Righteous Living and Answered Prayers

"The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" (James 5:16b).

Often this verse is used to measure our righteousness. We conclude, "If God is answering my prayers, then I must be righteous."

Or, maybe conversely, "If God is not answering prayers, then I must not be righteous."

"If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened" (Ps 66:18).

Holding on to sin will inhibit my prayer life. But does that mean that when God answers prayer, it's because I am free from iniquity?

Consider this account:

The seventh plague is recorded in Exodus 9:13-35. The land of Egypt had been devastated by hail. The flax and barley crops were ruined. Men and animals were killed by the hailstones.

Pharaoh calls for Aaron and Moses. "This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. Plead with the LORD, for there has been enough of God's thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer" (v 27).

An admission of guilt. A recognition of God's righteousness. A promise to do right.

It looks like Pharaoh had repented.

Through Moses, God answered the prayer of Pharaoh (v 33).

"But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants...and he did not let the people of Israel go..." (v 34-35).

It appears that Pharaoh had a foxhole conversion. "If You get me out of this mess, I'll do what You want me to do."

God, who knew Pharaoh's heart, answered his prayer. God knew what Pharaoh's response would be, and so did Moses (v 30).

Pharaoh was not righteous. Pharaoh was holding on to sin in his heart. Yet God chose to answer his prayer.

God had greater plans. God was not finished teaching Pharaoh and the Egyptians - or Moses and the Israelites.

When we think that God is answering or not answering prayers because of who we are, or what we have done, we are placing ourselves above God.

We can use those circumstances to evaluate our lives.

But we do not have the right to demand that God answer our prayers because of our righteous living.

Nor do we have the right to beat ourselves up because God is not answering our prayers.

It's an opportunity to submit to the sovereignty of God.

It's an opportunity to rest in the grace of God.

Whether He answers our prayers, or not.