Will He Hear Me?
Prayer is such an important part of our walk with Christ. Through Christ, and in His name, we have the privilege, pleasure and responsibility to pray to God the Father. We can worship Him, confess sins to Him, express gratitude to Him, and present needs and/or requests for ourselves and others to Him.
In Psalm 91, God made an amazing promise about prayer.
- Psalm 91:15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
As wonderful as this promise is, it is not unconditional. Earlier in this psalm, we learn who this promise was made to: those who have surrendered their lives to Him, who trust Him to defend and protect them, those who have genuine, life changing faith in Him.
- Psalm 91:2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
And in 1 John chapter 5, we learn that when we pray according to His will (His desire, decrees, and determinations as described in His Word), not only does He hear us, but He will answer those prayers.
- 1 John 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
I rest in these truths.
I trust in these promises.
I expect my prayers to have a
powerful impact on the world.
However, the Bible has much more to say about effective prayer. The verses below, although far from an exhaustive study on what the Bible has to say about prayer, make abundantly clear why it is so important to study the entire Word of God. How can we grow in knowledge, understanding and obedience with only part of the truth? That is like trying to make bread without all of the ingredients.
- James 4:2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
- Ask God – God is constantly providing for us. But don’t always expect God to move if you don’t talk to Him about a specific need you are aware of.
- James 1:6-7 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
- Have Faith – Do you believe God can deliver on His promises? Do you have faith that He has your best interests at heart? Praying without faith is like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute.
- Proverbs 28:9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
- Listen – You must listen to God as He speaks through His Word if you expect Him to listen to your prayers.
- Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.
- Repent – If you are unwilling to turn from the sins that you cherish, why are you expecting God to respond to your prayers?
- 1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
- Honor Your Wife – Through Paul, God has instructed Christian husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church (see Ephesians 5:25). Tall order, yes. But if I am not willing to honor my wife, I should not expect God to honor my prayers.
- James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
- Don’t Be Selfish – True humility honors our Heavenly Father. Put other’s needs ahead of your own. Don’t pray greedy prayers and expect positive results.
Here are some requirements for meaningful and effective prayer.
- Be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Accept His payment for your sin debt to Father God and surrender your life to Him. Trust Him!!
- Respectfully, joyfully and expectantly engage your loving Father in prayer.
- Don’t neglect God’s promises, instructions, warnings and advice about prayer and Godly living.
- Be humble, genuine and thankful.
- As a follower of Jesus Christ, pray in His name. As our Lord and Savior, the power in His name, when properly applied, brings legitimacy to our prayers.
Will He hear me? He will if I am faithful to Him, His Word and the promptings of His Spirit.
Prayer
Father in Heaven, may Your Word and Your Spirit guide us in prayers and living lives that glorify and honor You. Please help Your children to apply the truths of Your Word to our prayers. Your kingdom come, Your will be done. May these things be done according to Your desires and in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
