The Power of Listening to God

by Tami Walker

Stonecroft Divisional Field Director

Great Lakes

 

Most of us are bombarded each day with all kinds of noise. If you’re like me, you might have the radio or TV on as background noise. Perhaps you listen to music when you exercise; maybe you use Pandora radio when you’re on your computer.

Although we live in a culture of information and noise, it’s important to learn to stop and listen.

Some of us do this through regular quiet times that we have built into our days. Some start with a coffee making routine, then sitting in a favorite spot and reading the Bible. Some employ a journal or a prayer list to make requests known to God. Others use a devotional guide or Bible study. 

If you notice, most of these are activities, things we do. I would suggest that most of the work done in our lives is not what we do, but what God does. This starts with cultivating time with God in silence, in listening. Silence can be foreign at first. Being silent for five minutes can seem like hours.

 I confess, this is not natural for me. I am a doer. That means for me remaining silent is something I have to practice. In some traditions, routine spiritual retreats are done in silence. Others may use a spiritual director; others may just start by turning off the radio in the car.

Wherever you start, just start.

God has much to share with us if we choose to silence ourselves and listen. Let’s journey together.

There is great power in listening to God. He has so much to share with us as we journey together. Please share some ways that you quiet yourself and take time to listen to God.

Orchestrating Prayer

By Gail E. Dudley

Vice President of Diversity

Stonecroft Ministries

Prayer is not a solo activity. At the least, it’s two people—you and God. Often, it’s a small group, an entire congregation, or members of a specific ministry or organization.

Recently, I was thinking about the Call To Me movement and how we focus on specific themes each month. Sometimes we are in the same room with others praying, but often we are miles, states, and even oceans away from each other. Still, we are united through Call To Me and by our Intercessor, Jesus. As I was wondering about this, a certain image came to mind.

Think about a symphony orchestra. The most important person in an orchestra—the conductor—does not play an instrument at all. The conductor's job, at its most basic level, is to indicate the beat of the music.

The conductor holds a silent instrument, the baton, used to instruct each orchestra member. With each movement of the baton, the conductor instructs with imaginary points to indicate the beat in the bar the orchestra should be playing together.

Think about Jesus. He is the most important person during prayer. When your heartbeat begins to line up with His heartbeat, you will find yourself praying what He is praying. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…” You are now praying what He desires you to pray. You are now focused on His thoughts and His will and His direction and find that your thoughts are no longer as important as before. Your mind is now focused on Christ Jesus.

As you become more intimate with Jesus through prayer, you will learn His voice. As the conductor, He will prepare you. Jesus will speak to you boldly, compassionately, through a whisper, and will instruct you.

What word pictures would you use to describe prayer?