God's voice, day 7

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
Lord, teach me to listen.  The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them.  Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, “Speak, for thy servant heareth.”  Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart.  Let me get used to the sound of Thy voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking voice.  Amen.  (The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer)


Psalm for the Week: Psalm 29

Scripture for the Day: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Reading for Reflection:

In recent years I’ve begun to understand that prayer is more “gift given” than “mission accomplished.”  Out of his love for me, Jesus makes me the object of his attention and his affection.  Out of my love for him, Jesus becomes the object of my attention and affection.  Focusing on Jesus is more helpful than placing all of my attention on praying in a particular way.  If I am not faithful to the discipline of prayer, in whatever form, bit by bit I will forget God.  I must beg God daily for the grace to live a life of unceasing prayer.  I must regularly spend time with God speaking and listening, pondering and getting to know God.  If I do anything but this, my mind and my heart will be consumed with other interests and concerns.  Before long I will fail to recognize the sound of God’s voice, and I will stop speaking to God.  I know this from hard experience. (Running on Empty by Fil Anderson)

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: Blessed Be Your Name

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out, I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be your name
You give and take away, You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name!

Closing Prayer:
Father, you have taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence we shall be strengthened:  By Your Spirit lift us to Your presence, where we may be still and know that You are God. (Living Prayer by Robert Benson)