“...when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

                                                            – Matthew 6:6 (NKJ)

Introduction

When people pray, God moves. God responds to our prayers. Often, we are waiting for God to move. But God will not move until His people pray. Every revival is birthed in prayer.

In my song “Every Time I Pray”, I used the phrase “Every time I pray, I move the hand of God”. This is a powerful phrase expressing how God can respond to our prayers and move His mighty hand on our behalf.

Recently, while meditating on 2 Chron 7:12-16, I discovered that when we pray, we do not only move the hand of God. The eyes, ear and heart of God move as well. God responds wholeheartedly to our prayers. What a revelation it was to me. This short sermon captures my devotional thoughts from this famous passage on prayer.

Text. 2 Chron 7:12-16

v14 If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

v15 Now my eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

v16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

God responds to our prayers in the following ways:

a. GOD LISTENS – EAR OF GOD

v14 – I will hear from heaven

v15 ...My ears will be attentive to prayer made in this place

Jer 29: 12,13 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all of your heart.

The book of Jeremiah is a book on judgement. However there were moments of hope in the book when God spoke to the remnant and assured them He will listen to their prayers.

b. GOD WATCHES – EYE OF GOD

v15 &150; My eyes will be opened.

v16 &150; My eyes will be there perpetually.

Ps 33:18 Behold the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope on His mercy.

It is always comforting to know that someone watches over us. We watch over our children all the time when we are in shopping complexes. We never allow them out of our sight for fear they may be lost or kidnapped. When we pray, God watches over us.

c. GOD MOVES – HAND OF GOD

v13,14a When I shut up the heavens and there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray...

v14 ...and heal their land.

When the people sinned against God, God sent judgement. The land, environment and agriculture were destroyed. When the people prayed. God moved to heal the land. What a big change in circumstances when the people prayed. God moved His healing hand.

When we are stuck with a business deal, sometimes, all we need is phone call from a person of influence and our deal gets through. This is called “technical know who”. Sometimes “technical know who” is more important than “technical know how”. Although we have God on our side, yet many fail to ask Him to move on their behalf.

d. GOD FORGIVES – HEART OF GOD

v14 ...and will forgive their sin

v16 – My heart will be there perpetually.

There are many scriptures which encourage us to seek God with all of our hearts. However, the above scriptures speak of the heart of God being with us all the time when we pray. I believe we touch the heart of God when we pray. We move closer to His heart and likewise, God’s heart draws closer to us.

In year 2000, I wrote the following song “I Can Feel Your Heart”

     I have found a deeper love for You
     I have found a deeper love for Truth
     I can feel Your heart beating, close to mine
     Let me linger on in your presence Lord
     I can feel Your heart again.

Many people are far away from God’s heart because they do not pray.

Conclusion

When we pray, God’s ear, eyes, hand and heart respond to our prayers. When we pray, God listens, God watches, God moves and God forgives.

Pastor Ng Wah Lok
20 May 2001

Pastor Ng Wah Lok’s debut CD album entitled “Every Time I Pray” is available in the following bookshops – Salvation Book Centre, Glad Sounds, Canaanland and Chosen Treasures. You can also buy the CD via the Internet at his website Tabernacle Music. A song book of all the songs in the CD is also on sale. The lyrics of the 12 songs with chords are also available free from the website. Do take some time to visit the site. Also available are some teaching materials on worship written by Ng Wah Lok. These articles can be downloaded free. Ng Wah Lok can be contacted at ngwl@pc.jaring.my. SUPPORT MALAYSIAN CHRISTIAN MUSIC!