Living By Faith Blog

Our prayer book

The book of Psalms is a powerful guide to prayer — teaching how to worship, confess, lament, thank, and ask.

But recently as I read the Psalms I saw an aspect of prayer I had never noticed.

The psalmists often ask God to hear their prayer —

• “Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud” (Psa 27:7).
• “Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy” (Psa 28:2).
• “Hear, O Lord!” (Psa 30:10).
• “Hear my prayer, O Lord” (Psa 39:12).
• “O God, hear my prayer”  (Psa 54:2).
• “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer” (Psa 61:1).
• “Hear my voice, O God” (Psa 64:1).
• “O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer” (Psa 84:8).
• “Hear my prayer O Lord; let my cry come to you” (Psa 102:1).
• “Hear my voice according to your steadfast love” (Psa 119:149).
• “O Lord, hear my voice” (Psa 130:2).
• “Hear my prayer, O Lord” (Psa 143:1).

Why do they pray this?

Do they doubt God hears them?

No.  Because they also say that God DOES hear them —

• “In the morning you hear my voice” (Psa 5:3).
• “O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted”  (Psa 10:17).
• “O you who hear prayer …” (Psa 65:2).
• “I cry aloud to God … and He will hear me” (Psa 77:1).

And in one verse David says both that God WILL hear — and he asks God TO hear —

I call upon you, for you WILL answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; HEAR my words.

So the fact that David asks God TO hear him does not mean he doubts God WILL hear him.

So why pray this?

One reason is — because it’s fitting.

After all, God is infinitely superior to us — and not only are we infinitely lower than Him — we have knowingly rebelled against Him and deserve only judgment from Him.

So given all that — it just feels right to pray — “Father, please hear me.”

This is not something we are always supposed to pray.  It’s not in every psalm, and Jesus does not use it in the Lord’s Prayer.

But it can be a helpful part of prayer — and it has powerfully impacted my heart.

Here’s what I have experienced —

I became more aware that I was praying to GOD.

Asking Him to hear me has helped me see that I am talking to a real, personal being — God Himself.

I see more clearly that I am His tiny created creature — and that He is Sovereign Creator.

This has made me more engaged, more focused, and more involved in prayer.

I was reminded that God doesn’t HAVE TO hear me.

It’s right for me to ask God to hear — because He doesn’t have to.

In fact, because of my sin, it would be entirely just for Him not to hear.

So asking Him to hear has humbled my prayer.

I felt amazed that God DOES hear me.

It’s not because I’m worthy or good enough.  I’m not.

It’s because Jesus paid for my sins and clothed me with His perfect righteousness.

So when I begin by asking God to hear me — I have felt both amazed that He hears — and assured that He hears.

That has made prayer more confident and joyful.

I became more fervent in prayer.

This has helped me feel the wonder of talking to the God of the Universe.

My prayer life has been more meaningful — less routine — more satisfying.

Try this yourself

Give it a try.  At the beginning of your prayer time — ask God to hear you.

Think of who God is — and who you are.

Ponder that He doesn’t HAVE TO hear you.

Thank Him that because of Jesus — He DOES hear you.

Marvel that the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE is listening — personally — to YOU.

How does this impact you?

I’ve listed what I experienced — I’d love to learn from you.

So leave a reply below — thanks.

What else you can do

Do you know someone struggling with prayer?  If you think this would encourage them, email it to them using the “share” button below.  Or share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ using the buttons below.

Would you like to receive a Saturday email summarizing the previous week’s posts?  Subscribe here.  (I will only use your email for Living By Faith Blog communications — and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

And here’s some other related resources —

• God is huge — a 3-minute video.
• Praying — but distracted.
• Are you discouraged in prayer?
• Praying with faith.

(Picture by eyebiz at stockxchng.)