Quote from the book, What Happens When We Pray
For Our Families. Evelyn, page 160
LISTENING PRAYERSThe most important prayers we pray during family death situations are listening prayers. Death is a time we need to receive from God, when we need to hear what He has to say to us.
The night my mother died, I had asked God a myriad of questions. But it was in my lying still--listening—that I received answers. It was then God, in His part of the prayer conversation, could bring His divine answers into my reeling brain, divinely settling my questions.
When we receive the
news that a family member’s death is inevitable (the illness is terminal), or is
imminent (any moment they will go) or has occurred (too late to avoid), it is
normal to bombard God with questions.
Questions of why like this? Why
now? Questions of disbelief. Confused
and bewildered questions. Angry
questions asking God why He allowed it.
Asking why He hadn’t performed that miracle He was capable of doing when
we had prayed for it so long. But
usually we stop at the asking, not taking time to wait on God for His answers.
The only way we can
find out how all-sufficient God can be at times like this, is to stop talking
at Him and let Him show us who He really is—the omnipotent God of heaven. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I
am God.” KJV
Being still
and listening is something I can easily forget, but when I have lost someone I
love, stillness and listening has kept me going.
Life is
busy, filled with so many challenges.
When I am wrapped up in life, it takes a conscience effort to be still
and listen to God.
Losing someone
I love has forced me to be still and listen because the need for God in my life
during these times becomes so real.
I remember
the moment that my mother was rushed into Jesus arms. The look on her face comforted me because I
knew she saw something she recognized.
So for my mom, she was headed to a place she had always dreamed of
going, Heaven. But how do I handle it?
Reading
this chapter of Evelyn’s book opened my eyes to the importance of really
LISTENING and letting God speak to me about what I need to hear when I have
lost a loved one.
You know,
LISTENING Prayers are so important every day of my life, but how can I really
listen?
I need to
STOP everything I am doing, rest, and then listen by reading the Bible,
attending a church service, listening to a motivational CD of just visiting
with a friend. God uses many ways to speak to me, but the key is to stop and
LISTEN to him.
…and
that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him… Deuteronomy 30:20a
Dear God,
Please help
me to take the time to pray LISTENING prayers about everything. You want to speak to me and encourage me, but
I need to take the time to LISTEN.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment