Devotion: God Does Hear Us When We Pray by John

GOD DOES HEAR WHEN WE PRAY!

At 2:00 a.m. the man on the phone was sincere. He was embarrassed, but hurt enough to call. He wasn't sure God cared. He already had trite answers for his problem. They didn't help.
"How do you know someone hears when you pray?" he said. "It's a matter of faith I guess, isn't it?"
Is there value in talking to God when you don't believe He exists? Yes. When we grope for Him, He reveals Himself as our real Father. God increases our faith as our relationship with Jesus grows stronger.
"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." I John 5:14,15 (NAS)
God's Holy Spirit sets a seal on us the moment we trust Jesus. He indwells us: He reveals our Father and bears witness to us we are God's children. He prays for us in ways we can't, and He assures us the Father hears our prayers. Answered prayer is physical proof God listens.
In a later conference with the man who called, I showed and explained my prayer notebook. I gave the following reasons for his having one.
First, Satan wants us to forget people, events, and items we need to pray for.
Second, he reminds us of prayers God hasn't answered yet. Satan breeds despair and tries to break our faith. A record of answered prayers defeats him.
Third, we need to give God thanks, and records remind us how many, many prayers God has answered. A list helps us remember and sets our hearts singing!
Fourth, people have daily needs! It's easy to forget to pray for someone even though we've promised we would. A notebook reminds us to pray daily. It also makes sure we say something worthwhile when we pray!
Prayer lists tend to grow! Sooner or later, you'll give some people and/or things greater priority. You'll pray for them often. Others can be lifted up once a week, and some perhaps monthly.
The words of Jesus abound in invitations like John 16: 24: "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full." Be filled with joy! And be prepared, Satan will attack, and he is always prepared!