Pursuing Heart: A Prayer for Every Day

At the beginning of the day, there is a prayer that is often on my heart - one that I will even write out in my journal many days ...

It goes something like this, though the wording varies a bit from day to day:

Lord, I long to hear from You today ...

help me to listen,

and to follow what You say.

And sometimes I ask myself, is it presumptuous to think that we, as humans, can actually hear from God? Who am I to think that I could have the privilege of hearing from God each day? Is it alright for me to ask for this? Each day?

To listen - of high priority

For quite a few years, the word listen has been a high priority to me, for I am in need of His help to really listen well. To those I love, to family and friends, and mostly, to God. I've been asking for God's help because it is not my default to listen. It's more natural for me to want others to listen to me. It's my default to talk to God and to tell Him what I need. To be formulating my thoughts into what I can say next while in a conversation with someone. But ...

I am learning that it is most important to listen.

My sheep listen to My voice;

I know them,

and they follow Me.

(John 10:27 NLT)

To really listen, I need to quiet my mind and heart, and to focus on the one whom I am listening to. To focus on what is most important.

Of course, there are many things that are very important in our lives. As young mothers, we are responsible for the care of our children. As wives and homemakers and those who serve through various careers and responsibilities, we have many noble things to give our attention to.

But above all, and of most importance, is to first of all, listen to our God, our Shepherd. He instructs us to listen, and if we listen, we will be able to hear and to follow. For we are known by Him. He is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep. Sheep depend on their Shepherd for everything, their every move - listening every day to their Master's voice.

"Mary sat at the Lord's feet,

listening to what He taught ...

'There is only one thing

worth being concerned about.

Mary has discovered it,

and it will not be taken away from her.'"

(from Luke 10:39, 42)