We do not set the terms for our relationship with God. He does! In this life, we can become careless. We don’t see God with our physical eyes. So, often we transform Him into the image we are comfortable with. We are pleased to have a God who is “always there for us.” We like a God who never condemns us but who is simply glad we took time to “stop by!” We imagine that God is relieved that we chose to pray to Him at all, what with our busy schedule and all.
However, a day will come when we will see God with our eyes. We will understand then, how awesome it is that we can address God in prayer at all. When we see the multitude of heavenly hosts and saints from all time gathered before His glorious throne, then it will amaze us that every time we whispered a prayer, He heard us. That the God, who is the center of the universe gave us His attention.
Yet it is critical for us to understand that God listens to us on His terms, not ours. He has declared that if we regard iniquity in our heart, He will not hear us. It is not that He cannot. It is that He will not. He is holy. He will not be treated lightly. He will not allow you to make a mockery of His holiness and His hatred of sin.
Before you try and pray to God the next time, ask yourself this question: “Have I regarded iniquity in my heart?”