Answered prayer

“Save me because of your unfailing Love . . . The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayers.” (Ps 6:4 & 9)

What causes the Lord to hear our prayers? David believed the Lord heard his prayers and answered them, not because of legal reasons, but because of the goodness of God’s heart. In the beginning of Psalm 6 we read that David is aware of his need for discipline and rebuke, yet he still appeals for mercy.

By watching the answers to his prayers, David grew in his knowledge of God. When he was repentant, his heart grew close to God and He saw the love and mercy there. Because he knew the contents of God’s heart he also understood that God valued the contents of his own, and that it was on the basis of David’s heart that the Lord answered his prayers.

When we know our prayers are listened to, our relationship with God takes on new meaning. Our love deepens. We begin to understand that we are not accepted purely on the merits of our behavior alone. For all men are weak and fail. But God has mercy on the repentant who believe in His love.

Having faith in God’s love is having the kind of faith that knows He will listen, and answer our prayers. With faith in God’s love we will pray beyond our own personal needs for cleansing. We will pray for victory because we believe that our loving God wants us to succeed. We will pray for far more, because our relationship with God will deepen, and our knowledge of His will will grow greater.

God’s love is unfailing. God is for us. Today, pray as if you believe His love for you is not legalistic, nor based on the merits of your behavior. Pray as one believing that He loves to love, for that is the truth about God’s nature. Amen