What a powerful truth it is to realize that God’s ears are open to our prayers—not just occasionally, not just for the “super saints,” but for every believer who dares to stand in the confidence of His Word. As we step into the spring season—a time of fresh beginnings and new life—I’m stirred to remind you: your Father is not holding out on you.

So many believers live beneath their inheritance—not because God hasn’t given, but because they haven’t known how to receive. The Apostle John gives us a foundational key in I John 5:14-15, “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know He hears us… we know that we have the petitions we’ve desired of Him.” 

This is the prayer of faith—the kind of prayer that gets results. It’s not rooted in begging or hoping, but in knowing. Knowing God’s will. Knowing your relationship with Him. Knowing that His Word is the final authority. Jesus Himself told us in John 15:7, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.”

That kind of assurance doesn’t come from guesswork. It comes from being rooted in the Word—from letting God’s thoughts become your thoughts. When His Word abides in you, you’re no longer tossing up vague “if it be thy will” prayers—you’re praying with the confidence of a child who knows their place in the family.

I’ll never forget a moment early in our ministry that solidified this truth in my heart—the confidence that God hears me and answers my prayers.

We had invited Dr. Lester Sumrall, a general of the faith and one of my spiritual heroes, to speak at our church for the very first time. At the time, our congregation was still small, and the finances reflected it. We were believing God to grow—not just in numbers, but in faith, strength, and impact. So when the opportunity came to host a man of Dr. Sumrall’s stature, I knew it was more than an event. It was a divine assignment.

There was just one problem: we didn’t have the financial reserves to bless him the way I knew we needed to. I didn’t want to invite a man like that and just hand him a token of appreciation. I wanted to honor him extravagantly—because in honoring him, I believed we were honoring the Lord.

So I went to the sanctuary—empty and quiet during the day—and I began to walk and pray. I poured my heart out to God. “Lord, I want to bless this man. I want him to feel like a king when he leaves our church. I want to roll out the red carpet, because I believe he’s carrying something for our people.” 

I said these things over and over and over again. Then the Lord interrupted me with a question—one of those questions that stops you in your tracks.

“Do you believe I hear you?”

It was so clear, it may as well have been audible. I stopped and said aloud, “Well, yes—of course I believe You hear me. You’re speaking to me now!” And immediately, the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance 1 John 5:15, “And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”

Right then, I got it. I had asked. I knew He heard me. That meant I had the answer. It was done. I didn’t need to carry the burden anymore—I could release it into His hands.

And friend, do you know what happened?

When the offering was counted that night, we were all stunned. The check for Dr. Sumrall totaled $15,000! In the late 1980s, that was unheard of for us. In fact, it was more than we’d ever given to a guest speaker, by a long shot. I brought the check to him personally, and when he opened it, he looked at me and said, “Ooh—that’s too much!” I said, “No, sir. That’s just right.”

That moment branded something in my spirit. When we pray according to His Word, HE HEARS US, and that should solidify all the confidence we need that it is done! 

When you believe God hears you, you don’t keep begging or second-guessing—you move forward with the joy and peace of someone who’s received the delivery confirmation from heaven.

It’s like placing a guaranteed order. You’re not standing by the door wringing your hands—you’re preparing your life to receive. You’re clearing space in your heart, your home, your finances, your body—whatever area you’ve prayed over—because you know what’s coming. And make no mistake: He is faithful who promised.

Friend, this is how we walk in victory. This is how we live in the reality of the kingdom of God. It’s how we move mountains—not by religious repetition or vague hopefulness, but by faith that knows we have been heard.

Let’s continue to grow in this together. The Father delights in giving. His ears are open. His hands are full. And His desire is to see your joy full.Phyllis and I are praying for you, believing with you, and standing beside you as you ask and receive—again and again. And just like that $15,000 offering all those years ago, we believe God is still doing exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think.