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"Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool”." Isaiah 1:16-18

"Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18

Why are your prayers not being answered ?

Here are some Biblical reasons below

Still living in sin

John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Isaiah 1:15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Are you praying out of the will of God ?

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.6:10 Thy kingdom come, (Thy will be done in earth), as it is in heaven.6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Are you asking out of greed or necessity?

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Are you asking with faith that you will receive what your asking for ?

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

Isaiah 1:18 NKJV

Come now, let us set things right,

says the LORD:

Though your sins be like scarlet,

they may become white as snow;

Though they be crimson red,

they may become white as wool.

If you are willing, and obey,

you shall eat the good things of the land..

Come now, says the Lord: Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.

Isaiah 1:18

Catholicism has always confused me (don't feel pressured to answer if uncomfy) I am pagan so the idea is a bit strange. Confessionals seem odd to me do you tell him...secrets? Like what you feel guilty about? What then? Is it like the movies where he tells you to pray a certain amount of times or is it more of spiritual guidance without having to look your pastor in the eye?

Hi!

The idea behind Confession, and all the Sacraments, is that we’re more than just spiritual beings, we’re also bodily, so it’s really helpful for us to have physical, sensible signs. Jesus in His care for us instituted the Sacraments so that grace, the life of God, could be given to us in a way we can see and hear and touch. 

Confession (also called Reconciliation or Penance) was given to the church with the idea that all of us have fallen short. All of us are guilty of things like selfishness and ingratitude. We’ve all messed up, and every way we can mess up has an impact on the people around us, it’s never totally private because we’re all one human family, we all live in the world together, and we’re supposed to be helping one another. Our sins inflict wounds upon the human family—and deep down we all know that, and so we all desire to be really forgiven. Not just told that it wasn’t a big deal—because sometimes we know it actually was!—but rather, we want to be told that we are more than the bad choices we made and that the stain of them isn’t on us forever, told that we are welcome in the family and loved. That’s what happens in Confession! You walk in, tell the priest the ways you’ve fallen short and hurt people and hurt yourself. You say you’re sorry and express a desire to do better from now on. And speaking for Jesus, the priest tells you, clearly, out loud that you’re forgiven! He does sometimes give you spiritual guidance if you need it, and he does assign a (usually very small) “penance” because having something concrete you can do (like saying a particular prayer) to show you’re sorry and “make up for” your sins is so helpful to healing the wound, but the main point is that he tells you that your sins are forgiven. You don’t have to angst over it, you don’t have to wonder if you were really sorry enough or if your sins were really forgivable. A minister of the church tells you you’re forgiven, and you can believe it! 

Confession does often seem weird and confusing to the modern mind—kind of morbid and obsessive, to be focusing so much on what we do wrong. But I think we all have a natural desire to open up about the darkness we see in ourselves, to let somebody see it. Many of us have the sense that if somebody actually knew all the ways we’d messed up, knew everything that was in our hearts, then they wouldn’t love us anymore. And no amount of privately building up our own self-confidence can fix that. We have to be seen totally, and told clearly that we are loved. Confession is a supernatural answer to that natural desire: we give voice to our darkness, and then one of God’s own ministers is empowered to wipe away our guilt. The scriptures tell us “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us”, and “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” This is a wondrous promise! And we receive the concrete assurance that it is happening for us when we receive the sacrament of Confession. 

This is the prayer of absolution, the specific words the priest speaks to you in the Confessional: 

“God, the Father of mercies, through the Death and Resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God grant you pardon and peace. And I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

It’s a beautiful sacrament.

I hope this cleared up some of your questions!

“God Erases Our Sins” By Bible Love Notes:

“Do you know why pencils are typically painted yellow? It’s because the best graphite in the 1800’s came from China and pencil manufacturers painted their pencils the color of Chinese royalty to prove they used the best. Ironically, the yellow pencil now seems very commonplace, not regal at all. But it’s easy to understand why pencils became common--they revolutionized self-expression, and unlike chiseled stone or inked parchment, they allowed men to erase their mistakes.

Of course, that’s one reason we also love the computer. It’s even better than the pencil. Not only can we erase our mistakes, we can delete them and start over without any eraser fuzz.

But God tops them all: “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18).  Our God "deletes" our sins from the legal record that stands against us and writes with permanent ink "paid in full" (Galatians 3:10-14).

This is a wonderful truth to ponder daily (Psalms 103:1-3):

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,”

Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV) - “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

If it's one thing I wasn't prepared for, it's the self hatred and perfectionism that's found it's home within me.

I set impossible standards for myself then beat myself into the ground when I mess up.

In the midst of the storm within my mind, I can hear the dark thoughts circling overhead like a kettle of vultures.

"Why can't I do anything right?"

"I hate myself so much. All I do is mess things up."

I so much as spill something on the counter and I'm on the brink of tears, name-calling myself as I recall the countless times I was scolded for being clumsy and spilling things.

Then it bleeds into my walk with God...

"I keep sinning. I can't do anything right!"

"Why can't I just stop this sin in my life that I want to stop?"

I run to God with tearfilled eyes full of regret and pain for sinning and hurting my heavenly Father.

Yet, He sees me in the middle of my mental turmoil, and in much love, He says...

"My grace is sufficient."

"Go, and sin no more."

"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow."

"I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name, you are mine."

~ Scriptures about forgiveness ~

Matthew 6:15 "But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Colossians 3:13 "Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Daniel 9:9 "To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him."

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses."

Micah 7:18 "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love."

Mark 11:25 "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

Luke 17:3-4 "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him."

Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:"

Matthew 6:14 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Isaiah 1:8 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

James 5:16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Thinking last night and today about how God's mercy trumps man's. The Lord forgives us when we repent, he removes our sin forever and remembers it no more (see below for references). What human does this, beloved? What human forgives and shows such mercy? Give me the Lord's forgiveness any day, oh how he loves. Also, the Lord works all things together for good for those who are his (Romans 8:28). Your sin = forgiven, removed, forgotten and he will work all of it together for your good (perhaps unseen until Eternity, but nonetheless, all means all). What human can forgive and forget your sin and work it together for good? This is God. What a loving, merciful God. And he himself paid the price for our forgiveness? I don't comprehend this love and I hope I never do because it is too much to understand. To just be at his feet.

Also:

"When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood." Isaiah 1:15

"Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear." Isaiah 59:1-2

Repentance is necessary. Confession, contrition before the Lord and to repent is to turn, beloved. To turn from said sin.

And just to re-affirm, when we repent and he forgives us:

"'No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, "Know the LORD," because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. 'For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.'" Jeremiah 31:34

“'Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.'" Isaiah 1:18-20

"As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12

Don't be afraid of going to confession. You'll find nothing there but mercy. No matter what you've done, God is ready and eager to forgive you. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

Isaiah 1:18

Daily Light on the Daily Path by Samuel Bagster

Daily Reading for August 31st

Romans 5:16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.

Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

Isaiah 43:25,26 "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins. • "Put Me in remembrance, let us argue our case together; State your cause, that you may be proved right.

Isaiah 44:22 "I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 5:15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

1 Corinthians 6:11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD:

though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow,

though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Isaiah 1:18