“We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.” John 9:31
“Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” James 5:16
God hears your prayers. Those souls who follow God, are free from sin and lift their prayers to God will have their prayers heard. Their guardian angel will carry these prayers directly to the throne of God like incense rising into the heights.
The prayers of the “righteous” man rise to God’s ear. These prayers are answered not because they change God’s mind, but, because they are aligned with God’s Divine Will. I’d like to say these prayers are perfectly aligned to the Father’s Will, but the only prayers aligned so perfectly are those of Jesus when He would go up into the hills to pray and those of the Blessed Mother.
The soul who obeys God’s Will isn’t asking prayers to obtain gifts or things of this world. These prayers are answered because they are aligned already with the Will of God.
The soul should strive this Lenten season to break free of self, to align himself with God. The soul should seek first the Kingdom of God before asking in prayer. The soul should seek to be like the Blessed Mother in seeking God’s favor and becoming aligned with God’s Will.
Don’t wait though to be perfectly aligned. Take your shortfalls to God in your prayer. Offer to Him the sacrifice of your will when you come to God in prayer. Offer your clouded desires to His Will. This sacrifice makes those prayers of the soul more desirable in God’s eyes. It is in this sacrifice that the soul surrenders his will to that of God’s.
“O my Jesus, may You be blessed for everything! I rejoice that Your most holy will is being accomplished. That is quite enough to make me happy.” Divine Mercy in My Soul # 1403
““Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Luke 1:30