Learn to Listen

2011—another step closer to heaven! This is what a friend of mine has been saying since the beginning of the New Year. 

As I write this in mid-January, New Year’s resolutions have been made and I would suspect some have already been broken.  This year I’m going to: eat healthier; exercise more; read God’s word more; pray more; volunteer at my church/food pantry/soup kitchen; keep my tongue in check; etc., etc.

Any of these look familiar?

We all know that prayer is a conversation with God, Abba, Father, Dad.  How many of us forget that conversation is part listening?  How many of us read our Scriptures, read a devotional book and then pray for those who we have been asked to pray for without ever stopping to hear what Dad has to say?

How about a New Year’s resolution to spend at least 10 minutes in quiet solitude, just listening for that “still small voice” Dad uses to speaks to us?

Breakthrough is such a unique organization.  Where else can an individual desiring or needing prayer go, request prayer and then have six people world wide praying for that request for 21 days?

The world is so blessed to have had Catherine Marshall follow the promptings of the Lord to establish this Ministry. 

As we enter this New Year, we know not what the Lord has planned for each of us, but we take comfort knowing that He has the plan and our lives are well in hand.  There is not a day that goes by that I don’t see His loving and guiding hand in so many ways.

My wife and I own a Christian bookstore and every day before we open, we pray for the needs and requests of our customers.  At some point during our time of prayer we also ask the Lord to send someone into the store who needs to see His face and let them see His face through us.  We are rarely disappointed.  Whether the customer is facing illness, divorce, financial hardships or just needs a respite from the stress of daily life, we are able to provide some solace and prayer.

So this year try taking some time to listen for Abba’s voice and allow others to see His face through you.  You won’t be disappointed.