Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, He formed locust swarms at the beginning of the late crop; indeed it was the late crop after the king’s mowings. And so it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, that I said: "O Lord GOD, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!" So the LORD relented concerning this. "It shall not be," said the LORD. Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, the Lord GOD called for conflict by fire, and it consumed the great deep and devoured the territory. Then I said: "O Lord GOD, cease, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!" So the LORD relented concerning this. "This also shall not be," said the Lord GOD. (Amos 7:1-6)
God hears His people's prayers and turns back from His wrath. He says, “It shall not be, said the Lord”. He heard Christ for us, heard Moses for Israel, and He hears you and me, even as He heard Amos here. He hears us pray for ourselves and others, for prayer gets God to do the impossible.
We are heard through Christ, even after we've personally failed, for “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). The repentant are heard in our prayers for others, not always, but it is the way that they're saved. Someone prayed for you, and now, you're praying for someone else. Wrath is deserved, as Amos 6 clearly teaches, “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in Mount Samaria, notable persons in the chief nation, to whom the house of Israel comes... woe to you who put far off the day of doom, who cause the seat of violence to come near; who lie on beds of ivory, stretch out on your couches, eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall; who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, and invent for yourselves musical instruments like David; who drink wine from bowls, and anoint yourselves with the best ointments, but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, and those who recline at banquets shall be removed”. But, their salvation is still hoped for and the object of prayer, because God pulls back His wrath and gives the change in character that's needed.
I can talk to people day and night, logically explaining every biblical truth, but I can't save a single one! Christ, the great preacher, never erred in doctrine or spirit, yet the Spirit of God alone gives men obedience to the message. Paul said, “Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12:3). This comes from God. That person hanging on the edge of death can be brought back by you, as God answers you, even as He heard Moses, even as He hears the Lord Himself.
Prayer is powerful with God, getting Him involved savingly. Prayer doesn't always save others, but it will always save you. He says, “And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise Him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:15). You can continually have failed and done things your way, bringing a curse upon yourself, and yet God will hear you and pull back wrath. He will also hear you, perhaps, for your family, and so continue in hope. Don't let the circumstances destroy your optimism. Keep in mind the God who hears prayer hears you for Christ's sake, and the God of glory who can CHANGE men is open to hear your cries. I don't care how far you've fallen. I'm persuaded you'll be heard, not only for yourself, but for as many as are appointed.
Christians hope in God, so all isn't hopeless. We will get changed supernaturally, He'll fight for us, and we'll conquer sin and problems that we've brought on ourselves. This power - this access in prayer, this easing of burdens, and this saving knowledge of God – is yours, as we come in contact with His Person. When things look impossibly broken, we have a repenting and relenting God who pulls back the wrath that we should get.
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