The Ready Ear

It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Because Christ Jesus is risen from the dead, all answer to prayer is made, even for those things you fail to ask or think. The heart of your Creator has always been such that He would go ahead of you, making all things new before you even knew your need.

When Jesus taught among his earthly disciples as we read in the Holy Gospels, He taught them in particular what to ask as He taught them the Our Father. Every petition of this prayer, which addresses our every need in this life, has been answered before you ask, because you are intimately joined to Him Who asks on your behalf before the Father.

It is the deepest desire of your Creator to reveal Himself to you as merciful and kind; your only Hope; your utmost Good; your Savior. He does this as His Word sounds out into your ears, pure and unadulterated in itself, but subject to questioning only because your old Adam is not about to give up.

And yet, before you could even ask your old Adam to give up and go away, your Father in Heaven drowned him in the One Holy Baptism sanctified by the Word of Christ. Before He baptized and taught you in the Faith, He saw to it that the work of Christ Jesus would be complete on your behalf, being crucified, arisen, and ascended so that He might be present in His Baptism for you in every need according to His glorified flesh.

Your prayer is heard while you are still speaking, because it is Your Creator and Redeemer who taught you to pray, having gone before you to win the prize of salvation before you entered the world to live out your days under the sun.

Consider how it is that Your Father in heaven has already answered your prayer:

He has made known to you His Name in truth and purity.
He has brought His kingdom to you in Holy Baptism.
He works His will in and through you despite your weakness and sin.
He provides you richly with daily bread.
He forgives all your trespasses and sets your heart at peace.
He leads you in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.
He has already placed you in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, thus delivering you from the evil one.

All this is accomplished for you because Christ Jesus is risen from the dead, and live and rules ot all eternity for the sake of His dear children, among whom you are counted.
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