Our Prayers Are Always Heard

Our Prayers Are Always Heard

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Rom. 8:26-29.

Only a few people become sufficiently humble as to acknowledge: that they do not understand what they should pray for as they need to. Only those who love God come to this acknowledgment. The others want something, and so they pray and pray and search for scripture verses that will strengthen them in their faith so they will receive what they are praying for. Those who love God have forsaken everything. They have surrendered their lives to God and His grace and no longer want anything; they want nothing besides being “conformed to the image of His Son.” You don’t know what it takes and what you need in order to be conformed. But if that is what you want, and if that is your desire, then you pray with your understanding and put your trust in the Spirit who intercedes for you according to God’s will with groanings that cannot be uttered.

God searches the hearts. He knows what we actually want. He doesn’t listen to our words, but He listens to the desire of our heart, and the Spirit intercedes for us according to God’s will. Then our prayer will be heard.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God . . . .” Whatever we have prayed for, we know that the actual answer to our prayer is whatever we receive. The answer is often not according to the words we have uttered in our prayer, but according to the desire of our heart. What we receive is what we need to be conformed to Jesus. Therefore we know that our prayers are always heard just as Jesus’ prayer was also heard when He prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Matt. 26:39.

His real prayer was not that the cup should pass from Him, but that the Father’s will be done. His prayer was heard, and we will experience the same thing when we love God.

Let us think about children and how much they ask for that is meaningless! But if we love our children we grant their requests not according to their understanding, but according to ours. As we grow spiritually, we get a better understanding, and we know better what we should pray for according to God’s will.

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14-15.

As long as we are babes in Christ, our prayers will mostly concern earthly things. Visible things, situations around us, mean so much to us. As we grow, these things become less and less important. Then we come to the point of “we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces patience.” Rom. 5:3. Then we have a better understanding of how to pray according to God’s will. The Father knows that we need food, clothing, and such things—the things the Gentiles seek. We don’t need to tell Him that. It will be given to us. It will be added to us if we seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness first. Matt. 6:31-34.

We don’t need to worry about anything if we are thus surrendered to God. Then we can always present our supplications to God with thanksgiving. We know that our prayers will always be heard. Then the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:6-7.