“Teach me your ways, O LORD that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever”(Psalm 86:11,12 NLT).
How long has it been since we asked God to teach us–His ways–according to His truth?
This is probably why our society is in the shape it is today! We have not asked God to teach us anything, but have been willing to listen to any and everyone who has something to say that–sounds good. And then we wonder why–we don’t hear God speaking to us. If we don’t know His voice, how can we hear Him?
The only way we’ll ever understand when God is speaking and when people are speaking (their version of truth) is by knowing what He has said in His Word. This cannot be said often enough. If we know His Word, we’ll know His voice because He will not say anything contrary to His written Word! This is why Jesus said through John, “My sheep know my voice and another they will not hear (or listen to, or obey).”
Until we determine, collectively, to hear and obey His voice–our prayers are in vain. It is not that He does not hear us, but that we cannot hear Him or choose to ignore Him when we hear Him because sometimes–what He has to say–we just don’t want to hear.
In verse six of this Psalm, the psalmist is asking God to hear his prayer and then goes on to tell Him all of the wonderful things He is to him. Is that what we do or do we just ask–selfishly for those things we want?
Prayer–our communication with God–should not just be about asking for things, but praising Him for who He is to us and our gratitude because He is who He is!
If we want to see a change in our society–change worth having that eliminates the hatred and violence–then those of us who know Him and will hear His voice when He speaks–need to know how to pray, hear, and respond;Â know His voice and obey!
Prayer changes things, but only when those who are praying are willing to hear and obey and then do things, according to His Truth!
maryhallrayford 
Amen Amen!! We need to be switched on to ‘receive’ more than ‘transmit’ – yielding through listening and obedience puts the ‘Y’ in ‘PRAY’. Thank you for sharing – always blessed by your posts.
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Thank you for your support of my posts! I agree with everything you’ve said. Still trying to get me in better position for Him to use me for His glory! God bless! 🙂
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Amen! So true – we need to trust that the Lord is answering our prayers through our eyes of faith. Oftentimes, He is weaving the answers and the miracles behind the scenes, to be revealed in His time.
As we grow more intimate with Jesus, and familiar with His Word, we learn how to listen for the voice of God in our lives and in the world. He is always with us…we just need to be open to receive Him:-)
Love and blessings, Bernadette
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You are so right! Love to love you! 🙂
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