Get ready to start a journey…a journey through the pages of the Bible and the pages of your life.
Big decisions call for big times of conversation with God. Many disciples were following Jesus, but he needed to reduce the number. He desired to pour into those who would pour into others and pour themselves out with lives of sacrifice. He chose twelve to teach, train, and mentor.
Every believer needs a time of refreshment. The journey is long with many uphill climbs. Like the psalmist says, our soul thirsts for God “as in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1). There are days when we need renewal.
Why don’t people spend more time talking with God? Why don’t I spend more time talking with God? We can all give our excuses, but at the end of the day, we must make time to speak and listen to our heavenly Father. Jesus made this his priority early in the morning.
Years ago, I spoke at a Missions Conference and a missionary there gave me a guide for prayer that ended with—listening. For years I kept that guide in my Bible. So simple, yet such a great reminder that meaningful conversation is both speaking and listening. We are taught that in the Old Testament.
Have you ever heard someone pray and pray and pray, and you wondered to yourself if the prayer would ever end? Yeah, me too. That’s not to say all long prayers are bad. There are plenty of inspired drawn-out prayers in Scripture. The problem occurs when we think that length equals quality. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminded us that a simple conversation with God can be powerful.
As we begin a new year, let’s focus on learning how to talk with God. That’s what prayer is—simply talking with God. So, for the next thirty days let’s work together to develop a more powerful prayer life. I know that’s one thing I really need.