Something that drives me crazy…about myself…is my stunted prayer life.
Here’s the thing: I know the power of prayer, and I acutely desire to be in a deep relationship with my Creator and Savior – the problem is, I rarely spend much time in prayer. It irritates me that my prayer life is so shallow, so I have spent a lot of time lately pondering my prayer life (part of this pondering time I have actually spent praying, which has been good).
I started thinking about my relationships (particularly with my wife) and I realized that I am not much of a talker/communicator in my relationship with Amy. I started thinking of my interactions with my friends, we watch tv, laugh at funny movies but do I spend much time intentionally communicating in the relationships I value so highly? The answer hit me in the face…NO!
So, I have identified a growth area for my life. I am not content to simply say: “That’s just how I am, I don’t talk/communicate much.” Therefore, I am beginning a new way of life – where I communicate more. Last night, Amy and I ate at the dinner table (unusual in our house) and had conversation. I spent my last waking thoughts in prayer. I won’t lie, it isn’t always easy for me, but I know it is good. So please help hold me accountable to my communication in relationships.
In all of my prayer ponderings, a funny thing occurred to me. The majority of my prayer life is made up of me talking to God – asking for things, thanking Him for things, giving praise for things, etc. all of which are good. But, I started thinking about the idea of listening as prayer. This might seem crazy, weird or just different – but the thing is, to effectively communicate in relationships, it requires listening as much (if not more than) talking. I have had to (and continue to) learn this the hard way – just ask Amy. If listening is important in communicating in relationships, then wouldn’t it be of huge importance to listen in prayer? The problem lies in this: when I listen, usually there is an audible voice speaking back to me, and I have honestly never audibly heard the voice of God. Today’s question is: how can we listen to God (I have some ideas, but I want to brainstorm on this for a while).
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Rena Moll; A Life Well Lived
6 years ago
4 comments:
I'm with you, I don't pray often enough. I wish I prayed more. I need to pray more.
As far as listening to God, I might have some advice . . . What I have done to listen to God is to spend time in silence. It helps me to whisper something over and over to clear my mind (I use, "Abba Father"). After a while I'm done thinking (sometimes a long while, sometimes a short while). When I'm done thinking then I can hear God. Not that I hear God every time, not that it's audible. God, through the Holy Spirit, puts thoughts into my brain. Those thoughts are always there, but most of the time my thoughts get in the way by being so loud and noisey.
I've struggeled with how to tell the difference between my thoughts and the Holy Spirit. How do I know that I'm not just thinking something that I really want to think in an answer to prayer? Here are a few guidelines I've come up with: 1)God doesn't need to tell me to do something I already want to do. 2)God won't tell me something that contradicts scripture. 3)God won't be subtle or confusing when he speaks (he's not wishy-washy, but firm and direct). 4)God's voice is usually confirmed by other things happening.
Example:
"God, what should I do with my life?"
"Go to Harding in Memphis."
"I don't want to."
"Go to Harding."
. . .
Later - I didn't get any of the jobs that I was applying for. I got a good and then a better scholarship to go to Harding. Several people suggested (unsolicited) that I should go to grad school (or Harding specifically).
I know that's long, but there's no simple way to explain it.
TINS!!!!!!What are you doing...hi friend...
Communication and growing relationships is a two-fold (maybe more) process.
First one must listen and listen attentively. For we might as well not listen at all if we can not focus and devote our thought toward and with them. They choose to use their own words. Each one is as important as another, yet sometimes we tend to ignore some and just listen and nod our heads in ignorant bliss.
Second we are obligated to respond. Notice I didn't say strike up a new conversation, change topics, or talk about the new breed of periwinkles. We should process what was said and respond to what was said adding in our comments/examples/suggestions or whatever the case may be.
Also in the arena of God, we must read our Bibles. Divulge in the Holy Word of our Lord. He has wonderful tips and hints interwoven throughout Scripture. Some, we might not enjoy what He wants of us. If we are immersed in the Scripture then we will have a greater channel in life's river open to God (hopefully striving to be the river) rather than a small trickling brook over some pebbles of foundational doctrine.
I pray that God may help me out with listening to others and reading God's Word everyday.
Thank you Justin for bringing this to FMT. Justin, you said that if someone was in need of comfort it is not necessarily what you say that they will remember, but the fact that you came and took the time out of your day to listen and care for them.
-specialk
I've been thinking about this since I was challenged by Lynn Anderson to pray the Pslams. I love praying the Psalms. It's given me a prayer language and "prayer emotion" I've never had or experienced.
I wonder what Jesus did when he often spent all night in prayer? Did he talk to God all night or is it that he was quiet and aware of his father's presence?
I've started this: I begin a prayer, and then I'm quiet. I think to myself phrases from the Psalms, and let my mind go where it will with those verses on my mind.
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