My grandmother once told me that she thought I would do well in the ministry if my mouth did not get me in trouble. I think she was alluding to my tendency to tell all I knew and speak my mind in a sometimes cynical, sarcastic manner. That has and continues to be one of my greatest struggles. James says that the man who does not sin in what he says is a “perfect man.”
But, I wonder if our speaking might get us in trouble in other ways? Maybe we talk too much when we pray. Solomon said that when we approach God, we should “draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools” (Ecclesiastes 5:1). The Psalmist said, “My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue” (Psalm 39:3). A.W. Tozer once said, “The heart seldom gets hot while the mouth is open.”
Possibly we should speak less and listen more and allow His Spirit to make our hearts burn with passion for Him, His church, and His world.
Question: How do you practice listening to God?
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My “practice” is more of a result of a greater understanding of God speaking to me. I have grown up with the thought that the only way God speaks to me is only through His word. I am now finding that there is so much more to His speaking. I have been limiting His voice to just His word. Yes His word still speaks to me as it should on a daily basis, but I am also finding His voice through maybe a kind word from a friend or a much needed prayer from someone who has no idea what is going on in my life but their prayer is specific enough to know that it is God speaking. Maybe the spoken message on Sunday or Wednesday is specific enough as well. My “practice” is more on me just keeping quiet and more on listening even in my private prayer time. I am trying to keep from talking and more on just meditating for a period of time. I am finding that God’s voice can be heard in the quiet time. His spirit does speak in a very gentle way
ReplyDeleteI've found this to be one of the hardest areas of my Christian walk.The more I try to be quiet and listen, the harder it seems to be.My mind goes in a thousand different directions and then if I do think I've heard God, I immediately think it was probably just me,therefore in order not to be misled by my own voice, I become afraid to listen.I do listen to the word spoken by others and from reading my bible. Also from music and spending time taking in God's creation, but listening for that still small voice in alone time is really hard for me.
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