1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah
3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. 4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah

Does God really hear and answer our prayers? There is nothing more basic in regard to our faith than this one question? In growing up years I often heard (mostly by implication) that when one became a Christian we were pretty much on our own. God had given us the Bible and he was just somewhere resting until the day of final judgment. If God actually did anything for us it would be done indirectly so that it would seem more like luck or coincidence than providence or a direct answer to a prayer. If someone was sick we could pray for the doctors, nurses, hospital and their staff but never pray for God to directly heal that person. Of course this was never stated like this but this was the idea that came thru. If God does not hear us and directly answer our prayers and we don’t believe (and practice) that he does, we should just abandon our faith and quit!

If there is any principle that is clearly taught throughout the Bible, it is that God hears those who love him and answers those who serve him. When we draw near to God, he draws near to us. He is described as a God of mercy, compassion, comfort and love. We are commanded more than once to pray constantly. We are given examples of Jesus and his apostles praying often.

God does indeed answer us when we call. He does hear us and give us relief. Not only does he hear us but we are told that we have the direct assistance of Jesus as our High Priest who intercedes for us before the Father. We have the help of the Holy Spirit who knows our hearts when we don’t know how or what to pray and he then translates that into pleadings on our behalf before the Father. God not only has a 24/7 open line for us but has provided us with a power booster to make sure the communication goes thru and then provides assistance, even when we don’t know we need it.

O God, I thank you for your willingness to hear me when I call and to answer my pleadings and my prayer. I know that I have no right on my own merit to come to you and ask anything. I thank you that you have provided that right thru your Son who lived, died and has been raised for me; who is now at your right hand. You know my heart and I ask that your will become my own. I thank you for your compassion toward me and ask that I be filled with your love to show compassion to others. I pray in Jesus name. Robert