Prayer Listening
I asked one of my daughters some time ago what God had been teaching her about prayer. At the time she was a busy young mother of a 9 month old, in the middle of transitioning from another country back to the US, her husband starting a new job after a 6 month search, and downsizing to an apartment in a new neighborhood after several failed attempts to secure housing. She said,
“I don’t listen to God enough. He has been teaching me that listening is an important part of prayer. And yet time and time again I find myself approaching Him with my lists, blabbering on and on. He is such a good listener! How I desire to learn from Him, but what am I learning if I’m doing all the talking?
I often wonder why I don’t take the time to listen to Him more. Is it that I don’t make the time? Am I afraid of what He’ll say? Am I just being proud, wanting to fix things on my own? For me I think it’s just a whole bunch of excuses, including all the above. And yet my spirit within me, even now, is screaming at me to find a quiet place and tune in to what God wants to speak into my soul, circumstances and life.”
Proverbs 1:5 says this: “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance”.
Wow, now that is exciting! Here is another good verse on listening,
John 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
How can I follow Him if I’m not listening to His voice?
James 1:19 says: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak…”.
What does God want to say to me right now? What does he want to say to you? Let’s follow Samuel’s example in 1 Samuel 3:4-10 and pause long enough to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”