God, Are You Hearing Me?

As a maturing person who desires to develop a relationship with God, you understand prayer is a crucial part of each day.

Yet it can seem awkward at first, right? You can feel strange posed on your knees, talking aloud in an empty room. You may think to yourself, Am I just going through the motions of prayer in order to please my parents? Or even, Is God listening to me at all?

Of course, you want to develop a personal connection with the Supreme Being of the universe. You know He can help you. Just as you talk to your parents for direction or simply to communicate your needs and feelings, you desire the same with your heavenly Father.

Talking to God may not come naturally—even to some of the most devoted people. This is why, in Luke 11, Christ’s disciples asked Him to “teach us to pray” (vs. 1).

After providing them an example, Christ gave them an impetus for talking to God: “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened” (vs. 9).

This promise is reiterated in John 16, “Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you…ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full” (vs. 23-24).

Stop and think about this awesome opportunity. Whatsoever means just that—anything you need or desire.

But notice the three parts to the promise: Ask, seek and knock!

Christ understood humans would at times struggle with making requests to an invisible God. So, He emphasized the importance of being persistent. He is not interested in supplications that are cheap “gimmes” or a word-for-word reiteration of prayers. It takes thought, effort and time to develop communication skills and establish closeness with God.

The best place to start is reviewing Christ’s model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Most of us are familiar with this passage: “Our Father, which are in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”

Following this outline will ensure your requests to God are in line with His will—and you can be confident He is hearing your prayers!

“Our Father”

A common and courteous practice in any conversation or speech is to begin by addressing the person or group to whom you are speaking. With God it is much the same, except we must address Him with reverence and awe.

Again, the model prayer begins: “Our Father, which are in heaven.”

By acknowledging God as our heavenly Father, we immediately put ourselves in the position of children who submit to Him and also have the potential to ultimately become part of His universe-ruling Family.

“Hallowed Be Your Name”

After addressing God, you are to hallow His name. “Name” is often used in the King James Version of the Bible to mean authority, character or reputation.

One of the definitions of the Greek word translated hallow is “to venerate.”

Veneration refers to a very high form of giving honor. Merriam-Webster explained from where this word is derived: “To solicit the good will of [a deity], worship, pay homage to, hold in awe.”

This clearly goes beyond mere respect or honor. You should go into each prayer recognizing that God the Father is an eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing Being—that He is the most supreme authority—and that He is perfect in character, judgment and unselfish love.

This describes the Being who made you and is working with you! Seeing that the Father is your ultimate provider, healer, teacher and judge will guide how you approach Him with your requests.

“Your Kingdom Come”

After recognizing that the Father is perfect and capable, you should naturally desire for His Kingdom, or world-ruling government, to arrive. Realize that you are in a special position. Through the prophecy sermon series, you have come to know more about this Kingdom than any other teen throughout time!

A glance at the news shows the world is a mess and getting worse each day. Only through God’s direct intervention in the affairs of mankind can peace and prosperity finally be established.

God’s Church has the commission to preach about the Kingdom of God to the world. Our prayers should include special requests for the success of all aspects of this Work. For example, ask God to keep the human leader of the Work, Mr. Pack, and all of the ministry in good health. Pray for their protection and inspiration. Also, ask for the opening of new “doors,” or ways for the gospel to be preached to more people. Pray for more ways the Church’s various magazines can become more effective. You may also ask God to allow His Work and Church to prosper, and to bless the lives of His people (I Cor. 3:7).

There are countless ways to proclaim the coming of God’s Kingdom. The more specific our requests are, the more specifically God will respond to them.

“Your Will Be Done”

Asking for God’s will to be performed helps us remember that He is ultimately in charge, and our prayers are only going to be answered to the extent that it fits with His purpose.

Jesus set this example before His crucifixion. As He begged the Father to provide Him an alternative to an agonizing death, He said, “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39).

Christ demonstrated the attitude you should have in praying to God and seeking His will above your own. You should also pray that God will help you to accept His will. For example, God may allow you to go through trials because He knows it will develop your character. Pray to God to give you the right attitude to accept His will, no matter what.

“Give Us This Day…”

After you have put God first, you can address your needs.

While God does not want the emphasis of our prayers to be on physical things, He does expect you to ask Him to provide your physical, daily needs. These include food, shelter, clothing and everything else necessary for life, as well as for guidance and wisdom in your decisions.

An important thing to remember when you pray about your daily needs is to remember the needs of others. Many people may have needs different than yours. Some need to be healed. Some have lost jobs or friends or are suffering through family problems. The more compassion you display to others, the more God can give to you.

“Forgive Us Our Debts…”

Though we strive not to, we all sin. It is important to admit our sins to God and ask Him to forgive us (I John 1:8-9). When you pray, think deeply about which of God’s commandments you have broken. Ask God to forgive you of those sins and determine not to repeat them. Then avoid putting yourself in the same situation that led to those wrong actions.

Also, be sure to forgive others who have wronged you and never hold a grudge against anyone. As it states: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matt. 6:12).

Following the prayer, Christ explained, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (vs. 14).

“Lead Us Not into Temptation…”

Ask God to help you learn the necessary lessons of the Christian life now so you will not have to learn them later through very painful experiences.

Also, you should pray for deliverance from the adverse influences of Satan and his society. God’s help and wisdom will allow you to resist peer pressure and avoid things that are harmful.

“Amen”

End your prayers by acknowledging that all power and glory belong to God. This ends the prayer as it started, with the correct focus and emphasis on the Being who created you.

Also, Christ shows we should pray to the Father “in My [Christ’s] name” (John 14:13-14), meaning by His power and authority. One of the reasons Christ died for you (and everyone on Earth) is so that you would have the ability to be heard by God. Christ is our High Priest. He intercedes for you whenever you pray to God the Father and understands your mistakes and weaknesses (Heb. 4:14-16).

At the conclusion of your prayers, you say “amen,” which means “so be it.”

The Church has an article with more detail that can help you use this outline effectively. Read “The Keys to Dynamic Prayer”.

Purposeful Prayers

Be sure to allot time each day to pray, ideally in the morning before you go to school or work. This should be your daily main prayer that follows the general outline.

Yet it is important to note that this is not the only way to pray.

We are told in Romans 12:12 to be “instant in prayer.” Being “instant” means just that, instant. You may not always be able to give long prayers in circumstances throughout the day, but going to God should be your instant reaction.

Deliver short prayers as situations arise. Your Father delights in short praises or expressions of thanks. He can answer a simple request such as, “Please give me strength for today.” You can also be conversational with God and open up about your thoughts and feelings.

Other subjects that can be brought up “on the spot” include asking for help grasping subjects in school, accomplishing your to-do list and coping with a troubling news report. You can also make requests for your parents, siblings and friends.

Be creative and find ways to make prayers an integral part of your day. This will quickly deepen your bond with God, which will make your communications more effective.

Expect an Answer!

It is not wrong to be certain God will listen to you. After all, one of the purposes of prayer is to have God fulfill needs and desires. Recall Christ’s promise: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matt. 7:7).

Be alert to God’s answers to your prayers. It may surprise you to realize how many of your requests He has answered and you miss it at first because you do not really expect God to respond in that way. He might answer differently than you anticipate, but His answer will always be better.

Never forget prayer is a real connection to the Creator—the most powerful being in the universe! Use this amazing opportunity and gift.

Remember, God is always waiting to hear from you!