Commuicating With God

He wants to Hear Your Voice pt-2

Prayer is Communicating

There are Three Facets of Communicating with God.

Prayer is our way of talking to God and expressing our needs, desires, praises, and thanks. Prayer is also a way of aligning ourselves with God’s will and seeking His guidance and wisdom.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."1 Timothy 2:1-4 "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."Matthew 6:9-13 "Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."James 5:16 "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."3

Listening

Listening is our way of hearing from God and receiving His instruction, correction, encouragement, and comfort. Listening involves reading and meditating on His word, being attentive to His voice in our hearts, and being open to His guidance through circumstances and other people.

Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."Isaiah 30:21 "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."

Obedience

Obedience is our way of responding to God and showing our love and reverence for Him. Obedience involves doing what He commands us to do in His word and following His direction in our lives. Obedience also means avoiding what He forbids us to do and repenting when we sin against Him.

John 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."James 1:22 "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."1 Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply.”

“The art of communication is the language of leadership.” James Humes

“Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity.”

“By friendship you mean the greatest love, the greatest usefulness, the most open communication, the noblest sufferings, the severest truth, the heartiest counsel, and the greatest union of minds of which brave men and women are capable.” Jeremy Taylor

“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.”

“Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by Him who is Himself the great listener and whose work they should share. We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God.”

Prayer is our way of communicating with God. Prayer is not simply asking God for things – He is not a genie. Our goal of prayer is not to attempt to manipulate the Sovereign Creator. We are to pray as Christ prayed, according to the will of God.

Prayer, therefore, is our asking God to bring us closer to Him. Prayer is a time to bring our trouble to Him, to confess our sins to Him, to praise Him, to pray for other people, and to commune with Him. God communicates to us through His word.

We should take time during prayer to be still, and dwell in the truth of His Word.

1) 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

2) Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

3) 1 Timothy 2:1-4 “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

4) Jeremiah 29:12 “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.”

5) 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

Communication with people

The Bible has a lot to say about how we communicate with others. We are commanded to do everything for the glory of God, even in the way that we communicate with others.

7) James 1:19 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”

8) Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

9) Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

10) Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

11) 2 Timothy 2:16 “But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.”

12) Colossians 3:8 “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”

Talking too much in conversation

Talking too much always leads to problems. It not only is selfish and makes it more difficult to listen to whom you’re speaking to, but the Bible says that it leads to trouble.

13) Proverbs 12:18 “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

14) Proverbs 10:19 “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”

15) Matthew 5:37 “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

16) Proverbs 18:13 “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.”

Being a good listener is important

Just as there are several verses about guarding how we talk and how much we talk, there are many verses that discuss how we are to be a good listener. We should not only hear what the other person has to say, but also listen to their emphasis, and seek to understand the meaning behind the words they are conveying.

17)  Proverbs 18:2 “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”

18) Proverbs 25:12 “Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.”

19) Proverbs 19:27 “Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.”

The power of our words

We are going to be held responsible for every word that we say. God created communication. He created great power in words, words can injure other people immensely as well as help build them up. We need to seek to use words wisely.

20) Matthew 12:36 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.”

21) Proverbs 16:24 “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”

22) Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

23) Proverbs 15:4 “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”

24) Luke 6:45 “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

25) James 3:5 “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!”

Prayer is a privilege and a duty for every believer. We can pray anytime and anywhere, because God is always with us and always listening (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 4:16).Prayer is powerful and effective. God hears and answers our prayers according to His will and for His glory (James 5:16; 1 John 5:14-15).Prayer is a way of aligning our will with God’s will. We can pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; Luke 22:42).Prayer is a way of confessing our sins and receiving forgiveness. We can ask God to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and restore our fellowship with Him (1 John 1:9; Psalm 51:10-12).Prayer is a way of expressing our needs and desires. We can ask God to provide for us, protect us, guide us, and bless us (Philippians 4:6; Matthew 7:7-11).Prayer is a way of interceding for others. We can pray for the salvation, healing, peace, and well-being of our family, friends, neighbors, and even enemies (1 Timothy 2:1-4; Ephesians 6:18).Prayer is a way of praising and worshiping God. We can thank Him for who He is and what He has done for us, and adore Him for His attributes and character (Psalm 100:4; Revelation 4:11).

Communication is one area that we can all work on and improve in. We must all strive to communicate clearly, truthfully, and lovingly. We must communicate in a way that glorifies God and reflects Christ.

Blessing to All