Acceptance of God Is What Matters

"Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar;" (Isaiah 56:7)

In order to make a man acceptable to Him, God brings him to His house. He looks at our personality when we go for prayer. Once a High Court judge refused to hear a lawyer. The lawyer was surprised. Then he looked at his dress. The lawyer's collar was missing. It was a place of dignity -- the court of law. You can't put on there any dress you like. There is an etiquette to follow. In the house of God also it is like that. Your dress is not such that receives His blessing. Your lips utter a prayer and your eyes speak another thing. God does not see your prayer in your eyes. We are men of a dual personality. When we go to God, He examines our inclinations, spirit and body and mind.

Some bring petitions to the police station for a wrong to be redressed. But there is a letter in their pocket which gives evidence of their own guilt. If that were discovered, they would be arrested then and there. We are men of a double mind. A deceitful nature is in us. When we go for prayer, God examines our spirit, body and inclinations. He wants us to be free from the filthiness of the spirit and body. In the house of prayer you will be fully satisfied. Your personality will be straightened out and built up as it was in the case of Elijah, Isaiah, Daniel and Paul.

"Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings" (Isaiah 51:7). Here God shows some people what their heart contained -- all their emotions, thoughts and imaginations. The Word of God had wrought upon them in such a way that everything that came out of their mouth was acceptable to God. God is not going to be deceived by our prayers. God knows what is wrong in us.