All at Once

Bible Reading: Psalms 34:15-17; 145:17-19

“Why are you watching the football game?” Arcelia asked her brother. “You said you wanted to watch basketball.”

“Yeah, but I’m recording the basketball game so I can watch it later,” replied Ben as he munched some popcorn. Just then a commercial came on, and Ben muted the TV and took out his phone. A moment later he whooped. “Our high school team just scored!” he exclaimed. “They’re playing out of town tonight, but I can watch online.”

“That’s a lot of games to keep track of all at once,” said Arcelia. But Ben was staring intently at his phone and didn’t seem to hear her, so she shrugged and walked away.

Before long, it was Arcelia’s bedtime. “Don’t forget to say your prayers,” said Dad when she went to tell him goodnight.

“I won’t,” said Arcelia. But then she frowned. “I always pray before I go to sleep, but aren’t a lot of other kids praying at pretty much the same time? It seems like there would be way too many prayers to listen to all at once. Do you think God has a way to record them all so He can listen to them later?”

Dad laughed. “Sounds like you’ve been hanging out with Ben,” he said. “But don’t worry, God doesn’t have to record prayers and listen to them one at a time. He can hear everyone’s prayers all at the same time.”

“I know,” said Arcelia, “and I know He doesn’t switch back and forth between them or get distracted while listening to one person and someone else chimes in. It’s just hard to imagine that God can hear us all at once.”

“God isn’t like Ben or any of us,” said Dad. “God is God. We can’t understand how it’s possible, but He can hear all the prayers in the world, all at the same time. He hears everything we say and even knows everything we think, and He’s interested in everything that concerns us. We can never really understand how He does it, but we know He does because He said so, and He is God.”

“Well, good,” said Arcelia, giving her dad a hug. “Goodnight, Dad. I won’t forget to pray—and I’ll thank God that He hears me!” – Ruth McQuilkin

How About You?

Do you wonder how God can hear your prayers when so many other people are praying too? Do you wonder if He even wants to listen to what you have to pray about? He does! God cares about every detail of your life, and He hears all your prayers. Pause a moment and talk to Him right now about whatever is on your mind. He’s always listening.

Today’s Key Verse:
Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears.

Today’s Key Thought:

God hears your prayers