now approach God in prayer, confident that He hears us. But first, we need to acknowledge our need for Him and turn our hearts toward His will.
So! Initial repentance looks like…
Recognising that there is a perfect God that created us and wants a relationship with us. That we can not meet His level of perfection. That we’re sorry for having rejected God thus far and that in order to have a relationship with God, we recognise Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
It’s inviting Him to come into your heart and life so that we can turn away from the things that grieve God, and turn towards His goodness and light.
If you’re new to exploring faith, take a moment to reflect: are there areas in your life where you’ve been pushing God away? Inviting Him in starts with repentance and an openness to the change He offers.
Now that we’ve explored what repentance looks like for someone who’s just starting their journey with God, let’s shift to what this means for those of us who already have a relationship with Jesus.
What does repentance look like for a Christian?
Repentance isn’t a one-stop wonder
It’s not something that you do and then suddenly you’re living a perfect life, never upsetting God.
I think this is a very important thing to hold on to because it should humble us, and make us think twice before judging others.
The wonderful thing about becoming a Christian is that as you grow, you learn more and more about God, and you learn more and more about yourself too.
Going against God comes in all shapes and sizes. But it’s not a list of dos and don’ts, it’s a positioning of the heart.
Plus, each time we repent, we’re reminded of God’s incredible grace – that no matter how many times we stumble, His arms are always open to receive us again. Repentance is a daily opportunity to realign with God and live more fully in His love.
Recognising the position of my heart
Whenever I need help in recognising where my heart lies, I turn to Galatians 5. This section of the Bible offers a wonderful contrast between the fruits of our human state:
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” (Verses 19-21)
And the fruits of knowing God:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Verses 22-23)
So, if I’ve had an altercation with my husband, I can ask myself did I respond with hatred, selfish ambition, and a fit of rage? Or did I respond with love, kindness and gentleness.
If my response is the former, it’s likely that I have a reason to repent because I not only upset my husband but I also upset God.
Other times, the grievances I cause are much bigger than a spat with my spouse. Sometimes I can fall into a much greater sin.
But big or small, sin is sin. If we’ve grieved others or God, then there’s a need to say sorry. And because of the grace of God, we can freely do this.
Knowing that I will be forgiven, because that’s what’s promised, brings so much freedom. It means that I don’t need to harbour guilt and shame!
A prayer of repentance from the Bible
Psalm 51 offers such a beautiful prayer of repentance and they’re words that we can use and take to God as a prayer for ourselves:
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.” (Verses 1-4)
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Verses 10-12)
“Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Saviour, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.” (Verses 14-15)
The language of this Psalm is very poetic but it highlights God’s mercy and forgiveness; that when we do wrong – even when we’ve hurt other people – we’ve sinned against God; and asks for a renewal of spirit and restoration of joy. These are things that we can be praying for each day!
So, as you grow in your relationship with Jesus, take time to reflect: are there areas in your life where you’ve drifted away from God?
As we come to the end of this exploration, I hope you’ve gained a deeper understanding of how repentance is inseparable from our prayer life.
Without repentance, we’re holding on to things that block our connection with God. It’s like trying to have a conversation while something stands in the way. But repentance clears that barrier and brings us back into open, honest communication with Him.
Whether you’re just beginning to seek God or have been walking with Him for years, repentance isn’t something to shy away from – it’s a gift that brings us closer to God, time and time again.
Through Jesus, we are invited into an ongoing relationship where grace abounds, even when we fall short. Repentance opens the door to that grace, helping us realign our hearts with God’s will and embrace the transformation He desires for us.
So, as you move forward, I encourage you to take time to reflect and pray. Whether you’re acknowledging areas where you’ve drifted or seeking to deepen your intimacy with God, know that He is always ready to listen and eager to restore. Remember the words of Psalm 51 and the promise that when we come to Him with a sincere heart, He is faithful to forgive and renew us.
May your journey in prayer continue to be one of growth, honesty, and grace – knowing that each time you repent, you draw nearer to the One who loves you more than you can imagine.
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” (John 14:6)
GRACEFULL REFLECTIONS 