Prayers Unanswered

I've been working on trying to read through the Bible.  Yes it has been a slow process because I do not have a set way of doing it and when.  I'm doing in such an unconventional way that allows me to read where I left off when I have the time.  I finished the New Testament finally and now I am in the Old Testament.  Except I am starting with the last book first and trying to work my way backwards book by book. 

Today I am reading in Zechariah 7 and I had to stop.  Verses 8-14 hit me hard.  We often wonder why our spiritual life can be in shambles and wonder why our country is in the state it is in.  Read the follow verses, God has the answer and it clearly shows me why our prayers go unanswered and why are lives are not glorifying God.

Zechariah 7:8-13 (KJV), "And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.  Yea, they made their hearts [as] an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, [that] as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts: But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate."

Do you see this happening in our country?  Is it happening in my life?  Forgive me Lord not keeping my thoughts totally pure for not listening at times and refusing to follow your commands.  I have at times done all this.  Keep my heart tender so that I won't forget to serve others, to listen, and to stay close to you. 

The God's word says that if we follow this pattern of oppression or thinking evil of others he will scatter us and we will be desolate.  God will not hear us when we call out to him.  Can we afford that?