Ask in Prayer: God Hears

Ask in Prayer

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. — James 5:16 NKJV

In Mark 11:24, Jesus says something remarkable:

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

It sounds too good to be true! We know the words are valid because Jesus Himself spoke them, and He always tells the truth. Yet we so often don’t go to God with our requests. Instead, we talk to others about our struggles, or we hide them. We keep ourselves busy — too preoccupied to feel our pain. We tell ourselves our needs are insignificant, or we feel too needy. Sometimes, we talk to God about what we want, but it’s more like reciting a list to Santa Claus than communing with the almighty God.

Allow your conversations with God to be a two-way street.

Pray for an expectant heart and a childlike faith, and when you present your requests to Him, spend time listening for His voice. Hear what He wants to tell you about your requests, and don’t lose hope — He will answer.

What holds you back from praying the way Jesus teaches?

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God Hears Our Prayers

But truly God has listened; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because He has not rejected my prayer or removed His steadfast love from me! — Psalm 66:19-20 ESV

You’re excitedly recounting the details of your new home to a coworker, until you realize she isn’t listening — she’s engrossed in scrolling through Instagram. You call your mom and try to explain the pressure you feel at work, until you realize she isn’t hearing you — she’s focused on her rambunctious grandson. You begin listing your symptoms to the doctor, until he interrupts, telling you it’s all in your head.

Is anyone listening? Does anyone care? Do I even matter? you wonder.

Yes to all of those questions.

When you pray, whether in gratitude, pain, or confusion, your prayers aren’t dissolving into thin air or disregarded for more important prayers at the moment. God hears your prayers. He is ready to listen any time of day or night. He doesn’t get distracted, impatient, or irritated. Even if you’ve prayed the same prayer hundreds of times, He doesn’t roll His eyes and dismiss it. Our heavenly Father never misses a word we think or say in prayer; remember this truth when you’re praying today.

Think about God hearing your prayers; how do you imagine He receives them? What does today’s scripture tell you?

Excerpted with permission from 100 Days of Hope, copyright Thomas Nelson.

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Your Turn

What do you need? Are you worrying about it or asking God for it? You are the Father’s beloved child and He’s listening! Come share your thoughts on prayer on our blog. We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily