Daily Devotional for Wednesday, October 1

The Prayer of the Righteous

“The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. The Lord is far from the wicked; but he heareth the prayer of the righteous,” Proverbs 15:28, 29.

The last verse of this devotional passage informs us, “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility” (Proverbs 15:33). This is the whole basis of Proverbs. With wisdom comes righteousness and understanding. When you fear the Lord, the natural outcome is to live in wisdom and righteousness.

Up to this point in the devotionals you have seen the contrast of how the Lord thinks of a wicked person and how He thinks of a righteous person. It is true that as a saved child of God you stand in the righteousness of Christ. Nonetheless, you are to put on that righteousness by the way you live in word, in thought and in deed.

Someone who chooses to obey the Lord chooses to walk in righteousness. Many of the Proverbs are the instructions of a father to a son. Since God is your Heavenly Father, He uses His Word as the instructions He is giving you. The one strong desire that a parent has for his children is that they would listen and obey. Would God desire anything less?

Because you have a relationship with the Lord, He hears your prayers. Yet, James 5:16 recorded, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” How much more will the Lord hear, answer, and give to those who walk in righteousness? God’s desire is to give you good things, and He does every day because He loves you.

You also give your children good things because you love them. However, how much more do you give them or do for them when they obey? Righteousness is obedience, and obedience brings blessings.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Do you have a desire that God will hear your prayers? How does this align with your walk with God today?

Karry Irizarry