Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Answered Prayer

During a discussion on the subject of prayer a young person expressed genuine surprise about receiving an answer to their prayer even before verbalizing it to God the Father. It reminds us of the verse that says, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

I suppose most answers to prayer do come from spoken petitions, but there are many times when we cannot even put into words what we are trying to express. In that regard I find what we have in the book of Romans a great comfort. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). The hymn writer, James Montgomery (1771- 1854), expressed it this way:

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,

Uttered or unexpressed;

The motion of a hidden fire

That trembles in the breast.

Some deep needs seem inexpressible. But if the heart’s sincere desire rises silently in prayer God hears and answers.