Listening Prayer

Listening Prayer

I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will answer my complaint. Habakkuk 2:1

HABAKKUK COMPLAINED TO GOD about his plan to send an ungodly nation against Judah, and he wanted answers. God complied. It doesn’t always work that way; we have many questions that God doesn’t necessarily address. But he does invite us into an ongoing conversation with him and can handle our questions and confusion. He may remain silent about certain issues, but in general he tells us to ask.

But Habakkuk did more than ask. He positioned himself to hear and “see” what God would say. Habakkuk was quite aware that God often speaks in pictures. He was willing to isolate himself for a time of listening, and he remained there until God spoke. People don’t do that unless they expect God to say something. Habakkuk trusted that God would eventually make his will and wisdom known.

That’s a vital assurance to have as we pray in faith. Early in our spiritual growth, we may simply pour out to God whatever is on our hearts, hoping some of our prayers hit the mark. But over time, we learn to pray with God, listening for revelation from him in order to pray in sync with his purposes. It’s one thing to ask God to do something; it’s another to hear what he wants to do and then ask with assurance that he will do it. One approach results in scattershot prayers; the other establishes highly targeted requests. We can easily imagine which is more fruitful.

As you cultivate your spiritual vision, don’t forget to ask God—with full expectation that he will answer—what his heart is on a given matter. Spend some time listening for direction in prayer. Station yourself on your watchtower, and don’t give up until the answer comes. When it does, pray it with all your heart and with the conviction that God would not have guided you there if he didn’t have every intention of fulfilling your request. He delights in satisfying the hearts of those who have sought to know his.

The whole science of the saints consists in finding out and following the will of God.