How do we know that God hears the prayers of the humble?

God's Word makes it clear that He is near to those who are broken and contrite. Psalm 51:17 states, 'The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.' This underscores the character of God as one who favors the humble heart over the proud, exemplified in the parable from Luke 18 where the publican, acknowledging his sinfulness, was justified before God. The contrast between the self-righteous Pharisee and the humble publican illustrates how God responds to our openness in recognizing our need for mercy.