Do you Listen? Can you Hear?

Blackaby writes "Every time we prepare to worship the Lord, we ought to do so with anticipation that Almighty God may have something to say to us. Whenever we open our Bibles, we should expect that God has something to tell us in our time with Him. We ought to be far more concerned with what God will say to us during our prayer times than with what we intend to tell Him. When you receive a word from your Lord, whether it be of praise or of correction, consider it joy that Almighty God would speak to you."

What goes into your time with God?
Anything?  A list perhaps? A time of silence?  Music?

Many things can go into my time with God.  But I think that one of the greatest is when I shut up.  Yes. When I open in prayer then say nothing.  I admit I don't do that often enough.

The most powerful thing you can or will ever do in this life is to pray.  When the newly transformed Disciples who were now Apostles prayed, even the Earth took notice.  Read the book of Acts. Look at what happened in the nearly days of the Church. 

But how often are our prayer times filled with a list of our wants? Our desires.  Things that would make us happy. 
Many get discouraged because it appears that God didn't perform like a genie and instantly make it a yes answer.

For starters God isn't a genie.

Secondly answers to prayer take on different forms and in multiple ways. Yes, no, not right now or hang on. I have something better in mind.

Persistence in prayer shows that we are in earnest in our prayers.  That's important too.

But do we ever pray for better understanding?
But do we pray for greater knowledge of God?
But do we pray for our eyes to be opened?
Are we praying for those who hurt us? That Jesus would intervene in a way that is right to HIM and not necessarily us?
It is oh so easy to be a James and John, want to call fire to come down from Heaven to deal with people.  Read the Old Testament.  It did happen before.

Do we pray for our relationship with Jesus?

Do we only pray for the food on the table and the hands that prepared it?

Are we ever just in silence before God to learn about being near Him?

Steven Curtis Chapman has several versions of a song called "Be Still".

Be still and know that he is god
Be still and know that he is holy
Be still oh restless soul of mine
Bow before the prince of peace
Let the noise and clamor cease

Be still and know that he is god
Be still and know that he is faithful
Consider all that he has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that he will never change
Be still

Be still and know that he is god
Be still and know that he is god
Be still and know that he is god
Be still
Be speechless

Be still and know that he is god
Be still and know he is our father
Come rest your head upon his breast
Listen to the rhythm of
His unfailing heart of love
Beating for his little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still
Be still

I often pray for my eyes to be opened. 
That He would provide understanding.
That I would understand.  As Scripture says who knows the mind of God but the Spirit within Him? God says if any man lacks wisdom he is to but ask.

It's interesting that yesterday an analogy came to me at a picnic. God calls us to be the light of the world. Not to be flamethrowers.  "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16.
We shouldn't be forcefully pushing people to Christ.  We can no more make someone become saved than we can make a seed break forth from the ground.
The Spirit causes growth.  Not us.

We will do more in our prayers for those we know who are not saved than a thousand words said to them.  Our actions will speak volumes.  Not our badgering.

Scripture says that the prayers of a righteous man avails much.   

James 5:16 "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

So what happens in your prayers?
We serve a living Savior...He lives...
I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today I know that He is living, whatever men may say, I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer And just the time I need Him He's always near.

Our Jesus is but a prayer away.
His loving kindness is forever to those who are His.

The door is open to anyone who wants His free gift of Salvation.  A relationship awaits those who would come.

If you are one of His sheep then you know His voice.  Stop n listen for it today.
Jesus said that if you don't hear His voice then you are not His sheep. 

Come to Christ today.  Become one of His. Hear Him. Listen.