King Hezekiah was very sick. Isaiah the prophet had just informed him that God has said that the king of Judah should “set his house in order,” as he was about to die. In response, this faithful king (2 Kings 18:1-3) turns his face to the wall, prays to God and weeps bitterly. As a result, the most amazing thing happens—God extends Hezekiah’s life for fifteen years (2 Kings 20:1-6)! Isaiah records the words of Hezekiah in his account (Isaiah 38:9-20). Clearly, we can say for certain that prayer can accomplish phenomenal things!

Had Hezekiah been like many of the kings before him, his prayer would have fallen on deaf ears. God would not have responded to him. Hezekiah’s prayer would have been impotent—no matter how many tears he shed and no matter how eloquent a prayer he might have uttered. Sin has the power to keep our prayers from God (cf. Isaiah 59:1-2).

Too many today try to call out to God through lives that are defiled by sin. Instead of lifting up “holy hands without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8), men lift up hands stained with sin and unbelief … all, of course, in vain.

It is not a matter of whether or not God can hear our prayers through the shrill screaming of our sins. God can hear us. The truth is that God turns His face against us as we have turned our lives against Him (cf. 1 Peter 3:12; Psalm 34:15).

Whether “Christian” or atheist, whether one who has never embraced the grace of Christ or one who has willfully “trampled underfoot the Son of God” (Hebrews 10:26-29), we must all understand that unrighteous living equates to impotent prayer! Therefore, the first thing you must do to EMPOWER your prayer life is to genuinely repent and turn to God for His forgiveness. Only after God has your heart will you have His ear!