He hears (John 11:41)

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.” – John 11:41

So they took away the stone.

First, the men risked ritual defilement and went against rabbinic tradition by removing that stone. But they were obedient.

What’s not recorded is what was going through their heads at the time or even what they might have whispered to each other. No matter. What matters is that they were obedient in the end.

God values my obedience, even if it takes me some mental anguish to eventually get there.

Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.”

Jesus begins His prayer with a phrase that we might think belongs at the end of His prayer. In fact, in would make the most sense if He had said this after Lazarus got up. But instead this is His leading statement, before the miracle occurs, before He even asks for the miracle.

Curious. Mysterious.

The crazy thing is, any Christian can truthfully say this prayer: Father, I thank You that You have heard me.

God hears our every prayer. It’s really a foundation principle of prayer. The Father hears. And He cares.

Otherwise, what’s the point of even starting? Because we know He hears and He cares, we can pray with confidence.

Father, thank You that You always hear me. And You always love me and care for me. You want what’s best for me even more than I do. Thank You that I can pray and step out obediently in confidence.