He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.

John 8:47

Jerry and I enjoy watching the same TV programs. My hearing problem is frustrating for both of us. When my husband hears several “huhs” from me he will ask, “Are you wearing your hearing aids?”

The components of prayer are: praise, confession, thanksgiving and petition. They are all important and they don’t need to come in that order. However I would like for us to consider the most important part of our private time with God. That is when we put our hearing aids on and listen to what He has to say to us.

What a marvelous blessing to know that the King of Kings and Master of the universe speaks to us. Yet we often forget to listen. We want to do all the talking. Our pastor has said, “Too much of prayer is a monologue. It needs to be a dialogue.”

God listens to us when we pray. In Psalm 34:15 and 1 Peter 3:12 we are told, The Eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer. If God’s ears are attentive to our prayers shouldn’t we reciprocate and listen to what He has to say?

I want to suggest that you develop the habit of listening to God. I will listen to what God the Lord will say; He promises peace to His people, His saints (Psalm 85:8). Do I audibly hear God’s voice? No, but I feel His presence. I am engulfed with a closeness that supersedes anything I have to say to Him.

I am sorry that I waited so late in life to develop the habit of listening to God when I finished my part of praying. The peace He promises in Psalm 85:8 is enhanced when we give Him a chance to communicate with us.

What does He say? He gives us insight into our future plans, calms us when we are in a storm and gives us great truths. If you have read some of my devotionals you know that my life verse is Jeremiah 33:3. Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. All of God’s promises are true.

Sometimes I even claim that promise before I listen to Him. I cringe when I realize how much wisdom I have missed because I did not put my hearing aids on and listen to God sooner.

Dear Father, I am so blessed to have You as my heavenly Father. It is hard for me to fathom that the one and only God would take the time to communicate with me and all His other children. Thank You!

Janice Yandell