The Bible exhorts us to pray.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17).
We pray for health, spiritual well-being, material blessings, faith, strength in temptation, forgiveness, and many other things. We often acknowledge the benefits of prayer—it gives peace (Phil. 4:7). But do we stop to consider whether or not our prayers are heard?
We have a Bible example of One whose prayers were heard in His most trying hour. The Hebrew writer says of Jesus, “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear” (Heb. 5:7). When Jesus was in the shadow of the cross, with all the pain and anguish falling on Him, He turned to the Father in prayer—and “was heard because of His godly fear.”
Jesus had reverence. He respected the Father and His will. He behaved accordingly every day of His life; always pleasing the Father (Jn. 8:29). Thus, when He prayed, He was heard.
If we want to be heard in our time of need, we must have godly fear. We must honor God and His Word, appreciating things that are holy, not mocking them or treating them as common things. We must respect worship, prayer, preachers, elders, the church, the Bible, Bible classes, and many other things ordained of God. If we do not have reverence, we will not be heard.
By Steven F. Deaton
www.ImplantedWord.com
