God Hears Your Prayers

August 01, 2011 Monday Message:

“He (The LORD) will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.” Psalms 102:17 NLT

The NLT title of Psalm 102 says it all: “A prayer of one overwhelmed with trouble, pouring out problems before the Lord.”

Do you ever feel so overwhelmed that your perception is that there is no hope? The psalmist clearly felt that way. He pours out his problems to the Lord, praying to God: “Pay attention! This is a cry for help! And hurry—this can't wait!” verse 2 (MSG)

The psalmist is in trouble, and finds solutions not in his own doing, but in the Lord’s doing. God will hear the prayers of the destitute, and do his God-stuff to set things right.

Psalm 102 says that Zion is also in trouble. Real enemies with real weapons who easily out-number God’s people pose a real threat. “Zion” is a metaphor for the Hebrew people, the sanctified worship of God, the Temple and Jerusalem, the Holy City¬ – you know – all that God-stuff.

Interestingly, “Jerusalem” comes from the words “Ir Shalom,” which mean “city of peace.” Not just any peace – but “Shalom,” God’s peace that passes all understanding. It must bother God greatly that His Holy City is continually threatened. And in the end, God will win this battle too. “For the Lord will rebuild Jerusalem. Then He will appear in his glory.” verse 16 (NLT)

So remember, no matter how bad things may look right now, God is your light at the end of the tunnel. He is always faithful, and He always knows exactly what is needed. He always wins.

Everything will be all right in the end. That’s what the Bible says.

Norton Lawellin