Priscilla Shirer

Once I’m finished bringing my prepackaged matters to God’s attention, instead of ending things right there—as though I’ve dutifully delivered my report to Him and can now go on about my business as usual—I don’t. I resist the urge to jump to my feet just because “I’m done.” Sure, I might be done, but … what if God’s not? I’ve gotten a chance to talk—to share with Him what is on my mind. Why should I not at least allow Him the same courtesy? So I stop allowing what my mind is aware of to control the prayer time. I pray with my “spirit.”

Rather than telling God things I already know, I invite Him to tell me things only He knows, things He wants to share with me by His Spirit. I allow the Holy Spirit to bring people and situations to mind that I wouldn’t normally think of. Then I pray for them and ask how I might be useful in ministering to these individuals personally, since that is quite possibly why He’s telling me about them in the first place.

And if I’m ever to know what His thoughts are, they won’t come from my own self, my own words, my own talking. Only from listening. Listening in prayer. This is God’s turn to talk, and very frequently—when given the chance—He’ll do just that.