Speak, Lord, I am Listening

I have to learn how to listen to God's voice.

I came across the following prayer in the church bulletin on Sunday (which happened to be Hymn Sunday & Worship & Ministry Dedication).

Gracious Lord, You speak to me at many times and in various ways through Your Word, through people, through circumstances - but often my mind is miles away and I am not really listening. I nod assent. I file away an idea, a possibility, something i need to correct. But like the hundred and one things that clutter my desk, it is lost to me. I do not take hold of it and act on it.

Lord, when You speak to me, it must seem to You as if we have a party line. There are all sorts of people interrupting the conversation, noisy bursts of static, and constant technical difficulties. You must wonder if I'm getting anything at all from what You're saying. You speak, and I'm on guard. I want to be on intimate terms with You when such intimacy is to my advantage. But if I come close,if I really take in what You have to say, it could change my life and I'm afraid of that. Lord, if I keep resisting You, Your voice may be reduced to a whisper. SometimesI'm afraid it may disappear all together. Why should You keep calling me if I refuse to respond?

But that's not how things have to be.

Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.

God is speaking and yet I'm not listening. :(

And how to listen? I want to know...

And guess what? This morning, I happened to pick up this bookmark in Chinese that had all along been staring at me when I use the PC. (Usually I ignore looking at Chinese text.)And I was amazed at the prompt response to my question.

It reads (as I translate it):

God loves you and He awaits an intimate relationship with you. He would like to communicate with you daily. You may use the following steps to listen and respond to God's voice.

1. Ready your heart to listen to God
Invite God's presence and ask Him to reveal Himself and His Truth.

2. Read the Bible and meditate
Read the Bible passage slowly and aks God at the same time: " Lord, what do you want to tell me today? This passage tells me something about

- God: who is He? what kinds of attributes does He have? What has He done?
- myself: Who am I? How does God view me?
- a believer's life:
Sin - repent and avoid sins
Promise - accept and claim God's promises
Attitude - have godly attitudes
Command - obey God's commands
Example - learn from examples given
--> what pointers does the acronym SPACE have on my life?

3. Respond to God
Earlier you have listened to God's voice, now, use a prayer to respond to Him:
- apologise: confess your sins, repent and accept God's forgiveness
- give thanks: thank God for His abundant blessings and promises
- make a request: pray for yourself or intercede for others
- express love to God: sing praise to workship God

4. Record your conversation with God
- Read: write down the Bible verses
- Meditate: what did God tell you?
- Respond: what must you do?

John 14:15 (New International Version)
If you love me, you will obey what I command.

James 1:22 (New King James Version)
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

I will learn to obey! I must act on it!
Help me Lord!!!