God hears us

As we found out yesterday, God speaks to us in many different ways. However, it is also very important to remember that God also hears us when we cry out to him. In today's reading we will see how the writer of Genesis makes this very point:

7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. 8 The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

“I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied.

9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” 10 Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”

11 And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. (Genesis 16:7-11)

Reflection:

1. How does the knowledge that 'God hears' make you feel today?

2. Did you notice the other questions that the angel asks Hagar (in verse 8)?

3. How would you answer those questions?

"There is indeed a God that hears and sees whate'er we do." - Plautus

Living in Grace

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6 - God hears our cries

I am convinced that god hears our cries for mercy and grace. This is the essence of the easter story, is it not? God hears the struggles of humanity, realises our deep need for a saviour and so sends us the best god has - his son. 

This gift reveals to us the nature of our god. And so when david cries out to god in psalm 6, we look back at his song and say to david - "god has heard your cries. God has heard my cries. Hallelujah!"

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.
² Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;
    heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
³ My soul is in deep anguish.    How long, Lord, how long? - Psalm 6:1-3

Living in Grace
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38 - Will God dump you?

"Don’t dump me, God;
    my God, don’t stand me up.
Hurry and help me;    I want some wide-open space in my life!" - Psalm 38:21-22

For all of us who have a broken heart before, we can relate to the words of David in Psalm 38. It is almost as if he recognises the signs before him and that God has slowly become a distant companion - the silence has become deafening for him. David fears the worst and so he pleads with God not to dump him - not to stand him up.

And yet, earlier on in the same Psalm, David answered his own question in a way when he wrote:

"Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God." - Psalm 38:15

He knows that God won't dump him and won't leave him hanging. God will hear his cry and will answer him in time. And that promise is the same for us today.

Prayer: Thank you Lord that you don't stand us up! When you commit yourself to us, that is your true covenant. You will not leave us to find someone else - you are a faithful God.

Living in Grace
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