In Psalm 116 Verses 1-2 it reads, I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications.
Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath.
The New King James Version of verse 2 says,
Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.
Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath. This is one of my favorite Bible verses. Although, how can just one be chosen?
Run to Jesus for the Answer
The trendy saying nowadays is life is lifing. But life is just that, it’s defined as continual change preceding death. Life is made up of hills and valleys. As we continue to turn the pages of our lives we face day to day challenges. Some we’re unable to explain and grasp true understanding of it. But we also face triumphs and lessons through those challenges.
The most wonderful and comforting thing is that we don’t have to face it alone. Thank goodness we have a heavenly Father to seek in prayer. We can let it all out. There’s nothing we need to hide. The worst of the worst can be disclosed to Him if you only lay it down at His feet and ask for guidance. If you need to ask Him for forgiveness, then do so. Father I repent of my sins and then, ask for His help to turn away from your sins. He will help you if you ask Him.
Ask for God’s Wisdom
In the scripture James chapter 1 verse 5 (James 1:5) says, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Whoa, liberally? You mean freely, generously, and in great abundance? And, without reproach? Meaning, without belittling you or making you feel small for not knowing the answer already? Have you ever been in that situation where you feel like you can’t even ask a question because you know you’ll be ridiculed for not knowing the answer? Thank you, Jesus! He wants us to be knowledgeable, but through His guidance and His wisdom. We need only to ask Him.
Our Magnificent God and His Attentiveness
Isn’t it remarkable how God tends to us individually? How does He do it? I know, such a generalized question with so many moving parts and answers. God’s genius is unfathomable.
In this verse, it shows our Father’s abounding, loving care for us. But, ultimately, it shows our love for our Father in Heaven. Our Father is so righteous, so forgiving, and so understanding. He is so merciful and such a loving Father; that the verse begins with, I love the Lord. How can we show Him appreciation as His children. What deeper way to show someone that you appreciate the love they share than to say, I love you. It solidifies the connection.
How tender is it to think of a mother or father here on Earth bending down or stooping down on one knee to get a little closer to their child to see what’s troubling them. But imagine how that child feels towards their mother and father when engulfed in so much love? Oh, to feel the safety of a mother or father where you don’t have to second guess or ask, will they be there?
Do you remember falling down while riding your bike or falling off the swings while playing freely and without a care in the world as a child? The world has certainly changed, but I remember when you could just play outside for hours and a grandmother, auntie, mom or dad, cousin, or a sibling knew when it was you that was crying. Out of all the children on the playground or in the yard, they could identify you by your voice. Or they could just sense when something was wrong and they almost seemed to appear out of nowhere right in the nick of time.
God’s Love in All Its Splendor
In verse 1 it says, I love the Lord. Those first four words are beautiful and are endearing in itself. But it says, I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. He knows your unique voice. He knows His child’s voice. But even better, He has heard my supplications. Supplications in this verse are your humble pleads or prayers to God.
In the NKJV (New King James Version) it says, Because He has ‘inclined’ His ear to me. The definition for the word ‘inclined’ is wanting to do something or likely to do something. The root word is “incline.” According to Merriam-Webster, incline means to bend the head or body forward. It also means to lean, tend, or become drawn toward an opinion. To cause to stoop or bow.
Our Father of Heaven and Earth inclined His ear to me. Because He bends down to listen. He’s leaning in to get a better listen to your voice. He’s listening in to your cry and your concerns, because He desires to do so.
Also, it does not say, to us. It says to me. He’s taking the time to listen and to tend to each one of His children, individually. So whatever it is, through humble prayer, talk to the Father because he wants to listen to you. He’s inclined to listen to you.
Just Imagine
Can you imagine? The same God that created Heaven and Earth, the birds in the sky, the stars, the Sun and the Moon is the same God that is inclined His ear to you. We are His creation. We are His children. He wants to hear you. So much so, He stoops down or He bends down towards you. What God is doing is getting closer to hear you when you pray. Hallelujah! What a glorious and attentive Father!
If you’ve never had the experience of a relative or someone coming to your rescue as a child. If it’s been a while since you’ve felt that anyone really understands you; try God. Pray to God.
Let’s pray together
Father of Heaven and Earth, we first want to thank you for a new day. Thank you for loving us when we didn’t feel loved and we didn’t know how to love ourselves. Thank you for hearing our cry, our concerns, and what troubles us within our minds, our hearts, our souls. Please heal us Lord. Restore us as we humbly pray to you and talk to you about our innermost thoughts. Ease our troubles with your strength.
Help us to triumph over our challenges. Grant us peace knowing you have heard us and it’s in your hands. Heal us where we’re hurting and where we are in pain. May your presence continually abound within us and around us every step of the way. Restore our minds with clarity and wisdom from your throne in Glory. I pray these words will reach beyond this digital space. Lord, please touch and help a multitude of people, right on time, through the works and mighty hand of God. Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
