Devotionals

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Learning to Wait and listen
By Robert Schaetzle Sr.



Prayer is stepping out into that which is dependent entirely of God and the presence of His holiness and power. When we observe what God calls trust, hope, faith, assurance, these are all actions of divine intervention. But did you ever consider how ‘waiting and listening’ are such an integral part of dialoging with God? God wants His best for our lives, to have a life being joy filled and value purposed, so we must consider ourselves as abiding ‘in Him.’
Prayer, as faith at work, is all about watching God do the providing.
The definition of prayer is much more than our speaking to God. To me, it’s abiding in Him, to rest in Him believing that through Him, all things are possible. There’s good reason why He asks us, ‘Cast all your anxieties on Me’
One of my favorite verses, Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists, and that He rewards those who seek Him.” RSV [my emphasis]
One thing we can know for certain, that maturity, as defined in the Christian walk, is the process by which we must learn to listen, if we’re to seek Him. To listen, all too often, is human reasoning, wanting to respond before we hear.
Part of my responsibilities as a manager of Customer Service was to learn how to listen. I learned early on the value of Proverbs 18: 13, 17. “He who gives answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him. The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes to examine him.”
Prayer is a most beautiful and precious tool God gives us to enable and strengthen our faith walk. However, Do you ever consider what an integral part listening is when we pray?
The first to plead his case only seems right, but when God comes to examine our heart, I feel all too often He sees an anxious and troubled heart, rather than one of rest, allowing Him to do the work for us.
Many don’t view prayer as a time out. Almost as if God were saying, “I know you have all these burdens on your heart, but I want you to understand the importance of drawing close to me. “Let me show you the way of escape,” or, “let’s look at the more important matters of resting in Me, rather than dwell on all the urgent situations going on in your life right now.”
Our Lord spoke to Joshua “Have I not commanded you? ‘Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 RSV
Even today that same admonition applies to each of us. Be strong and courageous, for the Lord our God is leading the way, one prayer at a time. God will speak noble things to us as He opens our heart to reveal many things to us. Indeed, those who wait for the Lord, will gain new strength. One cannot put a ranking on God’s resources. But waiting to listen, I feel is one of God’s finest tools to allow us to see Him at work.

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