Does the Lord hear us?

“And they took away the stones from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes. And said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.”  (John 11:41)

This is the story of when Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave. He spoke these words aloud that the people might believe. What else do we learn here? We learn gratitude for the simple act of hearing. How marvelous it is that the Lord hears and if appropriate answers our silent or spoken prayers. Do we express our gratitude that he hears us even if he doesn’t answer us the way we want?

I can’t help but think of people who have said that the Lord doesn’t hear them. I know that when I feel that he isn’t listening it’s because I am not in the right frame of mind. I need to change in some way.  Maybe I need to humble myself and instead of trying to tell him what he needs to do I need to come to where he is. I know I am such a long way from him being on this mortal plain, but I seek him he will direct me to him.

And there is that scripture in the Old Testament that says (I’m paraphrasing here) if the people do not call upon him but go far from him he will be slow to listen. Yes. We do need to be grateful that the Lord hears us.

Awake thou that sleepest,

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20)

Paul list giving thanks among the things the Saints in Ephesus are to do to keep the Spirit with them. I like where he says, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” (Ephesians 5:14)  I was once asleep in the gospel. Some days I snooze a bit, but I have awakened again. That is the important part. For that I give thanks for the dear sister in the gospel who knew to call me in my darkest hour. I give thanks for the many others who have helped me on my way, taught me by example and filled my cup of gratitude to overflowing. Especially I am thankful for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who made repentance and redemption possible by his atonement.   

The giving of thanks of many redound or accrue an abundant of grace

“For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God… For our light afflictions, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:15 &17)

In other words, everything that God does is for us that we might through the giving of thanks of many redound or accrue an abundant of grace because of his glory and greatness. As we give thanks we gain glory or graciousness and humility which makes us more fit for the celestial kingdom which helps us overcome our afflictions.

 Paul says here our light afflictions, but I think he means that any affection we might have is light in comparison to those of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This lifetime is but a moment and then we are received into glory.

So give thanks, be positive, and see the good in all things, including our afflictions, and we will be made glorious.  

I will give thanks

“The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation… Therefore I will give thanks unto thee … and I will sing praises unto thy name…” (2 Samuel 22:47 & 50)

This is David speaking in all his eloquence. He is actually expressing thanks for winning a battle – a life and death situation. Most of the time, our situation is not that defining. We do have emergency life and death situations in our lives but probably not to the degree that David did. Nevertheless, we face crisis, turning points daily.

If you think about it forgetting to say prayer, read scriptures, give thanks are crisis. We get lax in our gratitude, in our worship and the next thing we know we aren’t even thinking about the Lord at all. Oh, we still believe in him, but we don’t realize that we are sliding away. I’m not here to give guilt trips. The only reason one should say prayer, read scriptures or give thanks is because they want to, and yet not doing so is a crisis.

The dark ages have passed

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions…The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord to come, and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.” (Joel 2:28 &32)

We are in that afterward time. Christ has come and made his sacrifice. The dark ages have passed and all that was lost has been restored. We are preparing for that great and terrible day of the Lord. Great for those who are ready and terrible for those who have been deceived into thinking there is no hope.

I don’t believe there are any bad people. The sons of perdition were cast out of heaven, and all of us who choose to come to earth are good people. After we got here, things happened to take from us faith that we could return to heaven. Sometimes not only our faith is crushed, but that last glimmer of hope.

Are you in a good place right now, strong in the gospel, full of faith and good works? Then reach out, send a ray of hope and good will to someone who is struggling, and it will come back to you. One day when you stumble, when you are about to fall (as did the great king David) someone you helped will be there to help you to stand, and call on the name of the Lord for deliverance. It has happened to me and maybe to you. We are all weak and unfit for the kingdom alone, but together in Christ we are strong.      

" Lord," I cried, "Please help me."

“Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed for I thy God, I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”  (Isaiah 41:10)

I know this. Again and again in the Scriptures, (over one hundred times some say) the Lord has said, “Fear not.”  And yet, I do. Just yesterday I had this conservation with him (prayer). I cried , Lord I did what you said, but this and this happened. Now I can’t meet my obligations. "Please help me".

What do you think he said? “Be patience.” Just trust and have faith and it will all work out.

But what about this and what about that? I wanted to know.

 It doesn’t matter. It may be rough, but in the end the results will be worth it.

So today, I’m hanging in there with faith knowing that the Lord does not lie. This is the way it is suppose to be. It will all work out. I suppose it is another test of my faith. Scary as it is, The Lord’s will be done.