Wash yourselves first

Isaiah 1:15-20 NLV So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you. Even if you pray many times, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood. “Wash yourselves. Make yourselves clean. Take your sinful actions from My eyes. Stop doing sinful things. Learn to do good. Look for what is right and fair. Speak strong words to those who make it hard for people. Stand up for the rights of those who have no parents. Help the woman whose husband has died. “Come now, let us think about this together,” says the Lord. “Even though your sins are bright red, they will be as white as snow. Even though they are dark red, they will be like wool. If you are willing and obey, you will eat the best of the land. But if you are not willing and turn against Me, you will be destroyed by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Why do we feel our prayers are not being answered? God says to wash yourselves first. When we start to pray, one cannot just ask for the higher things whether that pertains to the spiritual or physical. HE says many hands are full of blood. There is still unforgiveness, hate, anger, disobedience to authority (spiritual and man), vengeance, self pity, temper, cursing, and the lies which cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.

This is why we must not try to get ahead of God. For all of us, we need to sustain in basic boot camp in which the Lord has us training. Some are grumbling because they think they deserve better. That is your pride.
God commands us, "Stop doing sinful things. Learn to do good."

First level for most of us is to learn basic obedience. This is hard for many because they think they are the ones who should be in authority. Those who exalt themselves, God will humble. When we obey, HE says we will eat the best of the land. When we disobey, we will be destroyed. Therefore, if we are not heading to the best of lands in our lives, perhaps, we need to humble ourselves and evaluate our lives. Submit to God, resist sin and the demons will flee.

Pastor Steve Yong Kim