My pastor was just talking about some of the many types of prayer we engage in with God. I offer up prayers of confession when I admit all my sins, which He already knows. I lift up prayers of praise and thanksgiving for who He is and all that He has done for me. I give God my requests for things I need and want, whether it’s physical, spiritual, or financial needs. One of the biggest type of prayer that I need to engage in more is to just sit still and listen to His voice.
All too often, when I realize that I don’t take the time to listen to God, I take a brief pause and remain quiet before I pray and then I start up with what I want or need from Him. As I’m writing this, I don’t remember the last time that I took a long time to sit in silence and focus on listening to Him. I have done it many times in the past and it has always been amazing and something I needed to hear.
If you have never heard God’s voice, then you may not understand what it is like to listen to Him. I have heard a lot of different experiences from others, but I will only share mine. Often, God will begin to bring up areas of my life that I need to straighten out or unconfessed sin that I need to deal with. The best way I can describe it is that I hear Him either as a thought or like a voice in my sub-conscience. Sometimes if I’m facing a big decision, He will show me the answer through what would seem like a vision or a dream, but I am awake.
I need to spend a lot more time listening so that I can hear God and do what He says. If you have never done this, try it out. He wants us to spend time praying and that involves both listening and speaking. Bring your requests to Him after you listen for a while. He loves you and cares for you!
Psalms 46:10a (NLT) - “Be still, and know that I am God!”