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The answer comes even when the prayer is but a thought, is only a sigh; for God is the Infinite Thought-reader.

"Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The failing of a tear;
The upward glancing of an eye.
When none but God is near." One of the wonderful revelations of the day that is coming will be God's showing us the many answers he sent to prayers of ours that never took shape in human words, that were no more than the outlook and uplook of our souls. The point impressed by the prophet here is that, by reason of man's sinfulness, delays in answering his prayers are often necessary, delay doing a very essential disciplinary and corrective work. But if a man were holy - in fall harmony with God's will - there would never be any question about his prayers, never any need for delay in answering them. God could respond at once. "In man's experience of men, often, as things are now, in his relations with God, there is an interval between prayer and answer. In the new Jerusalem the two would he simultaneous, or the answer would anticipate the prayer." God's present method in relation to prayer may be illustrated from Daniel 9:23; Luke 18:1-7; 2 Corinthians 12:8.

I. WHAT IS IT IN US THAT MAKES ANSWER TO PRAYER SLOW AND EVEN UNCERTAIN. It is certain that God is more willing to hear than we are to pray. He has made large and firm promises of answer if we pray; and yet sometimes his answer is a refusal, and at other times it is a delay, and at yet other times the gift of something which we did not desire. The explanation is in us; we either ask for wrong things, or else we ask in. a wrong spirit. We need rebuff, or we need correction. Art unanswered prayer should always set us upon "examining ourselves."

II. WHAT IS IT IN US THAT MAKES ANSWER TO PRAYER. COME SWIFTLY? The conformity of our desires with God's will, and the offering of ourselves in the spirit of submission, dependence, and trustful love, which becomes obedient children.

"Lord, teach us how to pray aright." ? R.T.

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Parallel Verses

KJV: And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

WEB: It shall happen that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.