This morning as I continue my study of the word “righteous” I found myself thinking as a parent and again remembering that the LORD is my Father and parent. I am speaking of how a parent seeks out the voice of their children. I remember many times being out in the world with the boys and where they were not next to me, I always new where they were. I may have been far from them physically, but I was always close enough to hear their voice. I don’t know if I had super hearing or not, but I was always able to distinguish their voice in their time of need. The LORD is the same with each of His righteous.

“²⁹The LORDis far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”

— Proverbs 15:29 (ESV)

“¹⁸The LORD is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

¹⁹He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;

he also hears their cry and saves them.”

— Psalm 145:18-19 (ESV)

The LORD is always near enough to His righteous that when they cry out or simply call on Him, He hears and will direct His attention to them. Regardless of the need or the reason for the cry, the LORD will be there for His righteous at a moments notice. He will celebrate, comfort, and/or cry with them, whatever the situation calls. The LORD listens to hear His righteous.

Again, I come to the question as to whether or not I am or we know that we are righteous as how do we know that the LORD is listening for us. Well, we know that He listens for us thanks to our acceptance of His gift of salvation. He offered, we accepted, and we are immediately adopted into the family of God as His child. Now, whether or not we are righteous, we do not know as that should not be the focus of our lives to somehow gain righteousness. My focus should be following the will of God and spreading the Good News to give others the same opportunity for salvation that I was afforded. I have to do the work and know that the LORD will grant me based on my heart.

I am tasked with doing the work of the LORD. I cannot concern myself with reaching some sort of pinnacle of acceptance that I do not control. The LORD will hear me when my heart is with Him and He dwells there in me. He hears me when I cry out. He listens for me to come to me in my time of need. The LORD is mine and I am His.

What is your thought on crying out to the LORD? Are you doing so with the hope that He might be listening? What if you took the approach that you are His child and know that He is listening for your voice and is available when you need Him?