God Hears And Answers

We are confident that [God] hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

1 John 5:14-15

Each year many people make a list of presents they want for Christmas. You may even do that. The list might include new clothes or the latest style of shoes. It might include books written by your favorite author or a new series you want to read. The list might have movies or music on it. And it probably has some of the latest electronic games or gadgets. Once the list is made, it’s given to the person in charge of buying the presents in your family.

Sometimes when people pray, it sounds a lot like a Christmas list. “Fix this problem and this problem.” “Heal that person and another person.” “Give me this and this and this.” Today’s verses say that God will grant the requests that please him. So if something on your prayer list goes against the Bible, then he’s not going to grant that request. Or if it’s something God knows won’t help you be a better person or have a stronger faith in him, he is not going to give it to you. But when you ask for things that help you follow him better or honor him, he wants to answer that.

God wants to hear more than just your requests though. He wants to hear your confessions, because when you admit to God the mistakes you made, he forgives them. He also wants to hear your praise. You probably know what praise is because if you’ve done a good job at something, a parent or teacher has praised you. When you turn your praise to God, you recognize who he is and what he’s done, and you express that back to him with love and gratitude.

If you aren’t used to including all these things in your prayers, it may seem awkward at first. You might want to read a psalm of praise or thanksgiving (like Psalm 100 or Psalm 145) as part of your prayer time. Even though they’re not your words, God knows your heart, and he’ll know if the words are sincere.

Keeping a prayer journal can make your prayer life richer. Decorate your journal (a cloth book or simple spiral notebook). Use it to keep track of prayer requests and the answers to those. List things to praise and thank God for. You can even copy some verses from Psalms that reflect how you’re feeling.