Pray that we will make the time to listen: listen to God and listen to each other

We noted earlier that prayer isn’t just about giving God our wish list, it isn’t just about asking for
things, no matter how important those things are to us (daily bread, for example). It’s also about
giving him thanks and praise, as we did last month. Mother Teresa said:

“Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and
listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.”

Prayer has been called a conversation with God, and that means we need to listen. Listening may
not come easily to most of us, it’s a skill we have to develop, and where prayer is concerned it
also involves finding time, quiet time, to open our minds to the Father and allow him to influence
us through his spirit. It’s not about listening for an answer to a specific prayer — although that
may come — it’s about just being with him, waiting attentively on him with open hearts and open
hands for whatever he provides.

Psalm 62 says:

“For God alone my soul waits in silence.”

Prayer that opens our heart to hear Him and to know Him is the kind of prayer that can’t be done ‘on the go’, fitted in between the many busy things that fill our days (although, thankfully, other kinds of prayer can indeed be offered in that way.). Listening, contemplative prayer needs space, quietness and time, things that are often difficult to find when our lives are full of other demands – work, family, problems to be sorted …

Somehow, we have to create the space and the time for quiet, thoughtful prayer which will help us
to listen to the Lord speaking to us, being with us, supporting us in ways that give us encouragement and strength to deal with everything else.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Perhaps we also need to develop listening skills to hear each other. Conversation between two
people is sometimes less a two-way communication than a game in which each is just waiting for
the other to finish speaking so that they can make their next point! Taking the time to listen, really
listen, is important. How else can we understand each other, know what is troubling us deep
down, and learn how to help each other? Sometimes, providing a listening ear is more important
than anything else.

Next month (December) can be the busiest and most frenetic time of the year for some of us. So
let’s use November to take breath, to make time for quiet prayer, for listening to God. And let’s
pray too that we will find the time to listen to each other, so that as a church family we will grow in
love and understanding of each other.

Lord, open my ears to hear you
and my heart to receive
all that you give.
Make mine a listening ear
to hear others’ needs too
and respond with an open heart and mind,
fixing my eyes on Jesus,
the author and finisher
of my faith.
Amen

Prayer theme for November:

– Pray that we will make the time to listen: listen to God and listen to each other

 

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Feature image from: Looking With Expectation: Prayer: October 15, 2018: What is prayer? + Why is prayer important?

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Preceding

Living as a believer in Christ

Worship and worshipping

Listening and Praying to the Father

Memorizing wonderfully 69: Ephesians 6:14-18 Prayer and Supplication for all Saints

Prayer not a withdrawal from the battles of life

Praying For What We Want or Don’t Want

Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #2 Calling upon the Name of God

Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #6 Words to feed and communicate

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #4 Transitoriness #1 Prosperity

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #4 Transitoriness #2 Purity

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #5 Prayer #1 Listening Sovereign Maker

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #5 Prayer #2 Witnessing

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #5 Prayer #3 Callers upon God

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #6 Prayer #4 Attitude

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #7 Prayer #5 Listening Ear

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #8 Prayer #6 Communication and manifestation

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #9 Prayer #7 Reason to pray

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #10 Prayer #8 Condition

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #11 Prayer #9 Making the Name Holy

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #12 Prayer #10 Talk to A Friend

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #13 Prayer #11 Name to be set apart

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #14 Prayer #12 The other name

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #15 Exposition before the Creator

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #16 Benefits of praying

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #17 Sorts of prayers

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #18 Fulfilment

Thought for today October 31st: Daniel 9 – Inspiration to pray

Today’s thought “Unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness” (January 19)

Today’s thought “May the whole earth be filled …” (February 9)

Self-development, self-control, meditation, beliefs and spirituality

Prune your problem to pull out its positive possibilities

Hannah – the resolute

Continuing Paul’s Prayer Requests

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Additional reading

1. Foundation of a close relationship with God
2. A Living Faith #7 Prayer
3. Does God hear prayer?
4. Does God answer prayer?
5. Communion and day of worship
6. God doesn’t call the qualified
7. Prayer, important aspect in our life
8. Praise Jehovah
9. Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 2 Prayer and neighbour love
10. Matthew 21:12-14 – From a den of thieves to a house of prayer
11. Praying is surrendering in all circumstances
12. Be sound in mind and be vigilant with a view to prayers
13. Be vigilant with a view to prayers
14. Try driving forward instead of backwards
15. Sometimes we face trials
16. Prayer not a withdrawal from the battles of life
17. Prayer Bible verses to help us to get a deeper conversation with God
18. 3 Ways Prayer Connects Us to God
19. Praying and acts of meditation without ceasing
20. When things run differently than expected
21. Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything
22. Praying and thinking positively
23. Prayer has comforted us in sorrow
24. 2019 A New Year of Prayer
25. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone!
26. O God, How Long? ~ Psalm 74
27. As always God has a Plan
28. Being sure of their deliverance
29. Gods non answer
30. Faithful to the leastening ear
31. Walking alone?
32. God’s Spirit is like a Broadcasting Station, broadcasting all the time. You Just have to learn to Tune In!
33. 7000 to 20000 words spoken each day
34. Genuine prayer
35. People who know how to pray to move God to take hold of our affairs in a mighty way
36. Preventing us from going window-shopping in prayer
37. Work with joy and pray with love
38. If you think you’re too small to be effective
39. Give your worries to God
40. If you do pray you shall not be disappointed
41. Sometimes we pray and pray and it seems like nothing happens.
42. Prayer has the power to change mountains into highways
43. Biblical Prayer at Tabernacle Site Shilo
44. God, my father, my closest friend
45. Old Man of Prayer
46. Prayer for the day

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Related

1. Prayer
2. One on one with God
3. Happy, Faith-filled Prayer
4. How-To Discover God’s Will For You Through Prayer
5. Thankful at Thanksgiving
6. Do You Teach Your Children How to Pray?
7. Strength in the Storm
8. First Up
9. What Do I Really Need Today? (and maybe you do too)