"Grandpa, I have a question." Reese knew her grandpa always liked to talk about God, and she knew he wouldn't mind the question she had on prayer. "When does God hear us?"
Her grandpa's gray eyebrows lifted. "When does God hear us?" He grinned. "When we shout really loud!"
Reese giggled at her grandpa's booming voice. "But that's not how you pray."
"He hears me when I talk like this too." Grandpa lowered his voice to a whisper. "He also hears me when I'm like this." He went quiet.
Reese watched him. "You're praying silently?"
Grandpa nodded. "God hears us all the time. Anywhere we are." He got up and offered his hand. Reese took it and let him lead her outside.
"If I went out into those woods and got lost, God would hear me." Grandpa motioned to the large forest in front of them. "If I traveled to India or France or Australia, God would hear me there," Grandpa said. "He would hear me if I was scared or if I was happy. He would hear me when I was alone or in a crowd of hundreds or thousands of people."
"So," Reese said. "Always?"
Grandpa turned to her with a grin. "You're getting the point."
"No matter where I am or what I'm doing, I can talk to Him and He'll listen?" Reese asked. "Even if I'm quiet, He'll hear me?"
"No matter where you are, how quiet or loud you are, or what you have to say, He'll listen," Grandpa said. "He's never too busy for you."
"Thanks for answering my question," Reese said. "You're always a good listener, Grandpa."
He wrapped his arm around her. "If you think I'm a good listener, God's even better. I try to listen when you talk, but I don't always pay attention to everything you say. God hears every word. He loves you even more than I ever could. He gave us His own Son, Jesus, so we could have a relationship with Him. He cares about everything going on in your life. You can talk to Him anytime."
Reese leaned into him and smiled. She was grateful that her grandpa listened to her, but even happier with his answer. She was glad to know God would hear her anywhere and anytime.
-Bethany Acker
HOW ABOUT YOU?
When do you talk to God? Do you worry that He won’t hear you when others are being noisy around you or when you’re in your room alone at night? Do you wonder if He’s really listening when you have a lot to say? He loves you and is always listening. He hears your prayers, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. Doesn’t it feel good to know He always hears you anywhere, anytime?
TODAY'S KEY VERSE: 1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT)