How can we ensure God hears us when we "cry to You for help"? Foundational Text “ To You, O LORD, I call; my Rock, do not be deaf to me, for if You remain silent, I will be like those who descend to the Pit.” (Psalm 28:1) What Psalm 28:1 Teaches about Being Heard • David calls God “my Rock,” anchoring his plea in God’s unchanging character. • He assumes God hears yet still asks, showing a balance of faith and urgency. • He recognizes the danger of silence from God—life without divine response spirals toward spiritual ruin. Practical Steps to Ensure God Hears • Approach on the basis of covenant in Christ – “For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18) • Cry out with sincerity and humility – “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.” (Psalm 51:17) • Align requests with His revealed will – “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14) • Persist instead of giving up – Jesus “told them a parable to show that they should always pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1) • Embrace righteousness in daily living – “The prayer of a righteous man has great power and produces results.” (James 5:16) Guarding against Barriers to Prayer • Unconfessed sin—“Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God.” (Isaiah 59:2) • Unforgiving spirit—“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37) • Doubt—“The one who doubts… should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:6-7) • Selfish motives—“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives.” (James 4:3) Encouraging Witnesses from Other Scriptures • Psalm 34:15—“The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.” • Hebrews 4:16—“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence.” • Jeremiah 29:12-13—“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Taking the Truth to Heart • God’s ear is open; our responsibility is heart-level openness and obedient living. • Assurance grows as we ground our cries in the finished work of Christ and the promises of Scripture. • Confidence flows from knowing His character—He is the Rock who never fails to hear those who trust Him. |
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