Listens - iV

(What God Does)

Entering Into God’s Presence

Knowing who God Is: What He Does

God Listens (Hears)

To Study and Ponder

Communication is what builds loving relationships, so we can see God’s love because He truly listens to us and speaks to us.
God pays attention to each of our needs and problems. Here are some examples from the Bible:

Hagar & Ishmael -Genesis 16:11; 21:17 (mother and son struggling for their lives)
Abraham- Genesis 17:20 (praying for his son)
Leah- Genesis 30:17 (praying for a son)
Rachel- Genesis 30:6, 22 (praying for a son)
Hezekiah prays for healing (Isaiah 38:5-6) and protection for the nation (2Kings 19:20.)
Hannah’s cry for a child (I Samuel 2). She got much more than she asked for she became the mother of a prophet who was one of the greatest leaders of Israel.
Elijah’s prayer to raise a dead boy back to life again (I Kings 17:22)
Cornelius was praying for salvation (Acts 10:31)
The cry of the broken-hearted (Ephesians 3:20)
The cry for mercy (Psalms 6:9, 28:2, 31:22, 116:1; Matthew 20:30-34)

God also pays attention to the needs and concerns of nations (Exodus 2:24; 3:7; 6:5; 22:23,27; etc.)
God told Israel (His people) to call out to Him, so we know He listens:

Turn to the Lord before it’s too late. Call out to him while he’s still ready to help you. (Isaiah 55:6)
Even before they call out to me, I will answer them. While they are still speaking, I will hear them. (Isaiah 65:2)4
Then you will call out to me. You will come and pray to me. And I will listen to you. (Jeremiah 29:12)
Call out to me. I will answer you. I will tell you great things you do not know. (Jer 33:3a)

God’s leaders called out to Him and they were confident He was listening and would respond to them:

“Listen to my cry” “Listen to my prayer”, “Hear my prayer” – (Psalms 5:1-3; 17:1; 39:12; 54:2; 55:1,17; 65:1; 84:8;145:18-19; Daniel 9:17,18,19; Isaiah 30:19; 37:17)
So I will look to the Lord. I’ll put my trust in God my Savior. He will hear me. (Micah 7:7)
Elijah confronting the prophets of Baal says Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire--he is God. (1Ki 18:24)
Solomon’s prayer in I Ki 8:28-52 makes 10 requests that God hear from heaven.

There are requirements for God to answer the prayers he hears:

clean hands, a pure heart, pure motive (Psalm 15; James 4:1-3; )
for us to be in right relationship with our brothers/neighbors (Psalm 15:3; Matthew 5:24)
faith (Mark 11:24; 1 John 5:14-15)
our willingness for his will to be done (Luke 22:42; 1 John 5:14-15)
In His mercy God does listen to sinners calling to Him (Psa 78:38; Neh.9:17-20; Dan 9:9)

Memory/Meditation

Lower Grades:

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. Psalm 34:15 (NLT)

Listen to my voice in the morning LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3 (NLT)

Middle Grades:

Lord, you hear the longings of those who are hurting. You cheer them up and give them hope. You listen to their cries. Psalm 10:17(NLT)

And we are confident that he 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 (NLT)

Upper Grades:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalm 116:1-2 (NLT)