5th Kernel of Corn - God Hears Our Prayers and Answers Them

A father and mother were getting their child ready for bed. Just after brushing her teeth, they all got down on their knees and began to pray. Their young daughter began to say the pray her parents taught her. "Now I lay me down to sleep..."

As she was finishing it, she got into bed. Before her parents could turn out the light, she asked a question, "Does God really listen to my prayers?"

Her parent immediately responded, "Yes, God does listen to and answers prayers."

The little girl asked one more difficult question, "How do you know that He listens to and answers prayers?"

That is when the parents said that she had a long day and needed her rest and turned the lights out.

The last question is sometimes the most difficult question to answer. How do we really know that God listens to our prayers and answers them? This question brings us to the 5th and final kernel of corn. It reminds us that God listens to and answers our prayers.

The story of the Pilgrims provides us with the answers to the question of how do we know. While facing tragedies and hardship, the Pilgrims turned to their faith to get them through the problems that they faced. When we turn to our faith, we turn to God and we pray to Him for help, guidance and His mercy. However, we need to understand how we are to pray in order for Him to listen.

David, in Psalm 66, tells us that if we do not confess our sins, the Lord would not have listened to his prayer. (Psalm 66:18) When we approach God's throne in prayer, we must be free from sin. Part of our prayer is admitting our shortcomings and sins and asking Him for forgiveness. Once we have openly admitted our sins and sincerely asked for forgiveness, God will listen to our prayers.

God not only listens to our prayers, but He also pays attention to them. (Psalm 66:19) As our Heavenly Father listens to our prayers, He will answer them. In Mark 11, Jesus tells us that if we ask the Father for anything and believe that you will receive it, He will answer our prayers. (Mark 11:24) Jesus also goes on to say in verse 25 that we need to forgive those who have wronged us before we pray. We need to forgive those just as our Father will forgive our sins.

So, as we all enjoy our Thanksgiving meal, let us remember the 5th kernel of corn that reminds us that God listens to our prayers and that He answers. We should be truly thankful for a having a relationship with a Heavenly Father who listens to us and works miracles in our lives daily.

Psalm 66:17-20 (NLT)

17 For I cried out to him for help,

    praising him as I spoke.

18 If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,

    the Lord would not have listened.

19 But God did listen!

    He paid attention to my prayer.

20 Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer

    or withdraw his unfailing love from me.