By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  June 08, 2020

Have you ever known someone who would call you on the telephone, talk what seemed like a thousand words a minute, and then, when he finished telling you what he needed to say, would hang up? Even before you had a chance to say a word, you heard a click.

Sadly, this is how many people treat God. They don’t stay on the line long enough to hear from Him. They pray to Him in a flurry of words, expressing needs and desires, but they miss the most important part of prayer: worship and listening for God’s still, small voice.

Prayer is a two-way form of communication. One of the reasons many avoid spending silent time in prayer is because they are afraid to hear what God has to say to them. They are sure that, if they listen, He will say something that they don’t want to hear.

Someone has called American Christianity “decaffeinated Christianity.” If you think about it, decaffeinated Christianity won’t keep you awake at night. It won’t disturb you. It won’t motivate you, and it certainly won’t change you!

God is a gentleman. He will never force you to listen for His voice. He will never coerce you into meditating on His Word or taking time to pray. However, He will continue to draw you to Himself. Sometimes this is pleasant; other times it is not.

Allowing us to experience disappointment and frustration is one of the ways God gets our attention. If you feel as though you have been running away from God and prayer, ask yourself, “Isn’t it time I stop running and avoiding the Lord?” Great things come to us when we stop rushing and begin seeking God with a humble, obedient heart.

Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for rushing through prayer and not stopping to hear Your voice. I pray You would help calm my mind and heart to hear You each day. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).