My dear sister,
thanks so much for your input i believe we need to study this more there our some in my home congregation that feel that god will not hear a sinners prayer i have always thought about cornilus please help me so i may exsplain this in a loving way
my children our not christians, and my daughter mia that just had the baby she prays but i don't want anyone in the church to say to her when she visits that god did'nt hear her prayers. i'm still trying to teach her the truth of gods word.

Thank you all for praying for nyla she' still in the hospital she was moved from new york to new jersey closer for us to visit with her. she will have another surgery to correct malrotation of the intestines, she is breathing on her own with out oxygen, or the ventilater god has been so good!!

i will keep you all in prayer

love your sister in christ stephanie,

That's a great question. I'll share my experience and some things I've studied & pray it'll help. Literally, one of the things that touched my heart the most when someone was studying with me about being a Christian, was when they pointed out that I could be separated from God eternally.....that my dwelling in sin was not pleasing to Him...and God could not be a part of that. The passage they shared was
Isaiah 59
1Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

But they shared it in such a way that they let me KNOW that if I would truly seek after God.....He was right there and lovingly and eagerly waiting for me! In Acts 17:27 it seems the scriptures make that clear, that He is there and waiting for all of us... "27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he benot far from every one of us."

So yes, my sins separated me.....but God was literally in pursuit of me....just waiting for me to turn unto Him. And shared the Good News of Jesus Christ, that God so loved the world He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.!

So yes my sins separated me from God, but In Jesus Christ, I would be saved! Praise God! And in Psalm 145:18, the bible says, "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."

So even for the Non Christians, it appears that God is aware of their circumstances, and will respond to them when they seek him in truth. Cornelius in Acts 10 is a good example as he was praying and seeking God, and immediately God sent Peter to deliver the message of Jesus Christ unto him and his household. Also, James 4:8 says "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." He wants us to draw nigh to Him, and be willing to give our lives to Him.

So, should we tell Non-Christians God won't here their prayers? God hears and responds to the repentent heart who honestly seeks Him. And to them we should tell them that though sin separates, the Good News is that Jesus Saves!

Alrayna, I am so glad you added Acts 10. Verse 31 says Peter told Cornelius his prayers had been heard. Who am I to say God only hears certain prayers. IT is certain, He hears the prayers of His children. And it is certain He heard Cornelius. Our hearts and attitude have a lot to do with our prayers being heard.