Before they call I will answer

ALL true prayer begins with God. He convinces us of the need of blessings, awakens a desire in our souls to enjoy them, and then stirs us up to seek them. Before the Lord bestows his favours upon us, he generally disposes us to seek them at his hands. He is ever ready to bless us, and is more ready to hear than we are to pray: therefore he says, "Before they call I will answer." Prayer shall be anticipated; and the answer shall be on the road sometimes before the petition ascends from our hearts. How great must be the Lord's love to his people ! How much he must delight in our prayers! Greater encouragement he could not give us, and less he would not. Let us therefore make our requests known unto him. Let us this day open our whole hearts to him, and seek from him those things that we need. Let us not doubt his readiness to hear us for one moment; for if before we call he promises to answer, surely when we call he will hear and bless us. He is the prayer-hearing God, and he is always " nigh unto all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; he also will hear their cry and will save them."
  
Wrestling prayer can wonders do,
    Bring relief in deepest straits;
Prayer can force a passage through

    Iron bars and brazen gates.