Be still: The other side of prayer

November 6, 2007

By Paul Veliquette

My wife, Glenda, and I had this great friend some years ago who loved to talk. She could go on for hours without seeming to take a breath. Conversation revolved around her life, where she had been, where she was going, the trouble she was having with so and so, the difficult boss … you get the picture.

We learned a lot about her. She would always end by saying, “It’s been great talking. Next time, let’s get caught up on what is happening in your life.” Of course, that never happened.

I have to admit I’m a lot like her. I’m glad my conversations with God are not recorded. It would be very embarrassing. I do all the talking. If I’m not careful, my prayers become all about me, my troubles, my problems, my concerns, MY LIFE. Jesus is very patient with me, but I wonder if He sometimes feels like I do with my friends. “I hope Paul will take a deep breath and be quiet for a while so I can talk.”

A conversation is about speaking as well as listening; it’s about communicating ideas between two people. To have a good and healthy conversation with God requires that I spend time listening to Him. That is tough because I love to talk, especially when I’m caffeine powered. But those times I am able to restrain myself and just listen, I am truly nurtured and energized by my Heavenly Father.

I love the verse of Scripture that says, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). What wonderful things God is just waiting to share with us about himself if only we would shift to the listening mode. Here are some suggested practices.

1. After you have prayed for a period of time, practice silence. Start with being quiet for 60 seconds; then over a period of time extend that to 10 or 15 minutes.

2. Discipline yourself to not wander mentally from the point of the conversation — listening as well as speaking. As you focus, you will get to know God better.

3. When you are finished with your time of silence, write in a journal what you hear God saying to you.

4. At some point go back over your journal to see the thread of what God is saying to you. You will be surprised to find an amazing constancy of His message to you.

5. Share with a trusted friend what God is saying to you.

Let God enjoy the conversations as much as you!

Paul Veliquette is pastor of Windsor (Colo.) Assembly of God.