More Than a Monologue
by Brigitte Straub
Please join us on the blog today: http://talk.thelife.com/
Too often we see prayer as a monologue: we’re the only one talking! But prayer can be so much more. It can be a dynamic dialogue with our living God. It is the link between us and our first love, Jesus. It is communing with Him, being intimate. Prayer is sensing each other’s presence. Prayer is sharing everything with another, to walk through life together. It is a feasting on one another’s love. It is communion between two lovers, a relationship.
Jesus says: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent??? (John 17:3).
As Jesus spoke these words and lifted up His eyes towards heaven, He was proclaiming His yearning for us to know Him and His Father intimately. My friend, that is why He said before ascending into heaven that it was to our advantage that He would leave. He wanted to send the Holy Spirit to live within us, revealing His thoughts, His desires and His Truth.
The desire of God’s heart is communion with His children. He always has wanted that, from the beginning of time, when He walked in the garden in the cool of the day with Adam and Eve. He longs to speak to us. We can enter The Holiest with boldness because of the awesome love of our Heavenly Father, who sent His only Son Jesus Christ who shed His blood for us. God made a new way for us to come to Him in prayer by the Person of the Holy Spirit who now lives within each and every one of His children.
Friend, God wants to talk with you. Whether in the car, at work, or even taking a shower, fix your eyes on Jesus and become still before Him. Expect to hear His voice, whether it comes as an impression upon your heart, a Scripture with which He illumines your mind, or a picture He fills your eyes with. Enjoy a dialogue with your living God!
~Father, I come before You and thank You that You do want me to know You intimately. I thank You for making that possible through Your Son Jesus. Thank You for sending Him to die, so that I might have eternal life and know You intimately. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who reveals to me Your thoughts. I yield myself to You in faith.
About the Author
This devotional was written by Brigitte Straub. Read more about Brigitte: http://talk.thelife.com/authors/brigitte-straub/
Going Deeper
1. Consider these questions: Why do we find it easier to bring our petitions to God than to be silent and wait for Him to speak to us? How can we integrate the act of listening into our prayer life?
2. Comment on the devotional blog. Interact with others who are reading today’s devotional: http://talk.thelife.com/
3. Chat: Join us for a 15-minute chat at 10:30 am Eastern, 7:30 am Pacific: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat
4. Check out the related article: “Fifteen minutes of daily discipline”: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/prayer/15minutes.html
Copyright
This devotional is protected by copyright laws and may not be reprinted or posted to a site without permission from TruthMedia Internet Group. All readers are welcome to forward the devotional to a friend or link to it. If you would like to seek permission to reprint the devotional in full, please see our guidelines: http://talk.thelife.com/reprint-permission/
Happy July to you! Our Canadian friends began the month celebrating their country, and tomorrow, our American compadres will celebrate theirs.
This month on the TruthMedia devotional for women, we’re celebrating prayer. Our writers have put together a feast of Scripture and encouragement that we trust will draw you deeper still into vital conversation with our Lord.
Also, we’ve launched the new issues of our magazines centered on the summer of theme of simple living. Take a peek: http://www.christianwomentoday.com
http://www.womentodaymagazine.com
Finally, you may have noticed that the devotional that went out on July 1 bore the wrong date. Apologies! Check out the devotional you should have gotten: http://tmdevotionals.com/women/2006/07/01/is-god-trying-his-hardest/
Praying for you,
Stacy
Senior Editor
TruthMedia
I am struggling with daily prayer. I know I need to pray/converse with my Heavenly Father throughout the day and I try but it’s still a struggle. Thank you for devotionals like “More Than A Monologue” and your daily devotionals.
Many times when we pray we are expecting to hear the audible voice of God. I believe this is why it is difficult to be still. In our prayer time we must turn our hearts and mind inward to hear the spirit man speaking. God speaks to our spirit man. We are listening with ears and not with our heart.
Thank you so much for your devotional, it helps me each day. I also struggle with prayer everyday, but I am thankful that God forgives me when I fail to pray as I should. I believe that the enemy will do anything he can to keep you from praying. I appreciate Toni’s comment, it helps to know that I am not the only one who struggles with prayer. God Bless you for sending this devotional to me.
How do we know that this verse or picture is god’s word not just that our mind made it ?
Excellent question, koukie. I’m anxious to read some good answers.
Patty, thank you for letting me know I’m not the only one struggling with prayer.
Great devotional! I also struggle with daily just sitting and being still before the Lord! BUT I am constantly talking to him throughout the day and praising Him often, for every little thing. Like my beautiful healthy nephew born early this morning :-) Praise God!!!!
To KOUKIE’S question… I think that FAITH is a huge part of being a Christian and that we need faith to believe in anything. Also, I think when we are daily spening time with the Lord, we WILL know the differnce between God speaking to you and your imagination. Because when someone really intimately meets the living God something miraculous happens. Your eyes and heart will be so open to Him and you WILL hear and see all that He can do in your life, if you allow Him to work in you! Also, we need to TRUST HIM!!! Let’s not just say it, but actually do it and praise Him for what He is going to do, even before it has happened. Also, I think that sometimes people think that “oh that was just a coinsedence”, which would be part of your question koukie about it being your mind. but I DO NOT think that there is such a thing as coinsedence. But yet it is a divine intervetion of the Lord. I hope this answer may have helped you some! :-)
God bless you as you seek Him and thank you Lord for this awesome devotion that we can come to daily and refresh!
Love Tracy
Thank you tracy .I like the part when you explained abt coinsedence.Thank you Trouth Media for your Big help also
Hi,
I´ve gone through so much that I´ve become somewhat cynical. The devotional talks about having an impression on your heart, a Scripture that illuminates your mind and a picture that fills your eyes. I´ve experienced all of that and truly believed God had spoken to me, it was very personal, too personal to be called a coincidence. I experienced it during my time with the Lord, at church or while worshiping Him, and I can say that it´s been proven wrong. Don´t get me wrong, please, I love Jesus more than I could ever be able to explain with words. I do spend time with Him, even though it´s been hard sometimes, especially after everything that came down. I´m not trying to discourage anybody at all. I just want to understand why I’ve gone through all of that, I just don´t understand it. It is because of what I’ve experienced that it is very hard for me to know when the Lord is speaking to me now. And believe me, I have not been led by emotions or my own desires, only God knows how true that is. I´m starting a new relationship with Him, leaving everything in the past and putting my whole trust in Him again. I just pray that by the power of His Holy Spirit I will be able to recognize His voice in a new way. Christianity has been difficult for me.
Thank you all for your input and for belonging to this beautiful family. There´s no one like Jesus!!
Most often Susy when we go through trials and tribulations; especially when we know that our relationship with the Lord is right, they are designed to take us to the next level in our walk with the Lord,(the new relationship you are starting with Him).
And Susy, He never promised it would be easy but He did promise that when you pass through the waters, He will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. He said that He would give Epypt for your ransom, Ethopia and Seba in your place because you are precious in His sight. (Isaiah 43)
Beloved remain steadfast and unmovable, He is holding you in the fire until He sees his image.
Thank you Marie. I´m trying my best to believe the Lord is holding me even when I don’t “feel” He’s doing it. I love Him and want nothing more than to glorify Him.
God bless you and your family Marie :)