Hear My Prayer, Oh Lord
by Karen Rudge
"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer" (1 Peter 3:12).
When I first became a Christian, I loved to pray and converse with the One who took me out of my sinful way and brought me to Himself. As my prayers went up, the answers were already coming down.
Prayer is such an essential part of a Christian's life. To me, prayer is not just something I do in the morning or at night. I am constantly aware of God all through the day. After 36 years of serving Him, prayer has become as natural as breathing. No matter what I am doing or where I am, I can call out to Him with a need for myself or someone else.
People often ask me the following two questions: How and when do you pray? How did you pray for your children as they were growing up?
I start my day with prayer. After having my devotions, I go to my prayer journal which contains various prayer requests. I have seven prayer journals, one for each day of the week. For example, one of my prayer journals may have such things for prayer as: my son who is completing his doctoral dissertation; job opportunity for my niece; a friend who has cancer; Bill's upcoming speaking engagements; getting Bill's books to people around the world who request them; and a specific missionary family.
Then on another day, I may have: my daughter and son-in-law's special request; get airline tickets for our mission trips at a low price; ministry staff workers; upcoming mission trip; and a friend's need.
On another day I pray for all five of my grandchildren and for the many requests sent to the ministry.
I spend time on each request. I leave space in the journal to record the answer to each prayer.
My night-time prayer is mainly thanking God for the answers to prayers that day and other requests that may have come up.
I feel it is so important to be a person of prayer.
I have prayed for my children since they were in my womb. Before they were born, I prayed that God would raise them up to be used for His glory. I prayed also that their spouses would be molded to be the helpmate for my children and be raised to be used of the Lord. I prayed when my kids started school that God would put a hedge of protection around them, especially their minds, and no one's philosophy would taint them and seduce them from the Lord.
When they went out with their friends, I prayed with them before they left that God would direct them in what they did and where they went. It did not matter to me how small or insignificant the prayer. I wanted it brought before the Lord, so I knew we were in His will in all things. He was always there when I cried out to Him. Now I am also praying for my grandchildren.
God is never away from us. He is there waiting for us to pray to Him— especially that His will be done.
Take time each day to converse with Him and present your requests. Remember, He is always there—no matter what time or place—to hear a cry of prayer from you.
James 5:16 says, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
