He Listens

We are born with the natural desire to be part of a community, build friendships, and communicate with friends. However, we share little with some and much more with those we trust, those who don't misjudge, misunderstand, or, worst of all, make fun of us.

We may have wished to have friends that we could trust so much to share everything in our hearts. But, among all our good friends, our Creator, Lord Jesus Christ, is the only one we can trust! Trust is the foundation of our relationship with Him. We can communicate our needs, fears, and desires with our passionate, patient, wise, loving, and caring Creator. He listens, cares, and never misunderstands. Instead, he provides us with intelligent counsel, encouragement, and support, strengthening our faith and confidence in Him.

As humans, we are often faced with limitations, but through the power of prayer, we can overcome them. Our Lord hears every prayer, and while His response may not always align with our expectations, it is always filled with wisdom. Looking back, we can see how God's responses to our prayers have been guided by His wisdom, enlightening our path and guiding us forward.

Let's acknowledge that we live in a society that often keeps us busy and distracted, making it challenging to find time for prayer. However, prayer is not just a routine; it's a transformative tool that empowers us to conquer challenges that surpass our abilities. Therefore, let's commit to setting aside a specific time each day for prayer, even if it's just a few minutes. This small act can lead to significant changes in our lives. 

Spending a minute in silence in His presence at the beginning of prayer is a comforting start. It's a time to clear our minds from the busyness of the day and find peace in His presence. The Scriptures tell us that believers often prayed on their knees, a posture that signifies our humble and comforting connection with Him. Each person may have a different praying style and pray for their unique needs. Sometimes, we say a short prayer to thank Him for answering our prayers. And sometimes, we may find ourselves spending hours in His comforting presence in worship.

Here is an example of a simple prayer when facing challenges: "Our Father in heaven, you have always been faithful in your promises. Today, I'm facing challenges that are above my understanding and strength. I'm asking you to give me understanding, wisdom, and the power to overcome. Thank you for listening to my prayers. I ask in Jesus' name."

When approaching God's throne, we must do so with humility and openness. God knows everything about us, so there's no need to hide anything from Him. Let's begin our daily prayers by humbly confessing our mistakes, wrongdoings, inappropriate language, and unpleasant attitudes. This act of humility sets the tone for our relationship with God, fostering a sense of reverence and respect.

While we ask for forgiveness, we should also have the heart to forgive others. The Gospel of Matthew 6:14-15 emphasizes the importance of forgiving others to receive forgiveness. It may seem too hard to forgive those who have hurt us deeply. But our Creator knows all and wants us to trust Him and let go of any hatred or grudge against our oppressors. It means not dwelling on the past, not seeking revenge, and not allowing the hurt to control our thoughts and actions. It doesn't necessarily mean tolerating hurtful actions or putting ourselves in harm's way. But, if we hold on to our anger and don't relinquish our grudges, we'll soon lose everyone, even our close friends.

In this imperfect world, we can't expect perfection from anyone, not even our friends. We all make mistakes, some small, some significant. But when we choose to forgive, we liberate ourselves. The person who wronged us may not apologize, but our forgiveness gives them a chance to change. It's a powerful act that frees us from anger and resentment.

Practicing forgiveness is a choice. God encourages us to be bold and the first to take a step and open a respectful dialog with those with whom we have a problem. You might be surprised how many of our issues are due to miscommunication or misunderstandings. We should take a wise and trustworthy friend with us to restore broken relationships whenever possible. It could involve acknowledging our part in the conflict, expressing our desire to reconcile, and being open to listening to the other person's perspective. Jesus said:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9

Apostle Paul, who wrote most of the letters of the New Testament, was formerly persecuting Christians. But the persecuted Christians prayed for and forgave him. Their forgiveness was a powerful catalyst in Paul's transformation into the most outstanding Christian evangelist. It reminds us of the importance of forgiveness in our own lives. So when we pray honestly, asking God to help us make peace with others, God responds delightfully and paves the way in advance.

There will be times when we will need others to pray for us. For example, when we are ill or facing severe difficulties, we should ask other Christians to pray for us. The scripture tells us that:

“The prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” James 5:15

Before we bring our needs to God in prayer, it's crucial to first reflect on His greatness and loving nature. It helps us focus on God's attributes. For instance, we might pray, "Our Father in heaven. Your creation is beautiful and majestic; you are a loving, merciful, and forgiving God; your plans are wise and good."

Following our reflection on God's nature, we pray for our loved ones, friends, and those with special needs. We also bring our own needs to God. Importantly, we pray daily to be filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit, emphasizing our reliance on God's guidance. We close our prayers with, "Thank you, Lord, for listening. I (we) ask in Jesus' name, Amen."

Our God is a good father and a good coach! And since we are his children, we take courage, do what we can, and call for help for what we can't. But we hurt ourselves when we let our ego take over and try to do things beyond our abilities. Instead, humility and wisdom remind us to stay grounded and call for God's help!

In the following chapters, we'll delve deeper into the role of the Holy Spirit.

Please click on “Fellowship of the Holy Spirit” to continue.

Questions:

1. God encourages us to forgive others.
2. When we pray, we pray just for our needs