Praying for ears to hear
And how praying involves a lot of listening
As I mentioned recently, Jesus says the phrase “Let those with ears to hear listen to what I have to say.”
But Jesus wasn’t only talking about those in his midst, those who could hear his specific words in that moment.
Jesus was tapping into what it means to truly listen and hear…and how to pray.
I’ve said it before and you’ve heard it from multiple pulpits that prayer also includes giving time to listen to what God might be speaking back to you.
…
Once upon a time, I was an angry, angsty teenage boy who was beyond frustrated with my lot in life, as we all probably felt in our teenage years.
I was likely wrestling with some anxiety, some depression, some repression. Either way, I prayed for God to help me feel whole and complete.
I prayed that I would go “all in” with Jesus and fully commit to the leadership and guidance of Jesus.
And then I had a thought worm its way into my head that never in a million years would have popped up on my own, “have you ever considered youth ministry?”
And that was the first time that I recall experiencing an almost-audible voice of God in prayer, in my listening.
This listening was confirmed by listening to others speak into my life shortly after and led to my path of chasing ministry and faithful commitment to Jesus.
And it all started with my first time ever taking the time to just…listen.
My prayer for today
Our Father, help me to listen. Jesus, remind me that it’s better to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Spirit, give me grace for my impatience. Amen.
Remember
Listening doesn’t always having to be sitting in silence, you can also listen in the form of seeking wise, Godly counsel from others who are much further along in their walk with Jesus.