Prayers Bring Solutions

“I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2 NKJV

As I was nearing the end of my long run Saturday, I smiled as I ran past a neighborhood church with a very timely marquee that read, “A SOLUTION COULD BE A PRAYER AWAY.”

“Oh Lord,” I thought as I smiled and stopped to take a picture of the sign to save as yet another reminder of God’s faithfulness, “You are so good. Thank You for being a God who not only answers prayers but inclines your ear to hear them. All those years ago when I cried out to You for a solution, you provided it Lord. And You are still providing it!” Fighting back tears, I continued on with my run as I thought about the day in 2020 that I first prayed for a "solution" to a problem that broke my heart. 

Through my job as the Wellness Coordinator of our county health department, I was teaching a running program in one of our local elementary schools and took note that many of the kids taking part in the afterschool program didn't have the proper shoes they needed. Some were too big, some too small, and some of their shoes were just worn out. "Oh Lord," I remember crying out. "Help me to find a way to provide athletic shoes for these children." And the Lord not only "inclined his ear to me," but through repeated prayers provided the solution to the problem. By His divine intervention, things began happening! Meetings were arranged and we soon partnered with the OneSolePurpose Project out of Springfield, MO to begin our own OneSolePurpose Pulaski County Project.

Through more prayer, the Lord continued to guide us and we (and I say we because it takes a team), put together the first annual Bad Dawg Ultra in 2020 to raise funds and have, since then, been able to provide shoes to every Title 1 school in our county! By God's grace, the 2025 BDU race (and several other races) garnered enough of a profit that the annual shoe giveaway took place on December 5-7 at the St. Robert Shoe Sensation. More than 300 students stopped by to trade in their Golden Tickets for an athletic shoe of their choice. The kids were smiling as were my husband and I when we dropped by the store later that afternoon. All of this because we have a Creator that hears and answers!

And you know, God doesn’t have to incline his ear to hear me or to hear you. After all, the Creator of the universe knows our thoughts even before we voice them and His hearing is perfect. But He does it for our sake. Is that amazing or what? Think about it. To incline one’s ear means to listen intently, willingly, and with humble, focused attention to the one speaking or crying out. It implies that someone is bending or tilting their head to hear every word, showing they prioritize what is being said. It's an active, deliberate act of making listening a priority, not just hearing passively. And this what the Lord does for us!

“The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!” Psalm 116:3-4

This was something the psalmist understood after being delivered from a near death experience. And while we don't know for certain that Psalm 116 was written by David, most commentators agree that it was and that it was written as a personal thanksgiving of praise to a God who not only listened to David but went to great lengths to make sure that he knew how much God cared for him. 

What shall I render to the Lord

For all His benefits toward me?

 I will take up the cup of salvation,

And call upon the name of the Lord.

 I will pay my vows to the Lord

Now in the presence of all His people. Psalm 116:12-14

This fact not only caused David to say, "I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live" but compelled him to pay his vows of thankfulness "for all His benefits.” And he would not wait to do it either or keep it private! Because God listened, the psalmist was compelled to praise God “now” and “in the presence of all His people.” What a great and fitting response to the goodness of God! Shouldn’t that be the response of all of us though? Especially when we consider that when we pray, God provides solutions! Which means the solution to your problem could actually be only a prayer away!

So, knowing we serve a God who inclines His ear to hear us, let our response be to praise him now and at all times, in all places and to all people my friend. Let us be known as a people who pray for solutions knowing God can provide them. After all, if He did it for me, He can do it for you. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that prayer is powerful! Lord, it's when we forget that, that we are apt to fall into despair and doubt. Help us to understand that You are still the God who inclines His ear to hear us and that You love us so much that You provided the ultimate Solution to our biggest problem. We were destined to die because of our sin, but You sent Jesus to take the punishment we deserved. Thank You Lord! In light of that, stir our hearts to sing Your praises at all times and in all places and to look to You for solutions to every problem we will ever encounter. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!