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Maybe you have been writing the same thing in your prayer journal for the third month in a row. Or, when someone asks for an update, you have to smile and say, "I'm still waiting." You watch Him come through for other people, but wonder, Where is He in my life? If you've found yourself in any of these scenarios recently, you have a friend in Daniel from the Bible.

Daniel mourned and cried out to the Lord for three weeks, hearing nothing but silence in a dire situation — until an angel came and told him that God had heard him from the moment he began to pray (Daniel 10).

God hears you the minute you call for Him. Even if it doesn't seem like He's moving, there is never a moment when God isn't doing anything. So how can we be sure? 

We know that God hears our prayers because there are countless stories in the Bible of people praying and of God answering their prayers, and of what they prayed about. God himself affirms that He hears our prayers in 1 John 5:14. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

Just because we can't hear God audibly, as if we're talking to a friend, doesn't mean He's not listening. We don't pray to other people, so it's natural that our relationship with God will be different. Our connection with God is based on our faith, not on our ability to see or audibly hear Him. (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Psalm 55:16-17, "As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon, I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice."

We know God hears our prayers because He has promised to hear them! Even if He doesn't always answer how we think He should, He still hears us. 

You have to approach prayer with the right attitude. Many people want God to respond to them out of need or emotion.  They say things like, 'Why is God helping me?' Doesn’t he know what I am going through?  God does not respond to our needs or emotions; he responds to faith.  You must come believing or have faith; God responds to faith, not just needs.  He said in his word Have faith in God- this is not an option, he said have it!   

Mark 11:22-24  So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God- Rom 10:17.  In order to be in faith, you need to hear from God.  We only see a part of the picture, but God sees it all. When we pray, we should seek God's will, not just our own. The Bible says, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will … we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15).

When we know God's will, we can stand in faith and confidence, knowing that the answer is on its way. Don't be discouraged if there is a delay. Instead, thank God for His love for you and thank him for the answer. Believe you have received when you pray and keep your trust in him.  

Learn to commit everything to Him in prayer. The Bible says, "Rejoice always, pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you that you always hear me when I pray.  You are mindful of all that is happening in my life, and you know the beginning from the end.  Lord, help me to look to your word for direction and answers.  Help me to believe what you have said about the circumstances and needs in my life.  You are faithful to your word, and as I believe your word, I know I will have what I ask from you.  I thank you in advance for taking good care of me and for answering my prayers. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.