Are you listening?

Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into you home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me. Matthew 25:34-36

This passage of Scripture always reminds me of what is important to Jesus and how he wants us to join him in his work on earth. It is so easy to be busy doing many things: taking care of your house, your job, recreation and more. But then is also easy to miss the thing that really matters the most: extending mercy to the "least of these", caring for those who are hungry, poor, sick, or imprisoned. Our response to this command is very important, and it also affects our eternal destiny and our present day prayer life.

Many prayer experts have expressed their thoughts that Lord will not hear us if we aren't listening to him and responding to what he asks of us. I believe that our Lord always hears us no matter what, but his respone will certainly wait for His time and that time may be what he wants us to "learn" from an experience. That experience could be working in the situation that I described earlier and from Matthew. I am not saying that doing these things will get your prayers answered, what I am saying is responding to this command from our Lord will move you closer to being more like Him and isn't that the ultimate prayer.

Lord, I want to join you in what you are doing to rescue those who are perishing, to feed those who are hungry and thirsty with your Bread of Life and Living Water. Forgive me when I don't listen and instead pursue my own agenda. Help me to hear and obey when you call on me. Empower me to be your hands and your feet in the place where I live. In Jesus' name. Amen