Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 12: Prayer”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Does God hear our prayers?
This is a good question.
How do you know if someone hears you?
Based on personal experience…I would say there are two main ways: 1) A person responds with appropriate words, i.e. talks back to you, or 2) a person does what you asked them to do.
Perhaps what leads us to ask this question about prayer to God is that a) he doesn’t always talk back to us, or answer directly and b) we don’t always receive what we asked him to do.
But maybe we have to take a step back.
Is there a scenario where God wouldn’t hear our prayers?
The short answer is yes, and you might be surprised at how often it could occur.
Isaiah 59:1-2 says this:
Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear.
If we live in sin or have no solution for sin, i.e. forgiveness in Jesus, God doesn’t hear, that is , listen to our prayers. Sin separates us from God and breaks the relationship with the Lord. Until the issue is solved by faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God doesn’t respond to our prayers or anyone else outside the saving work of Jesus.
Sure people pray. But perhaps the clearest example of how groups of people can pray and God doesn’t respond until one of his own children offer up a prayer to him is Elijah and the prophets of Baal. (See 1 Kings 18). 450 Baal prophets “prayed” to Baal to send fire. NO response. Elijah, the prophet of the true God prayed to the Lord to send fire…he did.
When the issue of sin is solved, we can be confident our prayers are heard by our heavenly Father.
But what if he doesn’t speak back or answer how I prayed?
Perhaps there are times when we are praying that we “hear” God respond. Perhaps not audibly, but by the Spirit of God bringing to our mind and heart the Word and promises of God. The Word is the primary way God communicates. As his Word is on our mind and heart, God can bring his truth in response to our prayers. Hebrews 1:1-2 says,
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
If we measure if God hears us by how many times he gives us what we ask for in the time in which we asked for it, we may be missing out on how God is answering. God always gives what is best for us, not always what we want. God answering our prayer may be a “yes,” a “no,” or a “not yet.” His promise is this: (Matthew 7:9-11)
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
God will always give us what he knows is best for us.
Does God hear your prayers?
As you are a child of God through faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, confidently say yes.
He hears you and speaks to you in his Word. He hears you and does what is best for you!
Apply: What prayers recently have you been confident God heard and answered for you?
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for removing the barrier of sin by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Thank you for working faith in our hearts to trust Jesus as our Savior and know that you always work things out for our good and the advancement of your Gospel message. AMEN.