Because He Hears Us

So many people have the same questions about prayer. It makes one start to think there might be a common source for all these doubts and concerns. "If God knows everything, He already knows what I am going to pray." "I can't find the time to." "I can't stay awake when I try." "I'm just talking to the walls." "It just bounces off the ceiling and doesn't go anywhere." "Things are going to happen the way they should anyway." They all boil down to asking, "Why bother to pray?"

Prayer acknowledges God's presence. Even when you talk to yourself, you are implicitly acknowledging that there is "someone" there, even if just yourself. Just so, when you talk to God, you are acknowledging that He exists.  The fact that God exists, the invisible, eternal Creator, makes Him the One deserving of praise and thanks for creating you and providing your needs. As you praise Him and acknowledge Him, you find yourself dwelling in His presence, for He dwells in the praises of His people.

Prayer demonstrates trust in God. When you bring your requests to God with thanksgiving, you are expressing your trust that He is able and He is willing to hear and answer you. You testify to all of the heavenlies and witness to those around that you believe God is the source of all you need.

Prayer exercises personal faith. When we start out in our Christian walk, we can often have faith for a few things, but not always for everything. God understands that and works with us as we grow. After we see God answer a few prayers, we begin to find that we have faith to believe Him for other, bigger things in our lives. Sometimes we get stuck when we start asking God for things that are not in His will for us, or for things which rely on other people's choices. While God is all-powerful, He willing limits Himself to respect our choices. Our prayers for other's choices follow the same limits God puts on Himself -- speak to their heart and arrange circumstances to bring about a decision point, then repeat as necessary. This gives our faith opportunity to grow as we continue exercising it in prayer for those around us.

Prayer keeps our attention focused. So often we get distracted by what goes on around us. The national news is bad, the financial news is worse, the news at work is uncertain, etc. Rather than focusing on the immediate things all around us, as we pray we are able to lift our thoughts to the heavenlies and focus our hearts on God. He is the eternal, unchanging reference point in our ever-changing landscape. He is our destination. We can pray about the events and happenings around us, near and far, but then we can turn back to God, get our bearings, and continue on course toward God our harbor.

Prayer frees God's hands to move in our lives. As long as we are trying to get God's work done in our own strength and wisdom, we will fall short in needed resources. To achieve God's desired spiritual results, our material goods and abilities will never be enough. Until we turn to Him who commands the full riches of heaven's glory, He will allow us to struggle on our own. His love for us impels Him to give us the space and opportunity to learn long-lasting lessons, always guarding that no harm comes to us, but never interfering until we have learned what we needed to grow to the next level. As we give Him permission to do it His way, we find answers that sometimes we didn't even know we were looking for.

Prayer changes us. God is eternal, unchanging, perfect and holy. We are malleable clay, in need of shaping. God desires us to reflect His nature, just as Jesus showed the Father to the world. Kids will often dress like, walk like, talk like their favorite singers or actors, occasionally to their detriment. Anyone that we spend time thinking about, listening to, dwelling on, talking to, we will find ourselves taking on the attributes of. Who is there more worthy of resembling than Christ Jesus? What reason can there be not to put all the time and opportunity we can into following Him around, dressing like Him in humility and righteousness, walking like Him in obedience to the Father, talking like Him with words of life and encouragement and forgiveness and mercy? Prayer keeps us in His presence; pray without ceasing.

This only begins to touch on the endless, bountiful, rich blessings which come from time spent in God's presence with our praise and petitions. Try it, and find your own reasons to add to the list.

Psalm 18:3 I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.

Read the rest of Psalm 18, particularly verse 6 to the end at verse 15. Then imagine that vivid imagery that King David used occurring on your behalf. It's like a fire truck, ambulance and police all responding to your call for help. Who can doubt God's love and His desire to have you call on Him, talk to Him, learn from Him?

Father God, Your arm is not shortened to the point we are ever out of Your reach. Your strength is never lessened to be unable to rescue us. Your ear is never deaf to our call and Your heart is never turned away. Thank You that You enfold us in Your arms every time we turn to You. Even Your loving correction, Lord, is preferable to the "tender mercies" of the wicked. We love You, Lord, and we do not hesitate to express our heart to You.

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