The Lord Listened
God hears everything, but He only listens to certain things. Hearing is simply the ability to receive the words that are spoken by another person. Listening means that heed is taken to what they are saying or asking. When Elijah prayed, God listened to him. (I Kings 17:22) As a result, the widow's son was raised from the dead. What a wonderful miracle. When was the last time God listened to one of your prayers and did something wonderful? I believe He wants to listen, but we need to be like Elijah.
The book of James tells us that Elijah was not more holy than any of us, but he was a man like us.(James 5:17) The key comes in the previous verse. When Elijah prayed, his prayers were effective, because he was a righteous man. God listens to His righteous children when we pray. He sees that our hearts are right with Him and that we have a sincere love for Him and for others. He knows our love and faith are the basis of our prayers, so God takes note of what we are asking. He often says, "Yes," because we are asking for the right thing out of a heart that is right with Him. Therefore, if we want God to listen to us, we must listen to Him first and do His will from a pure heart of faith in Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Kings 18-21.
The book of James tells us that Elijah was not more holy than any of us, but he was a man like us.(James 5:17) The key comes in the previous verse. When Elijah prayed, his prayers were effective, because he was a righteous man. God listens to His righteous children when we pray. He sees that our hearts are right with Him and that we have a sincere love for Him and for others. He knows our love and faith are the basis of our prayers, so God takes note of what we are asking. He often says, "Yes," because we are asking for the right thing out of a heart that is right with Him. Therefore, if we want God to listen to us, we must listen to Him first and do His will from a pure heart of faith in Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Kings 18-21.