Can You Hear Me Now?

O You who hear prayer,

To You all men come.

   Psalm 65:2

He who planted the ear, does He not hear?

He who formed the eye, does He not see?

   Psalm 94:9

Sometimes I wonder why my wife and I even bother paying for cell phones because, inevitably, when one of us really needs to speak to the other, they don't answer their phone. Over the years we've each given a host of excuses. She accidentally left her ringer on silent. I was in a meeting. She was talking to her mom. One of the kids was bleeding. And sometimes, inexplicably, one of our phones just won't ring when the other calls. 

Thank God that prayer isn't the same way! God always hears when His children call out to Him. Every time you pray, He hears. God is never in another room. He's never too busy dealing with something more important (because He has unlimited time, ability and attention). His phone isn't turned off or broken. God hears when believers pray. Now that doesn't mean that you always get an answer right away. But what an encouragement it is to me to know that I have instant access to the Father. He is always ready to hear my requests. What a good God we serve!

Too many of us take this amazing privilege for granted though. We pray very little. So take some time today and pray. Pray prayers of praise. Tell God how good He is. Pray thank you prayers. Confess your sins to God in prayer. Ask God questions in prayer. Pray for other people. Pray for the poor, for the hurting, for the lost, for persecuted Christians, for your family, for your friends, for your government, for your church and its leaders, and pray for your neighbors. Pray for yourself too. Ask God to meet your needs. Pray about the things that stress you out. Pray about money or lack thereof. Pray about your work. 

There's so much to pray about it's a wonder we ever stop. And yet to me it seems that so few Christians hardly ever start. Make a start today. Will you take at least five minutes to pray? Remember believer, when you pray God listens.