Listening: Prayer

Only two? I was shocked. How could there be only two?

In the 100 Bible Verse memory plan, last week was Listening: Word of God. Five verses chock-full of benefits of God’s Word. Today’s installment is Listening: Prayer. But the plan only included two passages about prayer.

I don’t want to be critical of the author who put the plan together (I think it’s wonderful!) and obviously, in order to limit to 100 verses, there has to be some prioritized over others.

But it might be indicative of our Christian culture today. Prayer? Talking to God? I sometimes find that I talk about God more often than I talk to Him. Prayer meetings are often poorly attended in comparison to other meetings of the church, yet prayer (both individual and corporate) is a privilege and a necessity. I know I’m just beginning to understand the value of prayer!

Here are the first two passages, and then I’ll add another.

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

I love this nearness. I often envision myself tip-toeing around the corner, staring into a large, majestic hall. At the far end there is a magnificent throne. And yet, like a little kid, I sprint down the hall, making a bee-line for the throne, and for the One sitting on it. I have no fear that He won’t want to see me, or that He’ll be too busy for me, or that I don’t deserve to be there. I just crawl up on His lap and tell Him all the worries and troubles and ask Him to help. And He will! Because of Christ, I have this access. I have His righteousness, and I belong in my Father’s arms. And He is so willing to listen and to help me. This is one of my favorite truths.

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

and if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

1 John 5:14-15

Just like the last verse, this one talks of CONFIDENCE. We know! We know! I love how these verses talk about aligning our hearts and desires to His. His will is best for us, and He is delighted when we desire that and ask Him for it.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.

Proverbs 15:8

This is the bonus verse that I tacked on. My heart often needs this verse. Many times I can approach God doing something He’d “like”… but I do it with a half-hearted or selfish heart. I’m not actually seeking Him, I’m just going through the motions. But my Lord knows my heart, and He truly delights in hearing my prayer. This is a reminder for me that He knows my thoughts and intentions… I can’t fool Him! And He is ecstatic when I sincerely come to Him.

Okay… I would love to know YOUR favorite verses about prayer! Please share in the comments or e-mail me info@laurakeywords.com