Assurance in Prayer: God Hears and Transforms

 

Summary

In the midst of life's trials and tribulations, the assurance that "My God will hear me" serves as a steadfast anchor for the soul. This conviction, drawn from Micah 7:7, is not merely a hopeful sentiment but a profound certainty that transforms the believer's approach to prayer and life. The prophet Micah, amidst a corrupt and unjust society, finds solace in the unwavering belief that God hears his prayers. This assurance is not contingent on circumstances or the approval of others but is rooted in the character and promises of God.

When we hold fast to the belief that God hears us, it changes our perspective. In the darkest times, when the world seems to crumble around us, we can look to God with hope and expectation. This hope is not a forlorn wish but a confident anticipation that God, who is the source of our salvation, will act in His perfect timing. The certainty that God hears us enables us to wait patiently, knowing that His timing is impeccable and His answers are always for our ultimate good.

Moreover, this conviction empowers us to face our adversaries with courage. Even when we fall, we can declare with confidence that we will rise again because our God hears us. This belief is not just a defense against external enemies but also a source of inner strength that sustains us through personal failures and setbacks. The assurance that God hears our prayers is a light in our darkness, a beacon of hope that guides us through life's challenges.

The power of prayer lies not in changing God's will but in aligning ourselves with it. Prayer is a divine ordinance, a means through which God has chosen to work His purposes in our lives. It is not a futile exercise but a vital connection to the Almighty, who delights in hearing and answering the cries of His children. As we pray, we are drawn closer to God, experiencing His presence and power in our lives.

Ultimately, the assurance that "My God will hear me" is a call to deeper faith and trust. It invites us to live with the confidence that our prayers are heard and that God is actively working for our good. This conviction transforms our prayer life, making it a source of strength, hope, and joy.

Key Takeaways:

1. Certainty in Prayer: The assurance that "My God will hear me" is a profound certainty that transforms our approach to prayer. It is not based on circumstances but on the unchanging character of God, who is faithful to His promises. This conviction empowers us to pray with confidence, knowing that our prayers are heard and answered in God's perfect timing. [02:00]

2. Hope in Darkness: In the darkest times, the belief that God hears us provides a beacon of hope. This hope is not a mere wish but a confident expectation that God will act for our good. It sustains us through trials and enables us to wait patiently for God's deliverance. [10:25]

3. Courage Against Adversaries: The conviction that God hears our prayers gives us courage to face our adversaries. Even when we fall, we can declare with confidence that we will rise again because our God hears us. This belief is a source of inner strength that sustains us through personal failures and setbacks. [16:13]

4. Alignment with God's Will: Prayer is not about changing God's will but aligning ourselves with it. It is a divine ordinance, a means through which God works His purposes in our lives. As we pray, we are drawn closer to God, experiencing His presence and power. [06:24]

5. Transformative Power of Prayer: The assurance that "My God will hear me" transforms our prayer life, making it a source of strength, hope, and joy. It invites us to live with the confidence that our prayers are heard and that God is actively working for our good. [39:53]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to the Assurance of Prayer
- [01:20] - The Power of Certainty in Prayer
- [03:16] - Results of Confidence in Prayer
- [04:28] - Finding Solace in God Amidst Corruption
- [06:08] - Prayer as Part of Divine Decree
- [09:14] - Looking to God with Hope
- [12:27] - Patience in Waiting for God's Timing
- [16:13] - Answer to Our Enemies
- [19:41] - Sustained by Confidence in Prayer
- [21:54] - Light in Darkness Through Prayer
- [25:56] - Reasons for Confidence in Prayer
- [32:15] - Faith and Experience in Prayer
- [40:10] - Exercising Confidence in Prayer
- [45:09] - The Call to Constant Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Micah 7:7

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Micah 7:7 reveal about the prophet's attitude towards God amidst a corrupt society? [00:12]

2. How does the sermon describe the certainty of God's response to prayer, and what impact does this have on a believer's confidence? [01:20]

3. According to the sermon, what role does prayer play in aligning ourselves with God's will? [06:24]

4. How does the assurance that "My God will hear me" empower believers to face adversaries, according to the sermon? [16:13]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the belief that "My God will hear me" transform a believer's approach to prayer and life, as discussed in the sermon? [02:00]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that hope in God's response can sustain believers through trials? [10:25]

3. How does the sermon explain the relationship between prayer and God's timing, and what does this imply about the nature of faith? [12:43]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the inner strength derived from the conviction that God hears our prayers, especially in the face of personal failures? [20:25]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt that God heard your prayer. How did that experience impact your faith and confidence in prayer? [02:00]

2. When facing a difficult situation, how can you remind yourself of the hope that God hears you and will act in His perfect timing? [10:25]

3. Identify a personal challenge or failure you are currently facing. How can the assurance that "My God will hear me" provide you with the courage to rise again? [20:25]

4. How can you align your prayers more closely with God's will, and what steps can you take to ensure your prayer life is a source of strength and joy? [06:24]

5. Think of a situation where you need to wait patiently for God's timing. What practical steps can you take to cultivate patience and trust in God's impeccable timing? [12:43]

6. How can you use the conviction that God hears your prayers to face adversaries or difficult people in your life with courage and confidence? [16:13]

7. Consider your current prayer habits. What changes can you make to deepen your faith and trust in God's active work for your good? [39:53]

Devotional

Day 1: Certainty in God's Listening Ear
The assurance that "My God will hear me" is a profound certainty that transforms our approach to prayer. It is not based on circumstances but on the unchanging character of God, who is faithful to His promises. This conviction empowers us to pray with confidence, knowing that our prayers are heard and answered in God's perfect timing. When we embrace this certainty, our prayers become more than mere words; they become a powerful connection to the divine, rooted in trust and faith. This assurance allows us to approach God with boldness, knowing that He is attentive to our cries and will respond according to His perfect will. [02:00]

Isaiah 65:24 (ESV): "Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to believe that God hears your prayers? How can you remind yourself of His faithfulness today?


Day 2: Hope Anchored in Divine Assurance
In the darkest times, the belief that God hears us provides a beacon of hope. This hope is not a mere wish but a confident expectation that God will act for our good. It sustains us through trials and enables us to wait patiently for God's deliverance. When life feels overwhelming, and the world seems to crumble around us, this hope becomes an anchor for our souls, reminding us that God is in control and His timing is perfect. By holding onto this assurance, we can face each day with renewed strength and courage, trusting that God is working behind the scenes for our ultimate good. [10:25]

Lamentations 3:25-26 (ESV): "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

Reflection: What is one situation in your life where you need to wait on God's timing? How can you cultivate patience and hope in this waiting period?


Day 3: Courage in the Face of Adversity
The conviction that God hears our prayers gives us courage to face our adversaries. Even when we fall, we can declare with confidence that we will rise again because our God hears us. This belief is a source of inner strength that sustains us through personal failures and setbacks. It empowers us to confront challenges with boldness, knowing that we are not alone and that God is our defender. By trusting in God's attentive ear, we can overcome fear and doubt, standing firm in the face of adversity with the assurance that He is with us every step of the way. [16:13]

Psalm 56:9 (ESV): "Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me."

Reflection: Think of a current challenge or adversary you are facing. How can the assurance that God hears you give you courage to confront this situation?


Day 4: Aligning with God's Will Through Prayer
Prayer is not about changing God's will but aligning ourselves with it. It is a divine ordinance, a means through which God works His purposes in our lives. As we pray, we are drawn closer to God, experiencing His presence and power. This alignment with God's will transforms our prayers from a list of requests to a conversation with the Almighty, where we seek His guidance and wisdom. By aligning our hearts with His, we open ourselves to His transformative work, allowing Him to shape our desires and actions according to His perfect plan. [06:24]

1 John 5:14 (ESV): "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us."

Reflection: How can you shift your prayer focus from asking for specific outcomes to seeking alignment with God's will? What might this look like in your daily prayer life?


Day 5: The Transformative Power of Prayer
The assurance that "My God will hear me" transforms our prayer life, making it a source of strength, hope, and joy. It invites us to live with the confidence that our prayers are heard and that God is actively working for our good. This transformation is not just about the act of praying but about the relationship it fosters with God. As we engage in prayer, we experience His presence and power, which renews our spirit and fills us with joy. This assurance encourages us to approach each day with a heart full of gratitude and trust, knowing that God is intimately involved in every aspect of our lives. [39:53]

Colossians 4:2 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

Reflection: How has your prayer life changed over time? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with God through prayer today?

Quotes

"Observe that the prophet has no sort of doubt, he insinuates no if or an or but or pear adventure but he says it straight out as a fact of which he is infallibly convinced, my god will hear me. What a blessed thing it is that the child of god knows and feels that this is true, wherever he fails he will succeed at the throne, if all other friendly ears are closed his friend of friends will hear him." [00:28:00]

"With faith in prayer you have heaven's infinite treasures at your disposal, but if you ask waveringly, you find that warning true he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed, let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the lord, you must know with absolute certainty that god is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, or you will not be among those whom the father seeks to worship him." [00:83:04]

"When you have faith in prayer you will in the cloudy and dark day find consolation in looking to god, who is the blessed son, from whom a brighter day will come, instead of being overcome by doubt, you will gather up your faith which else might have been scattered among men and you will place the whole of it upon god, who still remains true and faithful and holy." [00:286:47]

"We resort to god because he bids us do so, we accept his method of granting blessings and prayer because we conceive prayer to be a part of the divine decree, the same god that ordains to give a certain blessing has also ordained that we shall pray for it, we do not expect to change the will of god but we believe our prayer to be part of his will, it is not contrary to predestination for us to pray but it is itself a part of it." [00:365:28]

"Another blessing which we derive from the certainty that god hears our prayer is that our eyes are led to look to god with hope, not only do we turn to the lord because we have no other resort, but because we look to him with joyful expectation, the prophet says therefore will i look unto the lord i will wait for the god of my salvation." [00:550:00]

"Now a firm conviction that god will hear prayer is a life boy to a sinking hope, he will not give all up who believes that his god will hear him, he cannot be driven to desperation while the mercy seat continues a source of hope, and he remains in possession of his reason, you will hear him argue with himself why art thou cast down o my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in god for i shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my god." [00:697:83]

"We are of the tribe of god of whom it is written a troop shall overcome him but he shall overcome at the last, cheering is that promise though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the lord upholdeth him with his hand, our adversaries had better not laugh till the affair is over, we have yet a weapon in reserve which we have not done with yet, that weapon is prayer, we answer their shouts of victory with this one sentence, my god will hear me." [01:068:55]

"Beloved we are sure that god will hear us because we have towards god a sense of sonship, he is our father and we know it, hence we argue that if we being evil know how to give good gifts unto our children, he also will give to us what we need at his hands if we cry to him, concerning this i need not argue, granted the fatherhood of god he must hear prayer." [01:553:83]

"Moreover we believe in the power of believing prayer because of the prevalence of our intercessor, jesus christ himself is pleading for us in the presence of god he has gone into heaven on purpose that he might represent his people at the throne of grace and plead their cause, and we can never imagine that as our great high priest accepted of the father he pleads in vain when we ask in his name and set his seal to our petitions, we must win our suit." [01:595:83]

"Have any of you ever suffered injury by prayer, did you ever rise from your knees a worse man for pleading with god, did you ever go away from a company of faithful pleading men and feel that you were morally lowered by joining in their devotions, i am sure that you never did, if anything has helped you to fight against sin and to bear the burdens of life, it has been this drawing near to god." [01:930:00]

"Since god will hear us we will pray to him and we do, alas we have many sins in reference to prayer our slackness in prayer, and our unbelief as to prayer are crimes for which we ought to cover our faces with shame, but when we talk with god a right when we keep his commandments and abide in his love, then he gives us life, joy, and power in prayer, and then we become conscious of success at the throne." [01:540:88]

"Let us pray is however a voice which is never unseasonable, when would it be unfit for such an exhortation to be given, when would it not be profitable to pray, the lord is always willing, therefore let us be always praying in one form or another, let us pray, no matter what may be the trial no matter what the joy, no matter what the company, pray without ceasing because it is always true my god will hear me." [01:692:48]

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Transcript
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