This request is the culmination of all our previous requests. It ends, “Blessed are You, YHVH, Who hears prayers”—not “who answers prayers.” To know that God hears our prayers and cares about us is redemption itself. We only ask that God not send us away empty-handed, that He assure us that indeed He is our compassionate King and ever-present. Our only real request is, “God, I just want to feel close to You. I know that You are listening, and I know that You’ll answer. I don’t know if I’ll get the answer I ask for, but that doesn’t matter because all I want is to feel You in my life.” Rather than starting with, “Listen to our words,” we assert, “Listen to our voice.” In other words, “Regardless of what we say, listen to us. Just our voice should be enough to get Your attention.” This is indeed a bold statement. It is difficult to imagine that our little voice holds any significance to God, and yet it does—because God loves us. Listen to our voice, YHVH Eloheinu, have pity and compassion upon us, and receive as our gift to You compassionately and willingly our prayers. Our gift to You, God, is our earnest will to receive Your gifts. Because the more receptive we are to Your blessings, the more You can give them to us. So please listen and accept our prayers because You are a Divine Power who hears prayers and supplications. We ask that You hear our prayers for Your sake—not ours—because when Your love for us is manifest, Your purpose for creation is fulfilled. And don’t send us away empty-handed from You, our King. Even a small indication that You are with us is enough, because all along we really have but one desire—to feel Your presence. Our King, answer our meager request for Your sake, because You listen to the prayers of Your nation Israel with compassion. Otherwise, it will appear as if You don’t care about Your own kingdom. Blessed are You … O how bountiful and abundantly present You are in our lives. O what an ever-flowing wellspring of blessings You are to us, YHVH, Timeless Ultimate Reality, who hears prayers right now. The only answer we really need to all our prayers is to know and feel that You listen and care. The more we believe and acknowledge that God is always hearing us and caring for us, and the more we sincerely want to feel His loving presence in our lives, the more this truth becomes manifest daily.