Question
I have heard that if you are not a Christian that God will not hear your prayer. Does that mean that God does not hear the prayers of little children?
Answer
God will not hear the prayer of those who are rebellious against Him:
Prov 15:8 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. (KJV)
Prov 15:29 29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. (KJV)
Prov 28:9 9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. (KJV)
John 9:31 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. (KJV)
Yet God heard the prayer of one sinner:
Acts 10:1-6 1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 “Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 “He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” (NKJ)
And we know that Cornelius was a sinner, because Peter commanded him to be baptized, which was necessary to wash away his sins:
Acts 10:48 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (KJV)
Acts 22:16 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (KJV)
They why did God hear this sinner’s prayer? Because Cornelius was diligently seeking for God, and to be shown the way of salvation.
Then how about little children?
Jesus said they are innocent:
Matt 18:3-4 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (KJV)
In their innocence, they are not rebellious against God, so God will hear their prayers.
When they grow up, and become sinners accountable to God, then they are required to obey Christ Jesus’ commandments, and to become Christians, to be acceptable to God, and for God to hear their prayers.
By David Baize
