Answered Prayer

The other day I was feeling a little down, and I prayed that God would help me to better see how he loves me.

I’ve always been good at focusing on things in the Bible that talk about how much God hates sin, and I’m sure that’s how God looks at me. I believe the truth about his love, that he gave his son for me, but it’s often hard for me to be assured of it.

Sunday, after my prayer, the songs we sang in church touched me with God’s love, especially “What A Beautiful Name It Is.”

The song talked about how Jesus, who is one with God, shared the glory of God from the beginning. But he didn’t want Heaven without us, so Jesus came down to get us. That thought made me want to cry.

Also God put verses in Psalm 103, one of my favorites, in my mind.

Psalm 103:8-14: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

Another way God has answered my prayer is by filling my heart with reminders and the desire to love those near me. I know that thought didn’t come from myself.

And then I found a verse which struck me as the best answer to my prayer so far:

Psalms 94:18-19: I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Thank you, Lord, for answered prayer, and for the love in my heart for you.