iphc-logo
Place of Hope. People of Promise.
  • Discipleship
  • Evangelism USA
  • World Missions
  • General Superintendent's Office
site logo
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Milemarkers of Discipleship
    • Discipleship Resource Guide
    • Conference Discipleship Directors
    • Discipleship Ministries Council
  • Ministries
    • Men’s Ministries
    • Women’s Ministries
    • Student Ministries
    • YouthQuest
    • Kids’ Ministries
    • Girls’ Ministries
    • Boys’ Ministries
    • Family Ministry
    • Worship
  • Higher Education
    • Advantage College
    • Emmanuel College
    • Holmes Bible College
    • Southwestern Christian University
    • Scholarship Opportunities
    • Vision 4 Education
  • Resources
    • The Journey
    • Recommended Resources
    • Discipleship Podcasts
    • Pentecost Resource
    • Videos
    • Logos
    • Pastor Appreciation
    • Stewardship
    • Bible Reading Guides
    • LifeSprings Church Resources
  • Benevolent Ministries
    • Disaster Relief USA
    • The Children’s Center
    • Falcon Children’s Home
    • Harvest Train
  • Blog
Give
hero image
Blog

Are We Listening?

September 16, 2019 Chris Maxwell

**This article is from the book Pause: The Secret to a Better Life One Word at a Time.**

We talk to God. He listens. We read God’s Word. He speaks. Call it a relationship—a renewal. Call it real life.

Most of us know we should pray, but most of us fail to do so regularly. When we hear stories of great prayer warriors, we feel worse. When we hear sermons about prayer’s worth, we feel defeated. God does not want to punish us for our lack of prayer. He invites us to fall in awe of Him, to honor Him, to adore Him, and to listen to Him. Prayer—genuine and consistent—will flow from such beliefs.

Staying prayerful means more than going through the motions. Communication with God includes many types of episodes. A private place and time, a group joining together, a drive down the road.

Good habits are good if they are more than habits. These habits include confession, Scripture reading, singing, bowing, walking, talking, writing prayers, and listening. Prayer surpasses putting in time or punching a clock. It must move from duty to delight.

Familiarity breeds contempt; so the saying says.

The Psalmist viewed things a little differently. He felt that as he learned more about God, he would have a greater desire to praise Him. More knowledge of God’s law would lead to more freedom in worship.

Also, his praise would not be fake or ritualistic. It would not be “going through the motions.” His praise would not be an attempt to cover up his sin. He would praise God and mean it. In Spirit and in truth. With an upright, honest, sincere, single-purpose heart, he would praise God.

How can a person develop such a life of praise? By learning God’s “righteous laws.” A life dedicated to learning—from the heart as well as the head—God’s righteous laws is a life that praises God and a life that praises the righteous God from a righteous heart.

And, if prayer is an ongoing relational conversation instead of just a duty or task, it can really be a lifestyle that never ends.

REFLECT: 1. Why is it easier to pray by talking to God instead of listening to God? 2. How can we “hear from God”? 3. What stops us from developing a conversational relationship with our Divine Lover?

RECEIVE: “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice” (Proverbs 12: 15). “If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear” (Mark 4: 23). “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching” (1 Timothy 4: 13).

RESPOND: Think about this: two eyes, two ears, one mouth. Maybe we could spend more time this week looking and listening—and observing God all around us—instead of doing all the talking ourselves as we pray.

Related

2019 Are We Listening Chris Maxwell Discipleship Ministries Pause Quarter 3 Steadfast in Prayer
Share Post:
Altars and Prayer Legs
A Physician’s Calling
  • Discipleship
  • Evangelism USA
  • World Missions
  • General Superintendent's Office
iphc site logo

P.O. Box 12609 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 | Address: 7300 NW 39th Expy. Bethany, OK 73008 | Phone: 405-787-7110

Proud Member ECFA ECFA logo | Copyright 2023 IPHC. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Powered by Ingage

Search this Site

One More Step!

submitting...
site logo
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Milemarkers of Discipleship
    • Discipleship Resource Guide
    • Conference Discipleship Directors
    • Discipleship Ministries Council
  • Ministries
    • Men’s Ministries
    • Women’s Ministries
    • Student Ministries
    • YouthQuest
    • Kids’ Ministries
    • Girls’ Ministries
    • Boys’ Ministries
    • Family Ministry
    • Worship
  • Higher Education
    • Advantage College
    • Emmanuel College
    • Holmes Bible College
    • Southwestern Christian University
    • Scholarship Opportunities
    • Vision 4 Education
  • Resources
    • The Journey
    • Recommended Resources
    • Discipleship Podcasts
    • Pentecost Resource
    • Videos
    • Logos
    • Pastor Appreciation
    • Stewardship
    • Bible Reading Guides
    • LifeSprings Church Resources
  • Benevolent Ministries
    • Disaster Relief USA
    • The Children’s Center
    • Falcon Children’s Home
    • Harvest Train
  • Blog
Follow Us!