Because He Listens

Reading: Isaiah 4-5; Psalms 115-116; Jude 1 I love the Lord because he hears and answers my prayers. 2 Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath! (Psalm 116:1-2 NLT) I learned so much about the relationship between God and me from my dog Buddy! On a Friday morning in January 2003, Jean and I visited the local Humane Society, and I saw a black and brown dog in a cage. I’m pretty sure I loved this dog from the moment I saw him, and Jean and I immediately made arrangements to adopt him. When we chose to adopt him, we rescued him from an unknown fate. When we chose him, his life (and ours) was changed from that moment on. When we chose him, we chose to accept responsibility for him for as long as he lived. I chose Buddy because loved I him, and he was my dog because I chose him. He loved me (affectionately, trustingly, dependently) because I fed him, provided for him, and cared for him in ways he couldn’t even think or imagine in his little doggy brain. Buddy had no idea how much Jean and I actually did to care for him and provide for him. As long as there was food in the dish and water in the bowl and a ride in the car and a run in the desert, he was happy with his life! He was just happy to be my dog Buddy! God chose me because he loves me, and because he chose me, I’m his child. God chose me because of his mercy, compassion, kindness, and grace. Because he chose me, I’m his born-again, rescued, adopted child Jimmy. When he chose me, he accepted responsibility for me for as long as I live. My relationship with God is based on his sufficiency and my dependency. He cares for me and provides for me in ways I can only imagine in my little human brain. And I so quickly forget how much he does for me! There’s nothing like prayer to keep things in perspective. I have needs. I pray because I have needs. I love him because he hears me and responds to my prayers.

God chose me because he loves me. He listens because he cares. He answers because he is good. I’m just happy to be his rescued, adopted son Jimmy! Prayer: Father, 12 What can I offer you for all you have done for me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation; I will praise Your name for saving me. 14 I will keep my promises to You in the presence of all Your people. (Psalm 116:12-14 NLT)