Prayer To Be Good Listeners To God and To One Another

One of the most respectful and generous gifts we can give another person is to really listen to them and receive the stories they have to tell us.  Sometimes it will be a voice of wisdom we need to hear and learn from for our own journey.  At other times it’s a gift of compassion to receive what someone has to say as they gift us with something vulnerable, even painful  that is better carried when shared.

These are wonderful words about God’s involvement in this way in our lives:

I told You about my life, and You listened to me; teach me Your statutes.  Psalm 119:26

Yesterday we heard about the appointment of a new Governor General in Canada, Mary Simon, an Inuk leader who will now be the Queen’s representative and head of state here in Canada for the next 5 years. 

In this time of great shock and sorrow as we learn about many injustices inflicted on individuals and families with indigenous backgrounds, it’s lovely that we have a person who can perhaps be an understanding bridge as we all learn to listen to one another.

I was also pleasantly surprised yesterday when a friend from a number of years appeared on the television news as she, a “60’s scoop survivor” and a daughter of a residential school survivor called on whoever is torching churches to stop and instead of inciting more anger and hatred with these acts of arson to rather stand together with those who grieve and grieve with them.

I know in my own life that some of the most precious memories I carry are of those who listened long to me when I was trying to tell what needed saying but not doing a great job of communicating it.  Their perseverance to listen and accompany me has made all the difference in my journey to healing and to recognizing God’s presence in all the moments of my life – the good and the difficult.

So Loving God, we give thanks that You are a God who listens.  Over and over again in Your Word we read

about how You heard the cries of people who suffered and acted on their behalf.  You are an attentive and

caring God and we are so grateful that we can live today in Your care.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

It’s why we remind ourselves in these moments together God, that You are with us, that You are listening, and that You are ready to respond to the cry of our hearts.  We’re grateful that You are not just a “heavenly bellhop” who brings us whatever we think we need but You teach us what is good and right and You act in the most beneficial ways to bring about what we really need rather than what we know in a moment.

My child, learn what I teach you and never forget what I tell you to do. Listen to what is wise and try to understand it. Proverbs 2:1-2

We’re grateful every day that when we come to You we don’t have to be afraid, no matter what’s gone wrong, how we’ve messed up, or what our current circumstances are.  You listen.  You answer and You are always kind. 

But God did listen and answered my prayer. Let’s praise God! He listened when I prayed, and he is always kind.  Psalm 66:19-20

What security that brings. What peace of mind. 

Today we want to make it a priority to pay attention to Your voice and to be good listeners both to You and those You bring across our path.  Help us to listen well with our hearts and to be kind as You’ve done so often with us.

You will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  Jeremiah 29:12-13

That’s our commitment today, God, to seek You with all our heart and to follow You with all that we are as we compassionately listen to one another and learn to honour and learn from people from whatever cultural and ethnic groups they represent.  We are all made in Your image and so there is something of Your heart we can learn from each other if we will pay attention to Your Holy Spirit and each other’s story. Amen