The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry. Psalms 34:15 (NIV)
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. Psalms 139:1-4 (NIV)
Do not think for one minute your petitions go unheard by our Lord. Indeed, before it is on our tongues He knows it completely. Our God searches hearts, hears our cries for mercy and our praises of thanksgiving. He draws near to the humble, and His ears and heart are open to their prayers. Beggars who live solely upon the charity of another have no reason for pride – and what do we have that we did not receive? He that is proud in prayers thwarts the purposes of God and stops up his ears, so to speak. The prideful beggar should not think he will get anything from God’s door.
God delights for us to pray our hearts to Him as God respects our “heart-prayers” above anything. Also, there is no reason to go to God in any form of pretense or disguise. He Who knows our thoughts and hearts will never be tricked. Be open. Be vulnerable. Be real. Do not hold back – He can take it. Tears in prayer are precious in His sight as well. He know we are but flesh and our sighs and weeping move both His heart and hands. He can change our circumstances or He can change us in our circumstances – either way we are the great beneficiary. Be fervent in prayer as fervency is like the wings of a bird that mounts up to heaven. Pray without ceasing. Be a walking pray-er.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:5-8 (NIV)