Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20 NKJV)

How often do you lose your keys, the remote control, or your wallet? Can you imagine the frustration a blind person feels while searching the house for something they cannot see? I can’t scan the floor or sofa. I have to feel every inch of it with my hands.

My phone and portable keyboard go missing several times daily, so I bought a device called Tile that connects wirelessly with an app on my phone to ring my keyboard. I can also push the Tile on my keyboard and it rings my phone. But I must listen in quiet to follow the ringing sound.

Some things interfere with finding my missing device ASAP, such as the noise from the TV or people talking. Silence is imperative for listening and receiving the message.

In our focal verse, Jesus says, “If any man hears my voice.” We must hear the voice of Jesus in order to open that door and fellowship with Him. Not necessarily an audible voice, but a definite impression.

Just like I must listen for my Tile ringtone, we must listen for the voice of Christ. We can’t hear above all the noise. Not just the external noise but the internal noise of our thoughts.

How much time do you spend listening for Him to speak when you pray? I encountered this question somewhere last year, and it revived my prayer life. I became intentional about spending a portion of my prayer time in silence. I invited the Lord to speak, and If I heard nothing after some time, I’d read the Bible, the source of His words.

Think about a conversation you’ve had with someone who uses up all the oxygen with their continual chatter. You can’t get a word in. How does that make you feel? You might feel like they don’t care what you have to say.

Think how God feels when we rattle off our prayer requests with some thanks, and we don’t allow Him time to speak? We ask Him for direction, but how can He direct us when we don’t listen? We ask for answers, but we don’t stay quiet long enough to hear them.

Making listening a priority in my prayer life has allowed me to hear God speak profound things. He has guided me. He has convicted me. He has answered my questions.

I encourage you to make listening a vital part of your prayer time. Clear your mind from all the chatter and listen.

Heavenly Father, I have consumed most of our conversations. Now I will be silent, and I ask You to speak. What is it You want me to hear? Amen.

DIG DEEPER

Be still and know that I am God; (Psalm 46:10a NKJV)

HIKING THE TRAIL

When will you invite God to speak? Why not right now?

RELATED RESOURCE

Would you like to enhance your prayer life even more? Would you like to pray like Paul or Daniel? Have you ever used prayer cloths while praying? Right now, you can get a free prayer cloth while supplies last when you purchase Incense Rising: 60 Days to Powerful Prayer. Learn more here.

Skip the cart check out instantly with this link.

Originally posted on January 28, 2022 @ 3:00 am