Day in and day out we have conversations with people. I read online that one study out of Britain revealed that the average person has 27 conversations every day, lasting an average of 10 minutes each.
Do you ever think about how much you talk? How much do you listen to those you’re in conversation with? What do you learn as you visit with people?
Every day we have conversations with those we work, live, and play with. These conversations can be as simple as “How are you doing?.... Fine!” But often, those conversations are way more complex:
Giving and receiving negative feedback
Relational challenge between a spouse, workmate, or friend
Talking about your pay at work
Struggling to understand a decision
Talking politics with those with a different opinion
In my life and work, I think one of the most important things I’ve learned is that conversations with people go way better if I have regular conversations with God. As I’ve grown older, I have a more desperate need for God. That need has drawn me to having an ongoing dialogue with Him throughout my day.
Helplessness- I go back to the great work of O. Hallesby called “Prayer.” Hallesby calls helplessness the surest indication of a praying heart. It is the last resort of the helpless. We try everything before we finally resort to prayer. But what if helplessness is your best prayer? When we go to God with our helplessness, we are constantly appealing to His Father's heart. It’s the prayer of dependence, openness, trust, and listening love. Helplessness is quite powerful. Realizing that we are human, and God is God helps us see our place in this life. We need Him! And get this! God longs for us to come to Him and enjoy constant conversation with Him in our helplessness.
Talking to God- I find that many people have a hard time praying. They listen to other “professional” pray-ers and assume they can’t possibly pray like that! So, they don’t. Prayer is scary. Yet, if you fear prayer, you are missing one of the most amazing gifts of communing with God! How does one talk to God? You talk to God! He always listens, not like humans at times. Prayer begins with us seeing that we can talk to our heavenly Father and He listens and answers! We come to Him in our helplessness. We come to Him in our joys. We come to Him with our desires. We share what’s on our minds. That’s prayer.
Listening to God- Often, we try to gain control with our words. By listening, when done well, we give power away. We wait. We pause. We invite God to speak. We bend our ears so we can’t miss one word! I love the promise of God in Isaiah: “Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24 ) Humility is critical when we listen to God. We come to grips that He is God and we are not. What if we approached our relationship with God as a listener? Keep in mind, that He longs to speak to You.
Today, consider your relationship with God. Do you enjoy ongoing conversations with your heavenly Father? Do you take time to listen? What would it look like to develop your prayer life in 2024?
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:9
“Morning by morning he wakens-wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.” Isaiah 50:4
Every day we have conversations with those we work, live, and play with. These conversations can be as simple as “How are you doing?.... Fine!” But often, those conversations are way more complex:
Giving and receiving negative feedback
Relational challenge between a spouse, workmate, or friend
Talking about your pay at work
Struggling to understand a decision
Talking politics with those with a different opinion
In my life and work, I think one of the most important things I’ve learned is that conversations with people go way better if I have regular conversations with God. As I’ve grown older, I have a more desperate need for God. That need has drawn me to having an ongoing dialogue with Him throughout my day.
Helplessness- I go back to the great work of O. Hallesby called “Prayer.” Hallesby calls helplessness the surest indication of a praying heart. It is the last resort of the helpless. We try everything before we finally resort to prayer. But what if helplessness is your best prayer? When we go to God with our helplessness, we are constantly appealing to His Father's heart. It’s the prayer of dependence, openness, trust, and listening love. Helplessness is quite powerful. Realizing that we are human, and God is God helps us see our place in this life. We need Him! And get this! God longs for us to come to Him and enjoy constant conversation with Him in our helplessness.
Talking to God- I find that many people have a hard time praying. They listen to other “professional” pray-ers and assume they can’t possibly pray like that! So, they don’t. Prayer is scary. Yet, if you fear prayer, you are missing one of the most amazing gifts of communing with God! How does one talk to God? You talk to God! He always listens, not like humans at times. Prayer begins with us seeing that we can talk to our heavenly Father and He listens and answers! We come to Him in our helplessness. We come to Him in our joys. We come to Him with our desires. We share what’s on our minds. That’s prayer.
Listening to God- Often, we try to gain control with our words. By listening, when done well, we give power away. We wait. We pause. We invite God to speak. We bend our ears so we can’t miss one word! I love the promise of God in Isaiah: “Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24 ) Humility is critical when we listen to God. We come to grips that He is God and we are not. What if we approached our relationship with God as a listener? Keep in mind, that He longs to speak to You.
Today, consider your relationship with God. Do you enjoy ongoing conversations with your heavenly Father? Do you take time to listen? What would it look like to develop your prayer life in 2024?
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:9
“Morning by morning he wakens-wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.” Isaiah 50:4
Take a listen to learn how to listen: https://www.youtube.
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
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