Calling, Hearing, And Answering
Seven times the Lord responded to those who prayed in faith
How do we know that the Lord even hears us when we pray?
We can see throughout the Psalms that when they cried out to the Lord, He heard and answered:
I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill - Psalm 3:4
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, into his ears. Psalm 18:6
Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. Psalm 28:6
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble,and he delivered them out of their distresses. Psalm 107:6
I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. Psalm 116:1-2
In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me. Psalm 120:1
These seven are a sample, there are significantly more examples in Scripture, which certainly ought to encourage us that when we call, He hears and answers.
The LORDÂ is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18
Examples of Prayers Answered
Abraham praying for a son - [Gen 15:3-4 ESV] 3 And Abram said, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir." 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir."
Moses praying for help at the Red Sea - [Exo 14:15 ESV] 15 The LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.
The Israelites praying for God's favor under the reproofs of Azariah - [2Ch 15:15 ESV] 15 And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around.
Samson praying, asking for strength - [Jdg 16:30 ESV] 30 And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines." Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.
Hannah asking to give birth to a child - [1Sa 1:10, 17, 20 ESV] 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. ... 17 Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him." ... 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the LORD."
David asking whether Keilah would be delivered into his hands - [1Sa 23:12 ESV] 12 Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will surrender you."
There are many other examples, including Solomon, asking for wisdom; Elijah, raising the widow's son; Manasseh, for deliverance from the king of Babylon; Daniel, for the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream; Zachariah’s, for a son; a leper, for healing; the Centurion, for his servant; a thief on a cross to be remembered by Jesus
Those Who Find Answers To Prayer
Wholeheartedly Seek God - [Jer 29:12-13 RSV] 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart,
Wait upon God [Psa 40:1 RSV] 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
Ask in faith [Mat 21:21 RSV] 21 And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and never doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will be done.
Ask according to God's will [1Jo 5:14 RSV] 14 And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
Obey God's commands [1Jo 3:22 RSV] 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
Abide in Christ [Jhn 15:7 RSV] 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
Are righteous [in Christ] [Jas 5:16 RSV] 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.
Pray For The People Of God From The Word Of God
Here are three passages we are praying from this week (one passage per day):
Monday - Luke 10:2
Tuesday - Luke 11:9
Wednesday - Luke 12:31
Will you join me in praying these verses, and ask one person to join you?
Until Thursday, grace and peace