I didn’t know you prayed

“I didn’t know you prayed,” Kyle said.
“Normally, I don’t. This time I’m making an exception.” ¹from "Curse (Blur Trilogy Book 3)" by Steven James

This seems like a conversation that would really happen - someone praying that doesn't normally pray, or maybe even for the first time.

So - I had to look up this scenario, to find something on official "church" doctrine for when people pray for either the first time or maybe only rarely.   

I was disappointed.  Even surprised.  Very disappointed.

For instance -

In the Bible prayer is worship that includes all the attitudes of the human spirit in its approach to God. The Christian worships God when he adores, confesses, praises and supplicates him in prayer. This highest activity of which the human spirit is capable may also be thought of as communion with God, so long as due emphasis is laid upon divine initiative. A man prays because God has already touched his spirit. Prayer in the Bible is not a ‘natural response’ (see Jn. 4:24). ‘That which is born of the flesh is flesh.’ Consequently, the Lord does not ‘hear’ every prayer (Is. 1:15; 29:13). The biblical doctrine of prayer emphasizes the character of God, the necessity of a man’s being in saving or covenant relation with him, and his entering fully into all the privileges and obligations of that relation with God.  ²Thomson, J. G. S. S. (1996). Prayer. In D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (3rd ed., pp. 947–948). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

The first part is a bunch of "churchy" words, most of which will mean pretty much nothing to someone who isn't already familiar with them.  

Then we get to these words - Consequently, the Lord does not ‘hear’ every prayer.  Seriously.  A God who is everywhere, knows everything, Etc. - doesn't even hear some prayers?  To me, that's not logical.  God may not answer every prayer - but how can He possibly know everything when He chooses to not even hear some thing?  (Yes, I know there are quotes around the word "hear" - and I realize what they mean - but honestly, someone who is looking into this for the first time won't know that at all.)

The first example used in the book is from Isaiah is this -

Isa 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are full of blood;
Isa 1:16 wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,
Isa 1:17 learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.

My problem with this example, especially since they took only one verse, is that this was a very specific instance where God's chosen people - who already knew exactly what He wanted and chose to turn away from Him - are the ones being addressed here.  This case may or may not be relevant to the person who never or rarely prayed.  I dare say, most often - it's a different scenario.  

Even so, let's continue.  The example says God doesn't always hear every prayer.  The Hebrew word in the Old Testament portrays a different concept -

8085 שָׁמַע, שֶׁמַע [shamaʿ /shaw·mah/] v n m. A primitive root; TWOT 2412, 2412a; GK 9048 and 9049; 1159 occurrences; AV translates as “hear” 785 times, “hearken” 196 times, “obey” 81 times, “publish” 17 times, “understand” nine times, “obedient” eight times, “diligently” eight times, “shew” six times, “sound” three times, “declare” three times, “discern” twice, “noise” twice, “perceive” twice, “tell” twice, “reported” twice, and translated miscellaneously 33 times. 1 to hear, listen to, obey. 1A (Qal). 1A1 to hear (perceive by ear). 1A2 to hear of or concerning. 1A3 to hear (have power to hear). 1A4 to hear with attention or interest, listen to. 1A5 to understand (language). 1A6 to hear (of judicial cases). 1A7 to listen, give heed. 1A7A to consent, agree. 1A7B to grant request. 1A8 to listen to, yield to. 1A9 to obey, be obedient. 1B (Niphal). 1B1 to be heard (of voice or sound). 1B2 to be heard of. 1B3 to be regarded, be obeyed. 1C (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon. 1D (Hiphil). 1D1 to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound. 1D2 to sound aloud (musical term). 1D3 to make proclamation, summon. 1D4 to cause to be heard. 2 sound.  ³Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.