Day 4: “I Will Hear you and Answer You”

By Jennifer Allen 

Pioneer Valley Church of Christ 

The Fear: 

How can God hear my prayers when I feel so unworthy? 

How do I know if it’s God that’s answering? 

The Promise: 

Jeremiah 29: 12 (NLT) 

““In those days when you pray, I will listen.” 

1 John 5:14-15 (NLT)

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” 

The Personal: 

I can feel like so many prayers have gone unanswered, that I begin to I wonder if God is listening. Sometimes I even doubt. So it is important for me to focus on John’s reminder about having confidence in God’s hearing. 

Confidence means having no uncertainty. Confidence is also a close friend of faith. Faith is assurance of things hoped for and the certainty of things we do not see. This confidence, this faith, it produces something. Because of this confidence we ask! 

So these days, when I experience offense, injustice or pain, I am learning to stop and ask myself these questions: 

• Does God see this pain, offense or injustice?
• How does what I know to be true about God fit with this situation?
• How will my prayers effect this or make a difference?
• Am I confident that God will answer me? 

I have learned that the One who created me loves to hear my voice! Isn’t that amazing?  My two-year old granddaughter is beginning to talk more and more. Every time I’m with her, we repeat all kinds of words. We name the parts of the body, we count and she repeats all the words we say. I never get tired of hearing her little voice. Our father is the same; He loves hearing your voice. 

Sometimes, though, I am unsure of what to pray, how to express what I’m feeling or perhaps need. I take heart in Romans 8:26-27 (NLT): 

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in

words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God‘s own will.” 

Even if I am unsure of what to pray, how to express myself in words of prayer, I can trust that God knows my heart. The Holy Spirit pleads for me in harmony with His will, God responds accordingly. God answers. 

You and I do not have to have eloquent prayers for Him to hear us. In fact, Romans 8 explains that the spirit will discern our groaning. We get to be known by God! This often comes through conversations as we face life. Revealing the things that make us feel sad and the things that excite us. Being honest and vulnerable in our prayers. 

Let’s remember that Our God does listen and answer our prayers. 

The Practical: 

Read 

Here are just a few situations where different people approached God and he heard and answered their prayers: 1 Kings 18 (Elijah prayers for rain); Genesis 18 (Abraham prays for Sodom and Gomorrah); 2 Kings 19;14-19 (King Hezekiah prayers for the people). Take some time to read through these stories and renew your faith that God hears. 

Reflect 

• How will the truth that God loves hearing you affect your prayer life?
• How will this truth affect your emotional state?
• What ways can you create space to not only pour out your heart to your father but also listen for him? 

Activate God’s power in your life 

Speaking Gods truth into every situation in my life has been an important spiritual discipline for me. It has been a spiritual discipline that I have just developed in the past few years of my walk with him. Here’s an exercise you can try: 

Take the next few moments to try to clear your mind. Allow this breath prayer to center you in the promise that God hears you and He will answer you. 

Close your eyes and sit tall. Begin to just notice your breath. Soften your face. Notice where you feel the breath the most. 

Take 3 to 5 breaths. During the inhale, focus on “I believe”. On each exhale, think “God listens to my voice.

Then sit quietly for a few moments and listen for His voice. 

The Prayer: 

Father in heaven I’m so thankful that You hear my voice. I’m so thankful that You can discern all that I’m thinking and feeling. I am so thankful that You are such a great listener. I am so thankful that there is nothing that can separate me from Your love. I’m thankful that You also answer. I will continue to create space in my life to hear Your voice. In Jesus name!

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this quiet time feel free to leave a comment below!

See all the quiet times from this series here: https://www.icocne.org/category/promises-quiet-time-series/

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