Always Pray; Don’t Give Up

Her story was intended to encourage prayer, but it discouraged me. It seemed God answered all her prayers. Doubt crept in.

Some of my most fervent, persistent prayers have not been answered.

The next day I was substitute teaching. The students were completing a project but we could not find the work they had done. We looked everywhere. I breathed a silent prayer, and immediately found what we were looking for. God heard me!

He hears you.

Will he not answer all our prayers in a way that brings Him glory?

We should always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1).

Deliverance Comes From God

When God’s people cried out for help, the Lord said,
“I have seen their affliction.
I have heard their cry.
I know their sufferings.
I have come down to deliver them.”
(from Exodus 3:7-8).

God Hears our Groans

The people of Israel groaned because of their slavery.

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

One Who Listens

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

We pray to One who listens.

Begin and End With Worship

Notice what Solomon did before and after he asked for wisdom.

The king went to an important place of worship and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings to the Lord. That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream (from 1 Kings 3:4-5).”

“Solomon woke up, returned to Jerusalem, stood before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings (from 1 Kings 3:15).”

God Hears

God hears our conversations. The Lord said, “When you ‘multiplied your words against me; I heard it (Ezekiel 35:13).'”

God hears our prayers. “O Lord,  you hear my voice (from Psalm 5:3).”

Speak and pray respectfully.

God hears

She was a victim. Pregnant and harshly treated, she cried out to the Lord. He heard her.

He said, “Name your son Ishmael, which means God hears (from Genesis 16:4-11).”

His name, a constant reminder: God hears.

God isn’t deaf

Pray this: Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping (Psalm 39:12).

Soon you’ll say this: I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry (Psalm 40:1).