Listen!

Prayer has been one of the most easily ignored aspects of my spiritual life. Ever since I heard the concept of breath prayers, little prayers sent up to God throughout the day, I let those prayers take the place of a more formal prayer time. I told myself that I lived my life in an attitude of prayer, so I didn’t need an actual prayer time.  But honestly, those breath prayers were few and far between, and they usually came at times of need and stress. God, please help me! I need you! Prayer was my lifeline, not a conversation. Not a relationship.

So recently I’ve felt challenged to re-examine my prayer life and what I believe about the nature of prayer. That’s a big topic for a blog post, so for right now I just want to focus on an idea that I got from Too Busy Not to Pray, by Bill Hybels, and this is it:

Listen to God. Literally, listen. With your ears.

For me, talking to God is exceptionally easy. Give me an hour to walk in a quiet, out of the way place and I’ll gladly pour out my heart to him. I’ll work my way through adorations and confessions and thanksgivings and supplications, and throw in anything else I might have on my mind, too. Then comes the amen, and I move on with my life. But is that really a complete prayer? Shouldn’t God be given a chance to speak, too?

Yes, God speaks to his people in many ways, and it’s rarely through an audible voice. He speaks through the Bible, through other Christians, through situations that we go through in our lives. And he also speaks through the Holy Spirit. What better time for the Spirit to speak than during a time of prayer? I think he would, if I would let him get a word in edgewise!

So I’m trying something new. After I read the Bible and I pray to God, telling him all about my needs and blessings and challenges, I stop to listen. I try to clear my mind of any thoughts or sounds or distractions. I listen to the sound of the silence, and I pray, Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. (I Samuel 3:9)

And I wait.

No, I haven’t heard a voice. I’m not sure that I’ve heard anything at all. But I’m giving God those few moments of silence as an open door into my mind, to say whatever he wants to say. It’s a physical act of listening, and I think that’s important. It reminds me that I’m communicating with a real, living being who is completely able to speak back to me. In listening, I expect him to speak.

Moreover, the God who created the whole universe actually, in real time, listens to the words I say to him. That fact alone should bring me to my knees in humility every time I pray! When I set aside time in prayer to be still and listen for God's voice, I take on an attitude of humility. I acknowledge his lordship over me. I am ready to receive any command or rebuke or encouragement that he has for me.

The bottom line is, there are two speakers in a prayer, and one is much more important than the other. I'll give you a hint: it's not me.