Dear COA family,
Does God hear the prayers of unbelievers?
The answer is… yes, he does!
Cornelius was definitely not a Christian yet his prayers came before God’s throne. God then sent an angel to give him instructions to ask for the Apostle Peter to come and share the gospel with him. Through Peter’s sharing, Cornelius and his entire household became Christians. (Acts 10:1-42)
Recently, a non-Christian student of mine shared with me about how her prayers were miraculously answered despite her not verbalising it. It seemed that what she thought of in her heart came to pass soon after. This led to a spiritual awakening in her life to the possibility of the existence of God and of His care and leading for her life. God had answered her prayers in a miraculous way though she did not know of Him!
Why is this truth important for us to know?
Firstly, it tells us that God is an impartial God. He hears the prayers of all people who pray to him earnestly without discriminating whether or not they are believers. Peter confessed: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34-35) In the same way, we ought to be impartial and fully loving and accepting of others in our interactions with them.
Secondly, this truth encourages us to encourage our non-believing family members and friends to pray directly to God for themselves!
Recently, a member shared with me how she was impacted by the sermon on Acts 10. She was especially touched to hear how God answered the prayer of Cornelius even though he was not a Christian. She was thus encouraged to tell her husband, who was not a believer, to pray to God for help for himself and know the reality of God’s saving power. She did not struggle anymore with doubt about the effectiveness of prayers by unbelievers.
In fact, there are so many testimonies of seekers who receive God’s answer to their prayers in miraculous ways. This was the only way they knew God is real as they live in countries that forbid Christianity and persecute Christians. God reaches out to all people in marvellous ways that supercedes our ideas of how he works!
And if God so hear the prayers of those who do not yet know him, how much more will he hear our prayers as his children when we cry out to him without giving up? (Luke 18:7)
Beloved, let us be all the more encouraged to continue to pray to him without ceasing!
Revd Ian