Be Still

The Other Side of Prayer

Glenda and I had this great friend some years ago who loved to talk. She could go on for hours without seeming to take a breath. Conversation revolved around her life, where she had been, where she was going, the trouble she was having with so and so, the difficult boss, blah, blah, blah! It was a rather interesting time, and we learned a lot about her. She would always end by saying, "It's been great talking. Next time let's get caught up on what is happening in your life." Of course, that never happened.

It is not appropriate for me to be very judgmental toward my friend because I am a lot like her. I am glad that my conversations with God are not recorded. It would be very embarrassing. I do all the talking. It is all about me, my troubles, my problems, my concerns, MY LIFE. Now Jesus is very patient with me, but I wonder if He sometimes feels like I do with my friends. "I hope Paul with take a deep breath and be quiet for a while so I can talk."

A conversation is all about speaking and listening; it is about communicating ideas back and forth between two people. To have a good and healthy conversation with God means that I need to spend time listening to him. That is tough because I love to talk, especially when I am caffeine powered. The times I am able to restrain myself and just listen, I am truly nurtured and energized by my heavenly father.

I love the verse of scripture that says, "Be still and know that I am God!" Psalm 46:10. What wonderful things God is just waiting to share with us about himself if only we would shift to the listening mode. Here are some suggested practices.

1. After you have prayed for a period of time, practice silence. Start with being quit for 60 seconds; then over a period of time extend that to 10 or 15 minutes.
   
2. Discipline yourself not to wander mental from the point of the conversation -- getting to know God better.
   
3. When you are finished with your time of silence, write down in a journal what you hear God saying to you.
   
4. At some point go back over your journal to see the thread of what God is saying to you. You will be surprised to find an amazing constancy of his message to you.
   
5. Share what God is saying to you with a trusted friend.
   

Let God enjoy the conversations as much as you!