Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.” –Psalm 86:6
All of you who are placed in Christ by God have the overwhelming joy of knowing that your voice is heard in Heaven. What father among us does not listen to the needy cries of his helpless, frail children? I suppose that there could be some heartless men who, perhaps, would turn a deaf ear to those pitiful petitions of children, but no man with character would pretend deafness when his heart is sought by his own little ones. How much more we should rejoice that our omnipotent and omniscient Father not only listens to our voices…He listens for our voices.
God rarely answers my prayers with immediate action. I’ve known some in our family of faith that seem to be regularly met with affirming response to their requests for intervention from God. He seems to move greatly and quickly to rectify, replenish, reveal and repel on their behalf. My experience is more of a slow and steady answer which indeed comes but rarely with haste. Yet who am I to dictate how my Father answers? In His word He promises too many times for me to count that He listens for me, hears and knows my particular cry and will act accordingly when He deems it perfectly suited. Someone recently told me that the four most dangerous words for children of God are “I Want It Now”. How often we have thirsted after something good but too soon for it to be lastingly good. Yes, we have learned along the way that not only does the thing requested need to be approved by God, but also the timing of its actuality.
The Psalmist above cried “Listen to my plea for grace.” Would it shock you to know that I never remember reading that verse before today? I was unable to recall anywhere in Scripture where someone made a specific plea for grace from God. More than once we see a person receive grace in the place of the particular that they were asking. All of our pleas are made IN grace but this is a clear request for the grace itself. My heart thunders, “AMEN!” when I read his words because that is my own understanding concerning what should rest atop my list of needs. Christian friend, grace is not merely what places you in Christ and His eternal victory…grace keeps you there.
Grace is our hope and foundation. Grace is the canopy above us and light before us. Grace sweetens our suffering and purifies our pains.
It is grace from God which affords us all that we need and so much of what we might desire. Grace empowers us to love those who choose to despise us. Grace motivates our tears and then dries them with an understanding smile. Grace changes us from faith to greater faith, from hasty joy to lasting joy, from adolescent hope to confident hope. Grace is the color in which the Lord Jesus is painted on the growing canvas of our hearts. Grace is all that we have in this world to sustain us. Grace is sufficient for you today…not barely sufficient but ALL sufficient. Yes, your Father has heard you today. His answer was established before you knew to frame the prayer. His grace made you aware of your desire, His grace framed it into your own words, His grace caused you to believe as you uttered the words and His grace is telling you right now to wait in expectation.
He is a Father like none below and has never needed to have His hearing checked. He not only listens to you…He listens for you. Make sure there is something to be heard every day.