Why Pray If You’re Not Going To Listen

Focus Verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

During this time, more than ever before, we as believers have to commit ourselves to prayer. However, one of the biggest parts of prayer, we sometimes overlook; the listening part. There is so much going on right now and God needs his people to listen and be alert to see where He is leading. The Word of God is clear that we should not lean to our understanding or what we think, but we are to acknowledge God and He will direct our path. Acknowledge in this verse comes from the Hebrew word “yada” which means, to know or to be instructed. Additionally, the Aramaic translation means to communicate. When one is being instructed and for communication to be successful, listening has to occur.

Although many of us pray, the listening part is something that we have not all yet mastered. Some of us have never waited to hear what God is saying in our time of prayer with Him. God is consistently speaking to His people and revealing His plan; He desires to direct our path.

As you are going throughout your day today, I challenge you to pray and then wait to hear what God is saying in your respective situation. If you have been praying about something and you feel like you missed God’s instruction, ask Him to reveal it again and wait to hear what He says.

Prayer: Father, thank You for reminding me how important prayer is, specifically the part where I listen. So many times I have prayed and moved on my own understanding without acknowledging You and waiting to hear Your instructions, please forgive me. As I go throughout this day, help me to take the time to listen so that I know where You are leading. In Your son, Jesus’ name, Amen!