A Psalm of Praise, of David.
I will extol You, my God, O King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty
And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. (Psalm 145:1-5)
Does peace come naturally for you, or does it feel like a constant struggle? Sometimes it seems as if so many things are actively working against our peace that our spirits may never know a moment’s rest. How can we quiet distractions long enough to hear God’s voice?
The key is found within a word that may make you uncomfortable: meditation. Perhaps you’re thinking, All that meditation stuff is what other religions call “finding yourself.” I’m not going to waste my time with that. Oh no! What a horrible misconception. My friend, meditation is not about listening to yourself; on the contrary, it is about quieting your own mind and listening for the gentle whispers of God.
Think about your prayer life. Whose voice is more prominent—yours or God’s? For most people, the vast majority of prayer time is spent talking to God, thanking Him for what He’s done, and asking for help with your life. There is certainly nothing wrong with this, but if you never give Him time to answer, how will you know what He wants you to do?
The time we spend listening is a good indication of how much we respect and enjoy the relationship. If we dominate the conversation, then we may be showing God by our actions that His opinions are not as important as our own—we’d never say those words so plainly, but our actions may be proclaiming that very message. Are you listening to God? Commit to listening quietly for what He wants to share with you.
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