Rejected Prayer and Withheld Love

June 15

(Psalm 66:10-20 NIV) “For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. {11} You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. {12} You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. {13} I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you-- {14} vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble. {15} I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats. {16} Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. {17} I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. {18} If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; {19} but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. {20} Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!”

Sometimes it feels like God has rejected our prayers -- like He is withholding His love for us. Times of testing and refinement are seldom pleasurable. Going through the fire always hurts.  But God is faithful. What we perceive as abandonment is more likely accompaniment. God is with us. However, sometimes trials and trouble are the result of our cherishing sin. God’s Word calls us to holiness, but we ignore it and live in defiance. When we do this, God may simply allow us to reap the fruit of disobedience. He cannot be blamed for the consequences of our foolishness. But God still hears prayer. We can come back to Him. He can return us to a place of abundance. When He does, praise Him publicly, bring offerings of thanksgiving to Him, and testify to what He has done for you. Fulfill your vows to the Lord. It’s the least we can do. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day