### 117. Q. How does God want us to pray so that he will listen to us?

**A**. First, we must pray from the heart to no other than the one true God, who has revealed himself to us in his Word, asking for everything he has commanded us to ask of him.<sup>1</sup> Second, we must fully recognize our need and misery, so that we humble ourselves in God’s majestic presence.<sup>2</sup> Third, we must rest on this unshakable foundation: even though we do not deserve it, God will surely listen to our prayer because of Christ our Lord, as he has promised us in his Word.<sup>3</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Ps. 145:18-20](/get-passage/Psalms+145:18-20); [John 4:22-24](/get-passage/John+4:22-24); [Rom. 8:26-27](/get-passage/Romans+8:26-27); [James 1:5](/get-passage/James+1:5); [1 John 5:14-15](/get-passage/1+John+5:14-15)
<sup>2</sup> [2 Chron. 7:14](/get-passage/2+Chronicles+7:14); [Ps. 2:11](/get-passage/Psalms+2:11); [34:18](/get-passage/Psalms+34:18); [62:8](/get-passage/Psalms+62:8); [Isa. 66:2](/get-passage/Isaiah+66:2); [Rev. 4](/get-passage/Revelation+4)
<sup>3</sup> [Dan. 9:17-19](/get-passage/Daniel+9:17-19); [Matt. 7:8](/get-passage/Matthew+7:8); [John 14:13-14](/get-passage/John+14:13-14); [16:23](/get-passage/John+16:23); [Rom. 10:13](/get-passage/Romans+10:13); [James 1:6](/get-passage/James+1:6)