He Has Heard Me! by Sharise

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:6 

I must admit that I spend a lot of time during my prayers asking something of God. After all, He calls us to do that! He lets us know that He is our Father and we can come to Him with any request, big or small. So I do! I pour out my heart to Him sometimes BEGGING Him to answer. Other times, it is a simple request so small I might forget it within the hour. However, the Lord hears, and He answers. 

It is easy for me to see the answered prayer without acknowledging it. You know, you say a little prayer like, “Oh God, please help me find my car keys, I’m going to be late!” and then there they are! So you happily rush off on your way. Wait a second….where is the prayer of thanks? Where is the acknowledgement that God the Father, Maker of Heaven and Earth stooped down from His throne to answer something so simple as finding car keys? 

This week I noticed this happening. My 5-month-old daughter, Eve, has had a hard time bonding with my husband. She will fuss if he just LOOKS at her. Needless to say that has been hard on him and on me (since I never get a break!). We both prayed really hard about it. Over the next few days, Eve seemed to be happier with her dad. They would play and laugh. It was so gradual, that I almost forgot we prayed that this very thing would happen. Of course, right then and there I stopped and thanked God that He had heard our prayer and answered faithfully!!! 

All God asks us to do is acknowledge Him in return. That’s it! In all our ways give Him the glory and He will make our paths straight. I now keep note of all my requests to God whether on paper or in my head and am sure to look for that answered prayer! I pray that I will be able to teach my daughter to acknowledge the Lord just as King David taught his son when he said, “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever (1 Chronicles 28:9).” 

Today, be sure to give God the glory when He answers your prayers. Also, when you pray with your children at night, listen to their requests and follow up with them (“So has God answered your prayer about friends at school?”) This will teach them to recognize that their prayers will not come back fruitless.