The Power of Prayer

Last Sunday, my home teachers came over with their monthly message. August's message was President Henry B. Eyring's talk, That He May Write Upon Our Hearts. As always, we discussed the meaning of the talk and the subject of prayer.

I shared with them my concern for some of the people I know. It is happened on more than one occasion that I have been asked to pray for people. I gladly agree. But what I've sometimes heard them say after their request disturbs my heart. I've heard them say (in more or less these words) that they want me to pray for them because they know that He'll hear it then.

This bothers me because I know for a fact that Heavenly Father loves to communicate with His children. I worry that sometimes people reading about how 'God was slow to hear their prayers' in the scriptures think that there is a qualification limit on prayer. I hope they don't think that if they haven't been obedient he will ignore them. But I wonder.

I think Heavenly Father being slow to hear us is an opportunity for us to grow in our faith. It's a chance for us to wait on His will. It's actually a blessing for us. It's a transition time as we move ourselves closer to Him once again. We are able to reaccustom ourselves to being in contact with him and to prepare ourselves for the answer we will receive. It's a difficult blessing to deal with at certain times but it is for our benefit.

I hope that I will better help my loved ones understand that they can ALWAYS pray. That He is ALWAYS there to hear them. And that He loves them and is waiting to hear from them.