Anyone who has been around Christianity for any amount of time knows that sin creates a barrier between us and God. No matter how "big" or "small," it separates us from our Creator. Why? Because we are turning our backs on Him. We're choosing our way instead of His. He loves us the same of course, but we have created a wedge in the relationship - the same as if a son rebels against His dad. The dad certainly still loves him, but the relationship has now been fractured. No matter how small the matter, trust has been broken and the relationship is in need of repair.

But have you ever thought about what that means? What does it mean to be "separated from God." Is it just about heaven and hell, or is there more?

Jesus' brother James wrote that "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." A "righteous" person is one who is right with God. They are not living a life of sin - rebelling against God. They have sought God and repented (ask for forgiveness and turned from their sin), and have therefore become "right" with Him.

It only stands to reason that the prayer of a man who is NOT right with God is less powerful and less effective. The relationship has been fractured and is need of repair. When we live a life of sin, we kind of create this barrier between us and God, and it's not just about heaven and hell - it's about communication with Him too. The reason the prayer of an unrighteous person is less powerful and less effective is not because God can't hear us or that He refuses to listen or act. The Bible promises us over and over again that if we cry out to Him, He hears us...always. Our prayers become ineffective because we can't hear Him. We're not listening.

Communication goes both ways. It's not that our prayers TO God are affected, it's that this barrier we've created keeps us from hearing God. We desperately need His direction, but if we insist on turning our backs on Him, we will have trouble hearing Him when He tries to direct us. Romans 12:2 says "Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. THEN, you will be able to test and approve what God's will is..." It's only when we are living right with God that we can hear Him clearly.

As Dave Algire from LateChurch said it like this: "You can't have clarity about decisions you need to make when the moral decisions you are making are wrong. Disobedience clouds us. Our obedience actually gives us clarity."

If you want God's direction in your life, you have to start by fixing things in your relationship with him. Tell Him you're sorry, and show that you mean it by changing. Spend time getting to know Him better. Get right with Him.

This concept has all been very fresh on my mind as we have proceeded with the adoption process. We need God's direction so desperately right now. We are relying heavily on Him. I would be a fool to throw that away for some selfish desire. God knows a wee-bit more than I do. I need to hear His voice.

Of course, the thing is, I ALWAYS need His direction, not just in times where I've stepped out in faith. It's sad how we tend to not feel like we need God as much when everything's hunky-dory. We know better of course, but we just get so content and lazy when things are going the way we want them to.

If you're just coasting along in this Christianity thing without it causing you any problems, there's a good chance you're putting yourself before God. Maybe that sounds a bit harsh, but Jesus promised us that if we followed Him, it would be hard. You may have convinced yourself that you're living right with Him, but maybe He's trying to tell you something and you can't hear Him very well because you're busy making yourself happy.