In Isaiah, chapter one, verse fifteen, sin in our lives will cause God to turn away from our prayers. God is light, and sin is darkness. “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness,” as in John twelve, verse forty-six. God is holy and does not associate with sin because He is light, and light and darkness do not mix. That is why the Son of God said to the Father, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
The Lord could not look at Jesus because He was bearing the sins of the people. The Son of God knew that God the Father could not look at Him. Therefore, if we are living in sin, should we expect God to answer our prayers? Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” God refuses to answer the prayers of those who are selfishly ambitious, love pleasure, and desire honor, power, or riches. All believers should take note, for God will not hear our prayers if our hearts are filled with selfish desires.
God hears only the prayers of the righteous, of those who call upon Him in truth, of the genuinely repentant and humble, and of those who ask according to His will. Why are some prayers answered and others not? An effective prayer life is related to our devotion to God. Obeying, loving, and pleasing God are indispensable conditions to receive what we ask for in prayer. If these requirements are not met, then how are we supposed to receive from the Lord when we do not listen?