February 14th Devotion
A God Who Hears and Listens
By Lynette Kittle
“Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live” - Psalm 116:2
Have you ever had times in your life when it seemed like God didn't hear you? It can seem pretty discouraging when we feel like our prayers aren’t being heard and we aren’t sensing God’s presence and interventions in difficult situations. Sadly, feeling unheard often leads people to feel unloved, forgotten, and of little value to God.
Yet all those feelings aren’t based on truth but rather on we what we aren’t seeing or experiencing happening in our lives because God does hear us. “And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him” (1 John 5:15). Often, when we feel unheard, God is at work in ways we may not see or know at the time. Romans 8:28 assures us in all situations, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
But God not only hears; He also listens, which means, He pays attention and considers our words. Psalm 66:19 tells us, “But God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.” God hears and listens to our voices. “In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears" (Psalm 18:6). As believers, we have God’s ear.
Examples of His Hearing Us
There are countless stories in the Bible of men and women who may have felt at times that God wasn’t hearing them. Individuals in situations where they really needed His ear, some of those caught in life-and-death situations where there was no hope for them if He didn’t hear and respond to them. Individuals like Joseph, Daniel, Paul, and more. Although we know how their stories ended, being human like us, they may have experienced a roller coaster of emotions in their circumstances.
Daniel 10:2 describes some of what he went through in wondering if God was hearing him, “At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.” Sometimes God goes to a great extent to let us know He hears us, like in Daniel’s situation where He sent an angel with a message. “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them” (Daniel 10:12).
Even Jonah, who was running away from God’s call on his life, describes how He heard him. “From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord His God. He said: ‘In my distress I called to the Lord and He answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and You listened to my cry’” (Jonah 2:1,2). At the darkest, loneliest times in life, where we may even be running away from God, straying away, or turning our backs on Him, He hears and listens to us.
Where to Turn When Discouraged
When we feel like God isn’t hearing or listening to us, we can join King David’s voice throughout the Psalms to help encourage us through His ongoing confidence in God hearing him:
“I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy" (Psalm 116:1).
“The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer” (Psalm 6:9).
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles" (Psalm 34:17).
“He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them” (Psalm 145:19).
As believers in Jesus Christ, we never have to wonder if God is hearing and listening to us. As Proverbs 15:29 reminds us, “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Intersecting Faith and Life:
If you’ve been feeling like God isn’t hearing or listening to your prayers, consider how God heard and listened to individuals in the Bible. Let their stories encourage and strengthen your faith, believing you have God’s ear and He hears and listens to you.
By Lynette Kittle
“Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live” - Psalm 116:2
Have you ever had times in your life when it seemed like God didn't hear you? It can seem pretty discouraging when we feel like our prayers aren’t being heard and we aren’t sensing God’s presence and interventions in difficult situations. Sadly, feeling unheard often leads people to feel unloved, forgotten, and of little value to God.
Yet all those feelings aren’t based on truth but rather on we what we aren’t seeing or experiencing happening in our lives because God does hear us. “And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him” (1 John 5:15). Often, when we feel unheard, God is at work in ways we may not see or know at the time. Romans 8:28 assures us in all situations, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
But God not only hears; He also listens, which means, He pays attention and considers our words. Psalm 66:19 tells us, “But God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.” God hears and listens to our voices. “In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears" (Psalm 18:6). As believers, we have God’s ear.
Examples of His Hearing Us
There are countless stories in the Bible of men and women who may have felt at times that God wasn’t hearing them. Individuals in situations where they really needed His ear, some of those caught in life-and-death situations where there was no hope for them if He didn’t hear and respond to them. Individuals like Joseph, Daniel, Paul, and more. Although we know how their stories ended, being human like us, they may have experienced a roller coaster of emotions in their circumstances.
Daniel 10:2 describes some of what he went through in wondering if God was hearing him, “At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.” Sometimes God goes to a great extent to let us know He hears us, like in Daniel’s situation where He sent an angel with a message. “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them” (Daniel 10:12).
Even Jonah, who was running away from God’s call on his life, describes how He heard him. “From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord His God. He said: ‘In my distress I called to the Lord and He answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and You listened to my cry’” (Jonah 2:1,2). At the darkest, loneliest times in life, where we may even be running away from God, straying away, or turning our backs on Him, He hears and listens to us.
Where to Turn When Discouraged
When we feel like God isn’t hearing or listening to us, we can join King David’s voice throughout the Psalms to help encourage us through His ongoing confidence in God hearing him:
“I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy" (Psalm 116:1).
“The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer” (Psalm 6:9).
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles" (Psalm 34:17).
“He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them” (Psalm 145:19).
As believers in Jesus Christ, we never have to wonder if God is hearing and listening to us. As Proverbs 15:29 reminds us, “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Intersecting Faith and Life:
If you’ve been feeling like God isn’t hearing or listening to your prayers, consider how God heard and listened to individuals in the Bible. Let their stories encourage and strengthen your faith, believing you have God’s ear and He hears and listens to you.
Posted in Devotions
Recent
Archive
2023
January
January 2nd DevotionFollow-up to January 1st teachingJanuary 3rd DevotionJanuary 4th DevotionJanuary 5th DevotionJanuary 6th DevotionJanuary 9th DevotionFollow-up to January 8th teachingJanuary 10th DevotionJanuary 11th DevotionJanuary 12th DevotionJanuary 13th DevotionJanuary 16th DevotionJanuary 17th DevotionFollow-up to January 15th teachingJanuary 18th DevotionJanuary 19th DevotionJanuary 20th DevotionJanuary 23rd DevotionFollow-up to January 22nd teachingJanuary 24th DevotionJanuary 25th DevotionJanuary 26th DevotionJanuary 27th DevotionJanuary 30th DevotionFollow-up to January 29th teachingJanuary 31st Devotion
February
February 1st DevotionFebruary 2nd DevotionFebruary 3rd DevotionFebruary 6th DevotionFebruary 5th follow-upFebruary 7th DevotionFebruary 8th DevotionFebruary 9th DevotionFebruary 10th DevotionFebruary 13th DevotionFebruary 12th follow-upFebruary 14th DevotionFebruary 15th DevotionFebruary 17th DevotionFebruary 16th DevotionFebruary 19th Follow-upFebruary 20th DevotionFebruary 21st DevotionFebruary 22nd DevotionFebruary 23rd DevotionFebruary 24th DevotionFebruary 27th DevotionFebruary 26th Follow-upFebruary 28th Devotion
March
March 1st DevotionMarch 2nd DevotionMarch 3rd DevotionMarch 6th DevotionMarch 5th Follow-upMarch 7th, DevotionMarch 8th DevotionMarch 9th DevotionMarch 10th Devotion3-12-23 Follow-upMarch 13th Devotion3-14-23 DevotionMarch 15th DevotionMarch 16th DevotionMarch 17th DevotionMarch 20th DevotionMarch 19th Follow-upMarch 21st DevotionMarch 22nd DevotionMarch 23rd DevotionMarch 24th DevotionMarch 27th DevotionMarch 28th DevotionMarch 26th Follow-upMarch 29th DevotionMarch 29th DevotionMarch 30th Devotion
April
April 2nd Follow-upApril 3rd DevotionApril 4th DevotionApril 5th DevotionApril 6th DevotionApril 7th DevotionApril 9th Follow-upApril 10th DevotionApril 11th DevotionApril 12th DevotionApril 13th DevotionApril 14th DevotionApril 17th DevotionApril 16th Follow-upApril 18th DevotionApril 19th DevotionApril 20th DevotionApril 21st DevotionApril 24th DevotionApril 23rd follow-upApril 25th DevotionApril 26th Devotion
No Comments