A FRIEND shared the fact that in her deep trouble she had prayed to God for help. He answered her requests. Then she wondered aloud, "Why am I always so surprised when the Lord answers my prayers?"

David made it a daily practice to lay his requests before the Lord. In fact, every morning he approached God with his prayer list. And then he waited in expectation for God to answer. He seems to have had full confidence that the Lord would answer his prayers.

Do we, like David, pray regularly-or only in emergencies? Do we, like David, expect God to hear us when we pray? God is waiting to hear from us and is willing to grant our requests: "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24). "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7). "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you" (John 15:7).

The essence of a trusting relationship with God is to pray - and then wait expectantly.