Day 30 - Are You Listening?

Have you ever had a conversation with a friend, spouse, child, co-worker, boss or someone on the phone where you have shared deeply from your heart only to get a response such as "Oh, that's nice." Or perhaps the other person read something into what you have said and goes into a diatribe about how you should not feel the way you do? Maybe they decide they need to pray for you and their prayer is totally off base. You walk away or hang up the phone thinking "They did not listen to a word I said!"


I have read through the entire Bible five or six times in my lifetime. I wanted to scream at Eve, "Did you not hear what God said????" Why are you listening to that stupid serpent?"  I got so annoyed with the Israelites for not listening to God. Hey, Israelites, God was right there with you in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night; yet you complain and grumble! No wonder He allowed you to roam the desert for forty years! And OMG...the Apostles? They had Jesus right there in front of them, but they did not truly listen either. How many times a day does my Heavenly Father say the same thing about me? 


I am going 100 miles per hour sometimes, in multiple directions and I will pray a quick prayer here and there throughout the day. I hit the ground running at 5:40 a.m. and don't stop until midnight or later most days. I know that God is with me everywhere and I don't necessarily need to be lying prostrate to pray to Him. I actually have some of my best prayer time relaxing in a nice hot bubble bath. While I give my "shout outs" to God, I don't take time to listen to His response. I know how badly I feel when someone I care so much about is not listening, not hearing my heart's cry. I know that sometimes, I break The Father's heart because  I am so busy with life that I don't have time for the very One who gave me that life.


Father, forgive me for making the cares of this world more important in my life than You. I know You speak to my heart and I need to take time to listen to what You have to say. You know the end from the beginning. You know the end of the story....heck You wrote the story!
I must slow down and take time to start my day with You...perhaps I should set my alarm clock for 5:30 a.m. and spend the first ten minutes of my day with You. Thank You for Your Mercy and Grace that are new EVERY single morning. I am so thankful to You for that.


I love you, Lord
Pamela