Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Reader,
Books / Pr - Prayer (2002) / Chapter 3—God Hears Prayer
God Hears and Answers Prayer—God hears prayer. Christ has said, “If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.” Again He says, “If any man serve Me, him will My Father honor.” John 14:14; John 12:26. If we live according to His word, every precious promise He has given will be fulfilled to us. We are undeserving of His mercy, but as we give ourselves to Him, He receives us. He will work for and through those who follow Him.—(The Ministry of Healing, 226, 227.) {Pr 34.1}
The Lord will certainly hear and answer the prayers of His workers if they will seek Him for counsel and instruction.—(Evangelism, 399.) {Pr 34.2}
God hears the prayers of all who seek Him in truth. He has the power that we all need. He fills the heart with love, and joy, and peace, and holiness.—(Testimonies for the Church 9:169.) {Pr 34.3}
I saw that every prayer which is sent up in faith from an honest heart will be heard of God and answered, and the one that sent up the petition will have the blessing when he needs it most, and it will often exceed his expectations. Not a prayer of a true saint is lost if sent up in faith from an honest heart.—(Testimonies for the Church 1:121.) {Pr 34.4}
There may be times when you do not believe God has heard your prayers. You become disheartened and lose hope. What we must realize is that a faithless prayer will go unanswered. Faith, with patience, is required for God to hear and answer prayers. God may not answer our prayers right away or the way we want Him to, rather when we need it the most and for our own good. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Place your trust in God, and whatever you ask in His name, He will do.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
We come into Your presence, to the foot of Your throne, to bring our petitions before Thee. We thank You for giving us the privilege, honor, and opportunity to commune with You through our prayers. To be able to speak with You, and hear Your voice through Your Word. If we live our life according to Your Word, all Your promises to us will be fulfilled. You have promised us, that whatsoever we ask in Your name, that You will do. We are so grateful that You hear and answer our prayers, perhaps not exactly as we would like, but always for our own good. You know the beginning from the end. You are all knowing and all-powerful, and answer our prayers when we need it most. We may think we know what we need, but You already know all our needs and wants before we even ask. We pray for Your counsel and instruction and gladly follow wherever
the Lamb leads. We pray to worship You in spirit and in truth. We pray that You fill us with the fruits of the spirit, against which there is no law. We are carnal humans and have sinned against You. We do not deserve Your mercy, and yet You receive us as heirs to the Royal Family. We surrender our life to You, to do and to will of Your good pleasure. We are Your loyal servants, and pray You will use us to do a good work to honor and glorify Your name. We pray that we may fulfill Your will for us in our life, and let not our will, but let thy will be done. Dear Lord, pray for us as You did for Peter, that our faith fails not. Help us to be ready, with our lamps trimmed and burning, when You come again to take us home. Praise be to You and glory to Your name, in Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
