Reading: Psalm 99: 6-9

Verse 8: “O Lord our God, you answered them…”

The verses we read today remind us that our God is a God that listens and hears… and answers. The passage lists Moses and Aaron and Samuel as “among those who called on his name”. Taken as a whole, there is quite a list of people in the Bible who have called upon God. And like mine, your name too is on that list in heaven of those who call upon the name of the Lord. Moses, Aaron… you, me… call upon God because God is present to us. The story of the Bible is the account of God’s relationship with the family of God. The stories of our faith journeys are the accounts of God’s relationship with you and me.

Just as the Lord listened and heard and answered the prayers of the Israelites, so too will God listen, hear, and answer our prayers. God hears us when we take our pain and brokenness and hurt to him. God hears when we bring our needs and petitions for others to him. God hears our cries against injustice and oppression and violence. God hears when we seek guidance and direction. Whenever we come to God in prayer, we are listened to, we are heard, we are answered. God even hears those prayers that we ourselves cannot put into words. It is here that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, bringing these matters before God.

What are the cries of your heart today? What are the screams of your heart today? What are the humble and contrite confessions of your heart today? What are the grateful expressions within your heart today? Take them all to the Lord our God – the one who listens and hears… and answers!

Prayer: Loving God, the rain falls on the window and it is one of those days. This morning my heart cries and hurts for the future of the global church. In some ways the future is unknown, therefore it is scary. Yet the focus remains what it has always been: making disciples as we share the love of Jesus Christ with a world in need. No matter what may come, may our witness remain strong. Reveal in us, your church, your glory. Amen.