Let me ask you if you have ever been ignored. I have two teens, so I am incredibly familiar with being ignored. If I ask for the dishes to be done, it is as though I have said nothing or I’m speaking a foreign language.
When this happens, it causes me to feel unheard, disrespected, and at times unloved.
Can you relate? Maybe you don’t have teens, but someone in your life never seems to hear you. Or you have asked so many times without knowing if you are being heard that you’ve stopped asking.
Many Christians feel similar discouragement when they think that God doesn’t hear their prayers. Fortunately, this is not the case and we don’t need to jump up and down, yell, scream, or beg God to hear us. God does hear us and will give us what we ask in prayer…with a tiny caveat!
Focus Passage:
1 John 5:14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Main Takeaways:
- God doesn't just hear what we say in prayer; He is intently listening.
- When our prayers are aligned with God's will we can expect a positive response.
- Just because we don't receive a response from God doesn't mean he doesn't hear us, love us, or have our best interest at heart.
- The more we understand God's word and His character the more our prayers will align with His will.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for making it possible for us to pray boldly and know that you hear us. Help us to align our prayers to your will and grow in expectant hope that you always keep your promises. Forgive us when we grow tired, upset, or frustrated when our prayers go unanswered. Reveal to us your will so that we can refine our thoughts and expectations according to your Word.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
Resources:
NIV Application Commentary - Copyright © 1996 Gary M. Burge.
Alpine Bible - Fallen in a Hole Analogy
