SHUT UP AND LISTEN!

As human as you are, I, too, have my fair share of earthly life problems. I was repeatedly reminded that when I am confronted with problems, I should pray- and I did just that, which was only half right.

I spent about thirty minutes each morning performing this ritual of praying and I am convinced my Saviour Jesus is always present to hear me. Honestly, most of my prayers never received any answers. A whole lot of questions started heaping in my mind- Could it be that my Saviour is not responding because my Saviour Jesus never listen to what I told him. Maybe I was boring Him with my constant complain and unchanging request of the various blessings and my Lord dozed off? I scrutinized through a lot more questions and ended up dazed by it all without the slightest hint that the problem lies in me-each time after delivering my prayers, I never stay back to listen to Him instruct me!

My earthly life was chaotic and I seriously needed my Lord Saviour Jesus to instruct me.

“Lord Jesus! Please tell me how to live my life approved of you to honor you,” I pleaded as I felt my earthly life exposed and vulnerable without Christ’s protection.

Imagine my disbelief and shock when I heard my Saviour’s soft still voice booming in my ears, “I was always patient listening to you when you pour out your distress and misfortune to me each morning. It’s not true that your prayers were not answered. Each morning after listening to you, I am always ready to instruct you with my teachings to help you overcome your earthly life dilemma. But before I could open my mouth to speak to you, to instruct and teach you, you left. That’s why you were suspicious whether I responded even though you were convinced I heard you. I want you to remember my son- you, too, must sit patiently to listen to me after you have finished your part of talking. I am always ready with answers for you, but you must learn to sit patiently and listen. And it’s very rude to leave abruptly like you always did!”

I realized that my skepticism whether Jesus answers my prayers were not true. The problem with my problem is I prayed for hours but never stayed even a second to listen to my Lord’s answers.

Understand this story in Luke 10:38-42, As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, 'Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come to help me." But the Lord replied her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her."

Nowadays, I pray for ten minutes but stay back thirty minutes to listen to my Lord’s instructions. Since then, my earthly life has escalated from earthly to almost heavenly!

Perhaps that's why we were created with a mouth and two ears and not vice versa!

Thank you, my Saviour Jesus who alone loves me.