Do you ever just need someone to listen to you? Whether it’s announcing great news, venting complaints, or sharing the cares on your mind, it’s nice to have someone to hear you out.

Well, one of the most basic yet profound truths about God is that He listens to us. Yes, He actually hears us when we pray. Think about that: the almighty, eternal creator of the universe hears us when we call to Him. The same God who listened to Abraham, Moses, Esther, Elijah, David, Paul, and all the great heroes of faith still listens to us today. How amazing is that!   

And He doesn’t just listen; He answers. We can find a good example of this in the Bible’s account of Zachariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist. Before their child was born, the couple was barren for many years and were considered up in age. But one day, seemingly out of nowhere, the angel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah and told him,”Your prayer is heard” (Luke 1:13). He then went on to promise him that he and Elizabeth would soon welcome a child into the world who would become the forerunner of Jesus.

What an awesome turn of events! But it all started with a prayer that was heard. We don’t know anything about the prayer they prayed other than the fact that it was heard by the Lord.  But that’s all that mattered. He listened and gave them the desires of their heart.

We also don’t know when they prayed their prayer. Maybe it was years before, maybe it was the day before, and maybe it was an ongoing prayer they were continually praying. We really don’t know.  But again, we know that God heard it, and that’s what really matters.

God will do the same for you. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. Just as He heard the prayer of Zachariah and Elizabeth, He’ll hear your prayer today. When you pray, sometimes you may see immediate results, and sometimes you may have to wait to see the answer. But you can rest assured that God has heard your prayer.

So, be sure to actively pray the desires of your heart. Don’t just go through life assuming God will bless you. Yes, He’s promised His hand of blessing when we follow Him, but He also desires for us to cry out to Him and ask for His help. It’s good to get specific and share your cares and concerns with the Lord. Give Him something to listen to!

God told the children of Israel, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you” (Jeremiah 29:12).  That promise still stands for us today. Let’s do our part – let’s call upon Him and go and pray to Him. 

Don’t get so hung up on what to pray, how to pray, or when to pray. Just open your mouth to the Lord and share your heart’s desire. When we do, we know He will listen!