Listening Goes Both Ways

Posted on May 13, 2021 by Catey Stover in Victory Call

Have you ever spent time with people that are talkers?  You get done with a conversation and walk away thinking, “Whew, I didn’t get a word in” – (I am one of those talkers I have walked away thinking “Whew, I didn’t let them get a word in.”) That isn’t really a conversation. According to Merriam-Webster – conversation involves an exchange. Exchange implies two party involvement.
Prayer is a conversation with God.  It is not a monologue – one-sided oration.  Prayer is not delivering a grocery list of wants and needs to the One that can provide the answers. Prayer is not demanding our own way, pleading perhaps but not demanding.  Prayer is a conversation and like a conversation, it is two-way.  It is speaking and listening.  I wonder if after my prayers, God ever thinks, “Whew, I didn’t get a word in.”

Listening goes both ways.  How much time do you spend listening?

Cry out to the Lord, He hears and listens.

The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer. Psalm 6:9
Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; Psalm 61:1
But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Psalm 66:19
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. Psalm 86:6
Listen to the voice of God. He speaks through His word, His Spirit, and others.
Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! Psalm 81:13
Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. Isaiah 48:12
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. Psalm 16:7
“Prayer is communication. You talk, God listens. You listen when God talks.”  — O. Anthonia
Blessings,
Diane

Written By Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and provides ministry support from her home in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.


Think About This: “Your life is not good because it is easy or predictable, but because the I Am has invaded your existence by his grace.”― Paul David Tripp

The Daily Bible Reading: Matthew 1 | You can download our 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [b]puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [c]thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

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