When You Speak, God Hears
by Max Lucado
Those who pray keep alive the watch fires of faith. For the most part we don’t even know their names. Such is the case of someone who prayed on a day long ago. His name is not important. He is important not because of who he was, but because of what he did.
He went to Jesus on behalf of a friend. His friend was sick, and Jesus could help, and someone needed to go to Jesus, so someone went. Others cared for the sick man in other ways. Some brought food; others provided treatment; still others comforted the family. Each role was crucial. Each person was helpful, but no one was more vital than the one who went to Jesus.
John writes: “So Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick’” (John 11:3, emphasis mine).
Someone carried the request. Someone walked the trail. Someone went to Jesus on behalf of Lazarus. And because someone went, Jesus responded.
In the economy of heaven, the prayers of saints are a valued commodity. John the apostle would agree. He wrote the story of Lazarus and was careful to show the sequence: The healing began when the request was made.
The phrase the friend of Lazarus used is worth noting. When he told Jesus of the illness, he said, “The one you love is sick.” The power of the prayer, in other words, does not depend on the one who makes the prayer but on the one who hears the prayer.
We can and must repeat the phrase in manifold ways. “The one you love is tired, sad, hungry, lonely, fearful, depressed.” The words of the prayer vary, but the response never changes. The Savior hears the prayer. He silences heaven so he won’t miss a word. The Master heard the request. Jesus stopped whatever he was doing and took note of the man’s words. This anonymous courier was heard by God.
John’s message is critical. You can talk to God because God listens. Your voice matters in heaven. He takes you very seriously. When you enter his presence, the attendants turn to you to hear your voice. No need to fear that you will be ignored. Even if you stammer or stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no one, it impresses God—and he listens.
Intently. Carefully. The prayers are honored as precious jewels. Purified and empowered, the words rise in a delightful fragrance to our Lord. “The smoke from the incense went up from the angel’s hand to God” (Rev. 8:4). Incredible. Your words do not stop until they reach the very throne of God.
One call and heaven’s fleet appears. Your prayer on earth activates God’s power in heaven.
You are the someone of God’s kingdom. Your prayers move God to change the world. You may not understand the mystery of prayer. You don’t need to. But this much is clear: Actions in heaven begin when someone prays on earth. What an amazing thought!
When you speak, Jesus hears.
And when Jesus hears, the world is changed.
All because someone prayed.
God saved me many years ago from a life of addiction to alcohol and drugs. Since then I have tried to help others by telling them about God and the help that is available to them. Now I am getting old, (54) and my health is getting bad. I know that my health problems are a direct result of how I lived my life and the abuse I did to my body for over 20 years, but lately I have been very discouraged. I pray every day, but nothing gets any better. I have severe rumatoid arthritis in my hands, shoulders and neck. I am in constant pain every day. My immune system is shot, I get infections that will not go away for months. My family is broke, we are trying not to loose our home right now. We have no medical insurance, so I cannot afford but minimal medical care.
Lately I have been so depressed that I have been praying to God to please let me go in my sleep so I will not have suffer anymore.
I do not doubt God and his power, but it is getting harder and harder to believe that He really does care about my prayers.
Trying to keep the faith,
Gary
Dear Gary,
I will pray for you and your family. I’m so sorry you’re feeling this low right now.
Have you read the Book of Job in the old testament?
We do go through trials when it seems God is not there, but He is! Remember the 23rd Psalm?
He will see you through! God Bless you!
God hears our prayers in our time, but answers them in His time. When we are at our lowest, neediest point is when we are closest to God.
This was so well written and positive. Thank-you for the beautiful message!
Response to Gary. I know how difficult life can be when you have constant pain. Just as Lazurus friend took his request to Jesus, I am wondering if you could take your medical issues to any assistance that may be available in your city or state. My sister lives in a state that provides medical assistance for her, as she lives on disability because of Rheumtoid Arthritis. I want to share a passage from Job that I “found” when I was really struggling with issues in my life. “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. (Job 5:9 )”. I will pray for you and your family
SINNER’S PRAYER OF PETITION
(“We do not present our supplications before
Thee on the ground of our righteousness, but
on the ground of Thy great mercy!” (Dan 9:18)).
Were thy answer to prayer reward for righteousness
Who O Lord would dare knock on heaven’s gate?
Naked as I am, a sinner as I am, unworthy as I am
But only in faith and trust, I come in supplication.
© Benjamin Takavarasha 2001
For Gary,
Hang in there, Gary, our prayers are with you. Remember what you believe when you feel good. God cares about you every minute. Every detail, take it all to him. I have had a hard time with health issues, too, due to a prodigal life as well. And something I hang on to with all I’ve got is this mantra…..Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith. God is for you. Don’t even let the doubts stay for minutes. BELIEVE.
Gary,
I have a little homework for you, I need you to go to http://www.awmi.net. Then look for the link on the side of the page healing testimonies click the link. I want you to listen to Niki Ochenski story. God will heal you!
The time that we spend on this earth is but a flick of a flame in a candle in a soft wind. Our praise and worship of our Lord only has value after death, if we are in Heaven. I have no doubt, that those who suffer in Hell, ask, pray, scream for release each and every second of their eternity. Asking God to heal one, from twenty years of self-abuse seems unreasonable to me. You have but one body, and made your choices in life. During that twenty years, you, more than likely, are not fully aware of the grief and suffering you brought to others as they suffered, in their knowledge of you.
Rather than asking for healing or release in your prayers, ask rather that your suffering be offered up to Jesus, as He suffered for us. Ask Jesus for forgiveness for your past transgressions against others; tell Jesus that you sincerely render your will to His will, for what is left in the rest of your life. Ask Jesus to take charge of what is left of your life and to do with it, in glory of His Name. God is aware of the sincerity of our prayers, and seeking His Love, as only a pass from pain; a pass into heaven, at the eleventh hour is not a request in prayer, at a level, that comes to His notice. Our seconds on this earth, are few, compared to the eternity before all of us. All depression is, is the Devil taking joy in your own suffering, and observe you losing faith in Jesus. It is your decision if the Devil wins your soul, or is Heaven, with Jesus, that you will eventually find yourself. Render yourself to God’s will, and not your own will.
Your devotionals always make my ‘whys’ make sense. There’re always timely. I do believe in the power of prayer and how when I pray I always seem to feel that I’m the only one He’s listening to but I know that’s not the case. I’ve seen the manifestations of prayers realized when I’ve prayed for friends, acquaintances and even strangers in the past several months. When I’m busy interceding for others in prayer I know that God is busy at work on mine. Thanks you so much for your insight. God bless.
For all of those who have the opportunity to read, This is such a great message. In church yesterday we were talking about Jesus and how he listens. Just because you have not yet gotten the responce you feel is best for you doesn’t mean that you have gone unheard. Jesus loves each and everyone of his children. Faith will connect you with Jesus as this email/website connects us all. Without faith in the Lord, there is no way that you can expect anything. If you do not trust him, then what can you count on?
Gary, I understand that you are feeling like you have been forgetten. But this is merely a time in which you need to have faith that this is happening for a reason. You may not understand, today, tommorow, now, or ever. But have faith that the Lord works in mysterious ways. He loves you and will do what he feels you need. He will not close one door w/o openning another.
Dear Lord,
Please understand that Gary is going through some hard times and may have strrayed from his fatih. Do not look at him as anything other than one that you love, and grant him what you feel he needs. I understand that we are merley children in your world. As you see fit for us is the path we shall walk. Amen
God Bless you and your family Gary, hang in there.
I recently have been going through some things in my life, and I remember sitting in my car, hearing a song called , “Every Prayer, by: Israel Houghton”, heard it for the first time, and broke down into tears. I’ve been praying about some things and always felt like, GOD, where are you, do you even hear me, do you even care anymore? Why dont you hear me?? And as I was thinking this, and sitting in my car, was when this song started to play on the radio. I couldnt hold back the tears, I just lifted up my hand as I was driving, and started praying & crying out to God, and thanking him for this encouragement. God speaks, but we need to learn when to listen. And I feel he was speaking to me through this song. And I praise GOd, because I believe HE IS A GOD WHO ANSWERS PRAYER!!! Theres no God like my God!
The words to the song were the following:
“He brought me from a mighty long way.” Now today I can testify that I believe it. And on my way. I realize He’s the one who kept me. When the storms of life arise. Sleepless nights and desperate cries. He has captured every tear. Assuring me. He hears. Every prayer. Waiting on the answer. Only to discover he is near and he hears. Every prayer, for he has done great things and I believe he’s a God that always answers prayer.
The prayers of the righteous availeth much.”
And now today I can testify that I believe it. And on my way I want to let you know that He will keep you. When the storms of life arise. Sleepless nights and desperate cries. He will capture every tear. Assuring you that He hears.
Don’t despise the tears you’ve cried. Or the prayers that you have prayed. Heaven heard your every word. And the answer’s on the way. I heard ‘em say. “There is an answer on the way.” My God has done so many great things. Great things. Hold on and you will see oh. He has done great things. And I believe He’s a God who always answers prayer.