How can I know that God hears my prayers?
Prayer is talking to God and building a relationship with Him. As you talk to Him, you praise and thank Him, make requests, confess sins, express pain and frustrations, and simply share what is happening in your life. Good conversation also includes listening, so make time for God to speak to you. When you listen to God, He can make His wisdom and resources available to you. Prayer can also soften your heart and help you to avoid the debilitating effects of anger, resentment, and bitterness..
Sometimes it seems that our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. Is God paying attention? The bigger question is, are you paying attention to God's answers? God does answer prayer, and He wants to do so because He is loving and good. His answer maybe (a)yes, (b)no,(c) or wait, not now. Doesn't your loving parent give all three responses to a child? Answering "yes" to every request would spoil you and be dangerous to your well-being. Answering "no" to every request would vindictive, stingy, and kill our spirit. Answering "wait" to every prayer would be frustrating. When you don't get the answer you want, your spiritual maturity will grow as you seek to understand why God's answer is in your best interest. It is His nature to give good things to His people. Sometimes, after work out, we fail to give God the credit. When we pray, be alert and watch for God's answer,and then don't forget to thank Him for it!
God often works more in your own heart through the act of prayer that He does in actually answering your prayer. Your prayers are often self-centered ,and God changes your heart to be more "other-centered". As you persist in asking, seeking, and knocking; you often gain greater understanding of yourself, your situation, your motivation, and God's nature and direction for your life.
