PRÉCIS ON THE GOD WHO ALWAYS LISTENS AND WHO ALWAYS ANSWERS

SCRIPTURE. “I love the Lord, because He hears [and continues to hear] My voice and my supplications (my pleas, my cries, my specific needs). Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.” – PSALM 116:1-2, AMP

KEY TERM: “HEARS.” ‘Shama’ [שָׁמַע]: “From a primitive root meaning: ‘To hear intelligently (with the implication of attention or obedience etc.);’ also, to discern, give ear; cause to make to hear; to witness; to listen, give heed; to give audience or allowance to speak; to attend favorably; to regard.”

QUOTATION. “I once heard a story of a man who was stranded at sea due to a shipwreck and he was the only survivor. This man prayed and asked God to save his life. Soon after, a boat came by and offered the man some help. ‘No thanks,’ he said. ‘I’m waiting for God to save me.’ The men on the boat shrugged their shoulders and continued. As the man became more deeply concerned, another boat came by. Again, the people aboard offered this man some help, and again he politely declined proclaiming, ‘I’m waiting for God to save me.’ After some time, the man began to lose his faith, and soon after that he died. Upon reaching Heaven, he had a chance to speak with God briefly. ‘Why did you let me die? Why didn’t you answer my prayers?’ he asked, and God’s response was, ‘I did [answer you]. I sent you two boats!’”– Anonymous, n.d.

COMMENTARY. “‘I love the Lord’ — Hebrew, ‘I love, because the Lord hath heard my voice.’ The soul, transported with gratitude and love, seems, at first, to express her affection without declaring its object, as thinking that all the world must know who is the person intended. Thus Mary Magdalene, at the Sepulchre, though no previous mention had been made of Jesus, says to one, whom she thought to be the Gardener, ‘Sir, if thou hast borne him hence,’ &c. (John 20:15). And ought not the love of God to be excited in all our hearts by the consideration, that when we were not able to raise ourselves up to Him, He mercifully and tenderly inclined and bowed down His ear to us?” — Horne. ‘Therefore will I call upon him as long as I live’ —Hebrew, בימי אקרא, ‘bejamai ekra, in my days,’ that is, as long as I have a day to live, as this phrase is used (2 Kings 20:19; Isaiah 39:8).” – JOSEPH BENSON, Notes on the Holy Bible, 5 vols., 1811-1818; edited

DK. Perhaps one of the most painful human experiences is to become convinced that no one hears you, that you have no voice, that no one cares enough to listen to you. That shall never be the case with “The Lord who hears my cries of anguish, and who answers me.”

Beloved, the God of Heaven does not sleep nor take time outs from His Royal Duty to superintend Mankind and all the activities of the Earth. Nothing escapes His perfect notice, ever! This is all the more the case for those who are truly following the Messiah, toward whom His eye and ear are specially aimed in readiness to speak.

SOME GUIDELINES. There are some spiritual principles that will surely heighten your ability to be heard and to hear back from the Lord. I found a wonderful little teaching on this by a young pastor named JOSH LONGANECKER of James River Church in Missouri.

“Six Guidelines” for this important discipline (Feb. 16, 2016).

Position yourself close to God.
Find a place of regular service to God.
Listen for God’s voice.
When God calls, respond eagerly.
When God speaks, obey Him.
Read and study the Word of God.

Were I offering a full study of this matter, I would of course elaborate on each suggestion. But suffice for now that you fill in the rest since they offer crystal clear instruction.

Of all of them I have found, however, that NUMBER 6 is vital! If you will spend real time every single day to drill down on the Scriptures as if you would study for your bar exam or driver’s test or job application for a dream assignment, I promise you: ‘Your life with Christ will improve dramatically!’

It happened for me between 2017 and 2023. He will surely do the same for you, beloved, if you will get to know Him more intimately in this way.