I pray lots and lots and lots. Sometimes it is on my knees. Sometimes it is during the day when a need is brought to my attention. Sometimes, prayer happens during the middle of the night when God wakes me up! Sometimes I say “please” and may not realize I am praying.
Luke 17:11-14 (NIV)
Jesus Heals Ten Men with Leprosy
11 “Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosymet him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.”
The prayers of the lepers were answered. Did they know they were praying when they asked Jesus to have pity on them? They may have already heard of Jesus healing others and possibly hoped that Jesus would at least have pity on them.
When we pray, do we pray with confidence that God hears us? Do we believe God only has His good in mind for us and for those for whom we pray? Do we truly believe that God will answer our prayers?
God’s answers to our prayers are not always immediate. Sometimes, even possibly for many years, we need to be persistent in prayer and have confidence that God hears us.
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
I John 5:14 (NIV) “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
~ Take it to heart ~
Have confidence!
Do not lose hope!
God hears our prayers!