Prayer Week 20: The Art of Listening

In our culture, we talk a lot. There is so much information coming at us, and we are so adept at expressing our opinions, we often forget that there is more than that. Prayer often becomes a one way telecom where we speak freely to God and then hang up the phone. We don’t usually give Him a chance to get a word in edge wise. Even when we study the Bible, it becomes information only and we don’t allow the time and peace to really let it speak to us and soak into our hearts.

 

1 Samuel 3:10 New American Standard Bible 1995

Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

Proverbs 13:1 New American Standard Bible 1995

A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Matthew 7:24-27 New American Standard Bible 1995

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.

 

To listen means more than just to hear with our ears. It means to give heed to, pay attention to, to listen so as to obey. It is an act of submission and respect, and comes from a teachable spirit. We only “give ear” to those whom we already respect and deem as wise and worth following. God needs to have that topmost rank in our hearts. His Word should have the highest authority in our hearts and lives.

 

However, in order for God’s word to reach us we have to listen. We have to be still and quiet enough to hear His voice. He is not in the thunder or the great wind, but in the gentle whisper. Only those who really want to hear, and focus intently on listening, will catch what He says.

 

Listening to God’s voice is the most important skill in prayer. What we say is not nearly as important as what God says to us, so when we pray, while it is good to talk to God, it is more important that we listen. This week during your prayer time, cultivate a heart that listens. Listen for Him in His Word, in your quiet time, in life’s circumstances, and what others say. Write down what you believe He is saying to you.

 

 

 

I apologize for this coming out late, I am having computer problems. I will be fairly quiet on here until I get them worked out.

 Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.