Listen silently
This is the third in a series of studies on the subject of prayer.
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak…
Psalm 85:8 (ESVUK)
There is an urban legend that President Franklin D. Roosevelt once got tired of smiling and saying the usual things that are said at all those White House receptions, and so, one evening he decided to find out whether anybody was paying attention to what he was saying. As each person came up to him to shake his hand, he simply smiled and said, ‘I murdered my grandmother this morning.’ People automatically responded with comments such as ‘How lovely’ or ‘Just continue with your great work’. Nobody listened to what he was saying, except one foreign diplomat, who replied, ‘Mr. President, I’m sure she had it coming to her.’ 1
This story is symptomatic of the all-too-common fact that we do not take the time to listen to what other people are saying. It is a truism that we have two ears but only one mouth, implying we should listen twice as long as we speak. This is a point picked up in the New Testament: ‘My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak…’ (James 1:19 NIVUK). James then goes on to say something profound: ‘Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.’ (v. 22).
James’s comments throughout this chapter provide us with a fair idea of the kind of life a Christian should live: we are to have a positive attitude to the difficulties of life, know where to turn for help and guidance, have control of our tongue, listen to God and do what he says.
It is so important, therefore, that in our prayer life, we cultivate the practice of listening, for it is in that time of silence and reflection that God will speak to us, but we must give him the time and space to do so.
As Mother Teresa once said, ‘The beginning of prayer is silence. If we really want to pray we must first learn to listen, for in the silence of the heart God speaks. And to be able to see that silence, to be able to hear God we need a clean heart; for a clean heart can see God, can hear God, can listen to God; and then only from the fullness of our heart can we speak to God. But we cannot speak unless we have listened, unless we have made that connection with God in the silence of our heart.’ 2
Often, we rush through our prayers with a quick ‘Amen’ and move on to what we’ve got to do. So, why not take time to slow down, stop speaking, and silently listen to what God is saying to us. It might just revitalise our prayer life. And in case you were wondering, no grandmothers were hurt in the writing of this study.
Prayer
Loving Father, as we sit in silence before you, may we hear your voice and feel your presence. Meet us in this moment of silence and may your waves of peace wash over us, in Jesus’s name, Amen.
Study by Barry Robinson
1 Told in ‘The Complete Practical Joker’ H. Allen Smith, 1953.
2 https://apprenticeshiptojesus.wordpress.com/2015/06/16/mother-teresa-quotes/
About the writer:
Barry Robinson is a minister in Grace Communion International and Regional Pastor for Southern England, the Midlands, and Wales
Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA
Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm
Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church