It’s important to take note of how the Bible declares how God takes note of us. The psalmist declares the worthiness of God because He hears our prayers.
Psalm 65:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. 2 O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.
Psalm 34:15 (ESV) — 15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
Our coming to God in prayer is an act of faith that is prompted by the Holy Spirit, in fact, He helps us to pray as He helps to bear our burdens before God.
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) — 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Romans 8:14–16 (ESV) — 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 8:26–27 (ESV) — 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
This is important to have in mind, because there are times when we feel the heaviness of loneliness overshadowing our lives like a thick black cloud and cry as the psalmist, “No man cares for my soul.”
Psalm 142:4 (ESV) — 4 Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul.
The Lord will listen because He really cares about us and knows our every need.
Psalm 4:3 (ESV) — 3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
Psalm 116:1–2 (ESV) — 1 I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. 2Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) — 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
The truth of God’s listening is reinforced by the testimony of people in the Bible. If it’s true in the past then we have great encouragement for today as we take hope from the things written.
Romans 15:4 (ESV) — 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Psalm 145:18 (ESV) — 18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Psalm 62:8 (ESV) — 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
The principle of God’s omniscience keeps us from feeling we have to inform or instruct God on anything. But that doesn’t stop us as the psalmist pointed out above that we should pour out our heart before Him. Empty the cup of what’s on your mind, including all your hurts. That’s the place of lamenting, casting all your burdens upon Him in an honest and open dialog, knowing that He cares about every detail. After all He knows the detail of the number of hairs on your head.
Matthew 10:29–31 (ESV) — 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
There is another principle in knowing that God is listening. He knows every word before we say them, which is possibly the reason that God has not answered our prayers as we would like. He has declared that it’s not that He can’t hear or is not listening, rather it’s sin that has separated us from God. So in reality, His not answering is very likely a way of telling us to repent, confess, and come back to fellowship with Him.
Psalm 139:1–4 (ESV) — 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
Isaiah 59:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
1 John 1:7–10 (ESV) — 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
The concept of God is listening is quite a comfort because you can turn to Him in every hour of need and know you have His ear. There is not a need that is too small or too great that you should be hesitant to share with Him. He created you and has redeemed you, so you are His.
Isaiah 43:1–2 (ESV) — 1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
This is why the psalmist described our Lord as a “very present help.”
Psalm 46:1–2 (ESV) — 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
Knowing He is listening, how can a true believer turn away from the opportunity to spend time with Him in prayer? God has provided the listening ear, the promises that assure us of His listening, the mediator in the Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we are given confidence in our coming to God by Him, and as described we have the prompting and the help of the Holy Spirit. What a magnificent blessing!
Our God is listening.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
