God Hears our Groans

The people of Israel groaned because of their slavery.

God heard their groaning (from Exodus 2:23-24).

First Sorrow, Then Praise

God saw Leah’s sorrow. When He blessed her, she said:

“The Lord has looked upon my affliction.”
“The Lord has heard that I am hated.“
“This time I will praise the Lord (from Genesis 29:31-35).”

Let your sorrow lead to praise.

Call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

Long ago “people began to call upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26).”

Today anyone and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13).”

“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).”

How One Who Knows Prays

God knows our hearts. He searches them (from Luke 16:15; Romans 8:27).

Here’s what He sees: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure (Jeremiah 17:9).”

It’s no surprise that “the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26).”

Walk with God

Noah walked with God (Genesis 6:9).

Noah did all the Lord commanded him (from Genesis 6:22; 7:5).

People who walk with God do what he says.

The Listening Part of Prayer

A wise friend told me, “The Sovereign Lord wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught (Isaiah 50:4).”

When He wakes her, she wonders, “What do you have for me today, Lord?”

Then she opens her Bible and reads, ready to respond to whatever He says.

One Who Listens

I call to God and he hears my voice (from Psalm 55:16-17).

We pray to One who listens.

Pray for One Another

When we pray for one another, we’re asking God to work. We’re also serving one another, bearing one another’s burdens, and loving one another (see Galatians 5:13, 6:2; 1 Peter 1:22).

Praying for one another helps us forgive and be at peace with one another (see Ephesians 4:32, Mark 9:50).

Pray for one another (James 5:16).

A Throne of Grace

Paul approached God’s throne, and the Lord answered “My grace is all you need (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT).”

Eleven years later, Paul, or someone who knew his story, wrote this, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16 ESV).”

God’s throne is a throne of grace because that’s what we can be certain God will give when we pray.

When Walking Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death

If you are saved* you do not need to be afraid to die.

Walking through the valley of the shadow of death with the Good Shepherd is part of everyone’s life journey. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me (Psalm 23:4).

*For by grace you have been saved, through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).