“I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.” – Psalm 116:1–2 (ESV)
💓 Love That Listens
“I love the LORD…” It’s a strong opening, but the reason that follows is even more touching: “…because He has heard my voice.”
Love grows in relationship. It flourishes when we are seen, known, and heard. The psalmist doesn’t declare love based on theology alone—he loves God because God listens.
This is the voice of someone who has cried out in desperation and found not silence—but response. Not distance—but divine attention. God didn’t just hear a general prayer from the masses. He heard me.
👂 The Leaning God
“He inclined His ear to me.” Picture this: God leaning down, bending close—not because He has to, but because He wants to. The King of the universe stoops to listen to the whisper of one heart.
We don’t have to raise our voices to reach God. We don’t have to shout over a crowd. His nearness means He hears even the faintest whisper.
This is who He is:
- 🪶 Gentle enough to hear a trembling voice
- 🌊 Big enough to calm storms with a word
- 🎯 Focused enough to not miss a single cry of faith
The psalmist knows: If God has listened once, He’ll listen again. So he says, “I will call on Him as long as I live.” Once you know God listens, prayer becomes not a task—but a lifeline.
📖 The Pattern of God’s Listening
This personal testimony in Psalm 116 is echoed throughout Scripture. Consider these:
- 📖 Moses at the Red Sea cried out—and God told him to stretch his staff (Exodus 14:15–16).
- 📖 Elijah on Mount Carmel cried out—and God answered by fire (1 Kings 18:37–38).
- 📖 Hannah poured out her soul—and God gave her a son (1 Samuel 1:10–20).
- 📖 David declared, “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him…” (Psalm 34:6).
- 📖 Jesus, in Gethsemane, cried with “loud cries and tears,” and the Father heard Him (Hebrews 5:7).
Of all these people only Jesus was perfect and yet he cried. Some were desperate, weeping, unsure. But they called—and God listened. And He listens still.
🗣️ Prayer Is More Than Petition
God doesn’t just listen to requests—He listens to relationship. He listens when you vent your frustration. He listens when you cry in silence. He listens when you ask for wisdom or offer worship.
Even when your words are messy, even when your thoughts wander, even when you feel distant—God listens. The act of turning your voice to Heaven is sacred. And God leans in.
🧎 Prayer That Changes Everything
When we know that God hears us, prayer becomes more than a ritual—it becomes a refuge. A place to run. A safe space to speak. A continual conversation with a God who leans toward our voice.
The psalmist doesn’t say, “I prayed once and God answered.” He says, “Because He listened, I’ll keep calling on Him as long as I live.” Prayer becomes a lifestyle of trust, built on past faithfulness.
📣 What This Means for Us Today
1. You Are Not One of Many—You Are One to God
God doesn’t lose track of your voice among millions. He knows your tone. He hears your sighs. He loves your prayers. Your voice is recognized in Heaven.
2. The More You Know He Hears, the More You’ll Pray
Prayer is hard when we feel unheard. But faith grows when we remember: “He heard me before—He will again.” Let memory stir hope.
3. His Listening Changes Our Loving
The psalmist’s love for God grows because of what he experienced. If we want to love God more—remember how often He’s listened. Track the answered prayers. Rehearse His responses. Let gratitude birth affection.
🪞 Reflection and Application
- When has God clearly listened to me—and how did that change me?
- What keeps me from believing He’s listening now?
- How can I make prayer more relational and less ritual today?
🛐 Prayer
Lord, thank You for being the God who leans in. You don’t just hear my prayers—you listen with care. Forgive me when I treat prayer like a routine. Remind me how often You’ve answered, and let that deepen my love. Help me call on You for the rest of my life—because You always listen. In Jesus’ name, amen.
📌 Coming Up Next
Speak, Lord — 1 Samuel 3:10
God is still speaking—but are we listening? In the next post, we’ll follow a young boy named Samuel as he learns how to hear the voice of God—and respond with a heart ready to obey.