We often wonder if God can hear us. But the Bible assures us that His ears are always open to our cries. He listens to the music of our hurt. I have often knelt in prayer to God to restore my flame. In these lonely moments I wonder if He hears me. If you have ever lost your flame, you will understand my petition, as I expel my depravity towards God. I have been through desperate supplications, to the point of tiredness, trying to reach His ears. Yet He has promised;
Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: Isaiah 59:1
Yes it’s true, that His ears are not heavy to hear us. I have poured my pain in annoyance to His ears, yet I know He is never annoyed by my prayers. I have also gone into the belly of the big fish, and had to pray my way out. Imagine my prayer, from a place of great unrest, and consider how I had to pray! Each time I read the story of Jonah, I am amazed of his prayer in the belly of the big fish. Jonah poured the trumpets of His prayers fully assured that God heard him.
Will God ever reject our most sincere lamentations?
We we wonder if God can hear us, we must be fully convinced that God will never reject our prayers. This, thought, is dependent on the place from which we pray. Do we pray from a place of faith, or sin? Are we using God’s recipe to pray? We must ensure that we are praying rightly in order to ensure God answers us. This prayer is one that is done in faith.
5. The waters engulfed me to take my life; the watery depths closed around me; the seaweed wrapped around my head. 6. To the roots of the mountains I descended; the earth beneath me barred me in forever! But You raised my life from the pit, O LORD my God!
There was a time when I was constantly discouraged, wondering if God could hear me. I prayed day and night, asking, “God, can You hear me?” Despite my efforts, He felt distant. I spewed my prayers, like Jonah from the belly of the great fish, desperately trying to reach Him. But even when I searched the Bible and prayed fervently, it seemed as though He was nowhere to be found. Yet, in my heart, I held on to the truth that God can hear us, even when He feels far away.
God can help us. God is a Father. We need God's good things to help us to "do justly , to love mercy and to walk humbly before God."
Some time back, I remember writing this prayer unto God to restore my flame. It was at a very weak point where I couldn’t find the drive to continue. I remember the redeeming grace of God lifting me out of that particular despair.
My Prayer to God to Restore My Flame
Oh God, Ignite that flame that once burned in me, that flame that ignited my soul; and sparked my emotions with peace; that jubilant flame that adds value to my pain; Oh Lord; Revive that fire that once brought redemption to my soul; the embers that made me whole, send back the flame, that brought a combustion as thunders roll, Oh that flame, that flame of old!
My Lord, You have dominion over all, hear my as I bawl, as I bawl for the ignition, that once gave me vision, that Word I use to live on; As I roar the thunder of my breath, and as I sweat, Oh Lord, Hear my deep and desperate prayer.
I beckon you, A Man of Might, Almighty God on High; see the pellets in my eyes, My heart is stained with the tears I have cried, As I wrestle in prayer, shall I be denied?
Oh Great Jehovah High, I get weary when I cry, hear the rounds that pass You by; My God, my God, oh hear me cry! See the efforts that I have tried.
See my stride, as I pressed to the mark; Please don’t hide, You’re my bride from the start; Impart You Power Oh Most High, restore my flame, Hear me Great Jehovah High, as I pronounce your name. Oh that fire that once burned in my soul, Oh bring back the spark that once made me whole!
Prayer written by : Orlando Rowe.
More Resources on Prayer
One thing I’ve learned, and that God has taught me over the years, is that the flame I search for is also searching for me. What I’m longing and praying for is already within me, waiting to be found.
My flame is the Word of God. His Word is like fire shut up in my bones, and it kindles my flame. As the Psalmist said, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
There was a time when I kept losing things, only to find they were right in front of me. During that period, I wondered, “What is God trying to teach me?”
One day, in excitement, someone said, “I know what God is trying to teach us now. He is saying that He is right in front of us. We just have to see Him—He’s right there, keep searching!” It was then I realized that the One I was searching for had been searching for me all along.
As I reflect and write, I see clearly—the flame I’ve been seeking is always within me.
