There is an amazing prayer resource and journal that I have used for the past couple of years called the Pray! Prayer Journal. Each month has a different focus. Recently I was looking back in my journal, and I was struck by the past three months’ focus themes.
August: Hearing His Voice
September: Trusting His Way
October: Obeying His Word
Hearing His Voice: I need to be still and silent long enough to hear from God. While reading the book Uninvited by Lysa Terkeurst I came across this quote on pg.111 “I am trying to weave more silence into the rhythm of my life, so I can whisper, “God, what might you want to say to me right now, I’m listening.” We live in a very noisy world. We have access to more information and images than we could ever possibly handle right in our hands, most of us on our phones. We have to choose to silence the noise. We have to be intentional about being still and quiet, long enough for the chatter in our minds to quiet, and then to hear from our Heavenly Father. How are you doing at Hearing His Voice?
Lord, when I consider how well I listen, I know I need You to teach me how to do it better. Let me be like Mary who chose sitting at Your feet, listening to what You had to say. Help me pay attention and not be distracted. Give me ears to hear what Your Spirit is saying and a heart that stays tender in response. Guide me with Your voice as I walk through my day (Luke 8:18, 10:38-42; Revelation 3:22, Hebrews 4:7, Isaiah 30:21).*
Trusting His Way: God always has the perfect plan for us. His Way is always the best way. Trusting His Way involves surrender. Being willing to say, I am not in control, and I do not know what is best. And I will choose to trust you Lord, even when I do not fully understand. Our God is trustworthy. How are you doing at Trusting His Way?
Your ways aren’t my ways, Father, but they are perfect. Show me Your ways and teach me Your paths – I will trust You with all my heart even when I don’t understand. Your love is unfailing – let me sense that each morning as I put my trust in You. Help me stay committed to Your way as I trust because there’s no God for me but You (Isaiah 55:8; Psalm 18:30, 25:4; Proverbs 3:5; Psalms 143:8, 37:5, 31:14).*
Obeying His Word: To obey God’s Word, we have to be reading God’s Word and meditating on what it says and applying it to our lives. It is not enough to just hear it on a Sunday morning from a sermon. We need to have a regular time to read it and memorize it and hide it in our hearts. Then we can do what our Lord Jesus asked us to do… walk in love. (2 John 1:6) How is it going for you loving those nearest you? Loving those who are nothing like you? Loving those who irritate or annoy you? We are called to love one another; it is a matter of obedience. How are you doing at Obeying His Word?
Lord, You have said that to obey is better than sacrifice. You delight in our obedience. Give me understanding so that I will obey Your Word with all my heart. Help me remember what I’ve received and heard from You. I’m responding to Your wake-up call so that I maintain an obedient and repentant heart. Help me work wholeheartedly at obedience to Your commands so that I display and walk in love (1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 119:34; Revelation 3:2,3; 2 Chronicles 31:21; 2 John 1:6).*
May each one of us grow in Hearing His Voice, Trusting His Way and Obeying His Word.
*The prayers and scripture references in italics are taken from the Pray! Journal by Dean Ridings