We’ve heard of itchy ears, for instance, when someone is anxious to hear some tidbit of gossip or of someone’s setback giving reason to celebrate with schadenfreude.

The Prayer of the Day for this weekend asks the Lord to put his merciful ears into action.  This is far from having itchy ears.  We pray that the Lord’s merciful ears would “be attentive to the prayers of Your servants.”  This request is in response to the words of Psalm 50:15 in the Introit where God encourages us to “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”   The Lord has promised to be attentive to our prayers before we even pray.  Nevertheless, knowing that our prayers are ever inadequate, we ask that “by Your Word and Spirit teach us how to pray.”  Our goal is that, “our petitions may be pleasing before You.”  Now realize that our petitions, inadequate though they may be, will always be heard with merciful ears. Of course, when we pray to God, “through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,” we surely want to do our best for we are praying to the One, “who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.”  That’s right, one God now and one God forever, ever attentive.

Maybe God does have itchy ears after all, hoping that in the day of trouble we turn to Him. Then having received his merciful deliverance we glorify and praise him in thanksgiving.  Yes,  God is itching to hear from us.