Posted on July 18, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte 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
Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit 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: “God will take you through places you don’t understand to bring you to the place where He wants you to be. Trust Him.” – Trent Shelton
The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 48, Hosea 1-4. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:14-15
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
