I believe in prayer and consider myself to be a prayer learner. I’ve read books about it, talked about it, and practiced it. I have learned that there are different ways to pray. For instance, a person can kneel by their bedside, or sit in an easy chair with a cup of coffee, or write out a prayer, or take a “prayer walk.” These and several other approaches are perfectly acceptable approaches to prayer. One real deal breaker to prayer is what is stated in this proverb: one way praying. Prayer is intended to be a conversation with God. It isn’t about my airing my list of wants and concerns while God patiently stands by taking notes. Generally, it is my perspective that is changed in prayer, not God’s. The wise man of the proverbs reminds me of the conversational nature of prayer. Of course, there is another aspect of “listening” here. When I spend time in the Presence of God and he does speak I am to listen to what he says. That is, I am to take it to heart and move forward in obedience. Often, I have found, God intends to use me in answer to my own prayers. He has work for me to do and, no matter how fervently I continue to pray, nothing will come of it until I start listening to what the Lord is saying to me.
Tags: Book of Proverbs
