You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)
The simplest definition of prayer is that we are talking to God. But that leaves out one important element: listening to God.
If I am only talking and not listening, I often only hear my own problems. That can keep the mind cluttered with worry. This happens unless I make a point to listen while I pray, to pause every now and then to hear God’s reassurance that He is with me.
The question, of course, is whether or not God says anything in response to the prayers I send up. I would say that God does speak to us, and not just when we are actually praying or talking to him. So we return to the question: Are we listening? The prophet Isaiah tells us that God will keep us in perfect peace when our minds are focused on the Lord.
When the mind is listening to the overwhelming evidence that tells us how difficult life is, we are filled with worry. We then begin to imagine scenarios that suggest chaotic existence rather than peace. There is a solution to the worried mind, and it is found in God’s word. I have tried it and I know that it works. Whenever we find something good, I think we should share it.
Prayer points for listening to God:
- Be aware of restlessness in your thoughts.
- Write down some Scriptures like Isaiah 26:3, Proverbs 12:26 and Philippians 4:6-8.
- Make it a regular habit to meditate upon the Scriptures above.
- Pray without ceasing.
God bless you!
For more on this topic watch Peola’s video, Tips for Releasing Worries, and listen to her Blog Talk Radio program, The Prayer Journey.
