Prayer:
Your Lifeline
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"Prayer
is not conquering God's reluctance, but taking hold
of God's willingness,” said Martin Luther.
God
is both able and willing to do so much more in your
life that you can even dare to imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
He is willing to amaze you and the world, when you ask,
and keep on asking (Lk.11.5-8).
Prayer
is more than asking. Much more. Like any communication
process, it requires listening as well. Being still,
quiet, observant and watchful of God at work is key
to prayer and neglected by many of us. God never slumbers,
and is at work answering prayers all of the time, but
like the 10 lepers healed by Jesus, we simply (and ungratefully)
accept His blessing without recognizing them as incredible
answers to prayer or the longings of our hearts.
So how do we hear the "still, small voice of God”
and listen for the Divine in our lives, distinguishing
between our own, sometimes wrong-headed desires and
God’s good plan? This part of prayer is the most
difficult. Listening.
Some ways in which we can prayerfully listen for the
voice of God are described by Marjorie Thompson, in
her excellent book on Spiritual life, Soul Feast.
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The
Scripture is the very Word of God, and the clearest
voice of all. If what we hear is contrary to the Biblical
ethic and tone, it is probably the sinful side of
our heart and not the Spirit of Christ.
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God’s
creation - Nature – can speak to us.Have you
sensed the living word of God in your heart, speaking
with clarity, as you have sat at the base of an oak,
near a stream, with your feet in the grass, and understanding
the depth of God’s care for you?.
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God’s
people are often the tool through which Christ speaks.
No doubt you have had an ‘aha’ moment
regarding God’s will for you as a trusted friend
or a mentor, or perhaps a book or article, has provided
you with insight.
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God
speaks through our circumstances, sometimes creating
blocks that prevent us from going a particular direction,
or opening doors that make it clear a divine intervention
has occurred.
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Dreams
may well be a vessel through which God speaks to us.
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The
Spirit may speak directly so that we have a definite
and clear impression, maybe even the words themselves,
regarding God’s will for us at a particular
time and place.
Have
you heard from God lately? Are you listening? Oswald
Chambers tells us that "Prayer is not an exercise.
It is the life of the saint." As you pray, remember
to take time to listen.
“It is God’s will
for you to be joyful always, pray continually, and give
thanks in all circumstances” 1Thessalonians
5:16
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Hillside
Church ~ 2727 Crawford ~ Evanston, IL ~ 847-328-7182 ~ contact
us |
