God Hears and Answers Prayer

Keys for Kids Daily Devotional for November 11, 2007
TITLE: Bird Lessons
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 145:17-19; Jeremiah 29:11-13
THE STORY FOR TODAY:
"What was that?" asked Tim when something banged against a window.
"I don't know," said Dad. "Maybe a bird."
Tim ran outside to investigate. Among the flowers underneath the window, he found a robin flapping its wings frantically. Tim reached down, and very cautiously anchoring the bird's wings close to its body, he picked it up. "Dad! Come help!" he called.
Dad went out. He ran his fingers over the bird's bone structure and spread its wings. "Nothing broken," he said. "I think it got the wind knocked out of it. Why don't you lay it under the lilac bush over there?"
Tim did so, and sensing its freedom, the bird tried to get up. "It can't fly," Tim cried fearfully as the robin fell to its side.
"It's exhausted. It will probably take off after it rests a bit," Dad assured him. "Let's leave it alone so it won't be so frightened."
Tim nodded. He rode down the sidewalk on his bike, but every now and then he went back to check on the robin.
Some time later, a chorus of chirps exploded from somewhere in the hawthorn tree. Tim peered up through the leaves and saw a nest. He glanced back at his patient. Her head was raised attentively. After a moment, she struggled to her feet, ran a short distance, and flapped her wings. She rose from the ground and landed on the branch beside the nest. Tim ran to tell Dad about it.
"Good!" exclaimed Dad. "She knew the sound of her babies and flew to them."
"Cool," said Tim happily. "They called and she answered-just like my Bible verse last week said."
"What exactly did it say?" asked Dad curiously.
Tim quoted it. "Jeremiah 33:3. 'Call to Me, and I will answer you.'" He grinned at Dad. "The robin heard and answered her babies, and God hears and answers us, right?"
"Right," agreed Dad with a smile. "He doesn't always answer in exactly the way we wish He would, but He knows what's best for us. He's always there to listen when we call on Him."
MEMORY VERSE: (God says) Call to Me, and I will answer you. Jeremiah 33:3
HOW ABOUT YOU? Do you wonder if God really has time to listen to you? Be assured that He does. He invites you to call on Him. You can tell Him all about what's happening in your life. You can praise Him for all He has done for you. You can ask for His help in solving your problems. You can go to Him at anytime, talk to Him about anything, and know that He'll hear and answer in the way that's best for you.
THE KEY: God hears and answers prayer