HEAR

verb: to listen with attention; to “prick up one’s ears” 

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. Jeremiah 29:12 ESV

We played with the parachute in kindergarten P.E. this week. It’s a favorite activity for all of us–squeals and cheers and smiles all around. But in the crazy excitement, it gets awfully loud in the gym. There are important directions to be given before each new game, so we teach the kids to get into a “listening position.” They practice this. Toes on the parachute, hands at their sides, and voices off. It takes a lot of work to get little ones to really listen.

It seems like it takes a lot of work to get anyone to really listen, doesn’t it?

 In this phone-addicted, hurried, and stressed-out world, cries for help often get drowned out. We find ourselves in competition with all kinds of interference–countless distractions and way too much going on in everyone’s hearts and minds.

 How refreshing would it be to be listened to without having to demand it? To have someone besides the dog “prick up their ears” when they hear our voice?

Jesus knows how badly we all need to feel heard. And he promises to listen.

The New Living Translation says it this way, “In those days when you pray, I will listen.”

The Israelites Jeremiah was writing to were captives in Babylon–unsettled, uncomfortable, and unsure of what was ahead. They were far away from home, not in control of anything around them, and wondering if God was even paying attention.

They were in the middle of 70 years of “those days.”

Sound familiar? Those tough days when our hearts are extra-heavy, we are worried about too many things, we don’t know what to do next, and we feel misunderstood and empty.

Maybe it seems like “those days” are most days, and no one really has the time or energy or attention span to hear about it. We might start to wonder if our stuff is too unimportant for anyone to care about–especially God.

Can we honestly believe that he stops and listens to our every prayer?  

When we feel like this, we can remember this promise. We can be sure that Jesus is always in a listening position. He is alert for our cry. He knows exactly what is going on, and he deeply cares. He is ready with real comfort and lasting peace. Whenever we simply open our hearts and begin to talk to him, we can count on his full attention. Every time. We don’t have to worry that we are bothering him. We don’t have to make an appointment. We don’t have to beg or apologize or wait our turn for him to hear us.

Let’s tell him all about it. His ears will prick up when he hears us call his name.

Dear Jesus, thank you that I never have to work hard to get you to hear me. Even in my heaviest, busiest, loudest days, you promise to hear my cries for help. Thank you that you are always, always giving your loving attention to me. Amen.

TAKE YOUR TICKET

Jesus hears our prayers. 

Let’s call on Jesus–he is listening for our voices right now.