We Pray To Be Attentive To The Voice of God and The Needs Of Others

Whether they admit it or not, everyone longs for someone to listen to them and care for them.  This is just one of the things we’ve missed so much during these long weeks and months of social isolation connected to the covid-19 pandemic.

Sometimes, even when we can be together, when we are speaking, we feel someone is not listening to us and assume they do not care.  But then, how many times have we offended God and others by not being attentive and paying attention to what they said?  Real relationship is built on listening to God and to each other.  I love these verses in the Bible:

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord, …. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.  Psalm 130:1

O Lord, hear!  O Lord, Forgive!  O Lord, Listen!  O Lord, Act!  Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.  Daniel 9:19

God listens to us and His attention to our thoughts and needs brings comfort and stability to our daily living.  There are all sorts of things we need and those short staccato prayers from Daniel are really all we can manage sometimes, aren’t they:  O Lord, hear!  Forgive!  Listen! Act!  And then we often add on, “And hurry up please” also like Daniel who is begging God to not delay with His help.

Here’s the wonderful promise we can stand on as we come to God in this way:

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.  Psalm 34:15

God wants to care for us and for others, even through the way He will generously bless us with things to pass on to them. God’s Holy Spirit will help us listen attentively to what others are saying, so that we can comfort and help them find the healing they need, just like He pays attention to what we are saying and at every moment is making the exact comfort and healing we need available to us.

Caring enough to listen well, is something we can all develop and grow in.  It begins with a willingness to stop being self-centered and needing other’s attention to be directed towards us.  That’s the amazing model God gives us when He bends down to hear us.

Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!  Psalm 116:2

I mean really, doesn’t that verse amaze you as well.  God, the creator of the universe who deserve the worship and praise of all people from all times and all cultures, bends down to listen to what we are trying to communicate with Him.  He wants to catch every word, every emotion, every nuance of what we are trying to say even when we can’t quite find the right words. 

To be attentive to others as God is attentive to us, we must stop speaking and listen.  We must quiet the voices in our head that have a response prepared before a person has half a sentence spoken.  It takes intention and effort to become interested in what someone is sharing and really listen to them.  What a wonderful way to express our love and care for someone today. 

Be humble. Value others more than yourselves. None of you should look out just for your own good. Each of you should also look out for the good of others.  Philippians 2:3-4

Heavenly Father, You listen to me every time I come to You and You care about what is going on in me.  I can’t imagine what effort it takes for You to give Your whole attention to my feeble attempts to communicate with You, and yet You do.  My needs, my expressions of gratitude and praise fill Your heart with love and care and You are just so ready to respond and pour out blessing.  Give me faith and perseverance to come to You and open all of my heart to You so You can meet every need in my life today, according to Your great riches.

This same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

Help me to love like You love and give the gift of a listening ear and an attentive heart to others in need today.  Help me to truly care for and lift up others, by being present to them and by bringing them and their needs to You for Your generous blessing.  Amen