The Practice of Listening
Thursday, April 25
The Practice of Listening
He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ Psalm 46:10
Isn’t it crazy how busy we are? Despite the advancements in technology aimed at streamlining tasks and simplifying our lives, we find ourselves just as frenzied as generations past. We rush through our days, hurrying from one obligation to the next, whether it’s striving to mature quickly, meeting work demands, or attending various commitments. There is so much rushing, that often, we forget to simply be still and listen for God to speak.
The thing about God is that He’s not going to force you to stop and listen to Him. He does want to speak to you, but He’s not going to force you to make that happen. There’s never going to be a completely perfect time to hear from God. Prayer is not merely about speaking; it also involves listening and in order to listen, we need to slow down and quiet our minds. In the midst of our petitions and praises, God invites us to be still and attentive to His voice. As we quiet our hearts and minds, we create space for God to speak to us, imparting wisdom, comfort, and guidance.
God wants to speak to you. He wants to help you make good decisions, to show you how much He loves you, and to be a part of your life. However, He’s not going to force His way into your life. Instead, you’ve got to choose to let Him in.
The amount you hear from God is up to you. God wants to speak to you all the time!
TODAY’S CHALLENGE: BE STILL
Let us cultivate a posture of listening in our prayer life, eagerly anticipating the voice of our Heavenly Father as He speaks words of love and truth into our souls. Challenge yourself today to be still. Find a moment where you can sit and listen to God. Let God speak into your life. God wants to speak to you, it’s just up to you to get still so you can hear Him.
Prayer for today: Lord, in the busyness of life, help us to carve out moments of stillness to listen to Your voice. Speak to us, Lord, and guide us in Your truth and wisdom. May we be attentive to Your leading and obedient to Your will as we commune with You in prayer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.