Walkie-Talkies

Think of prayer like a set of walkie-talkies. To properly and successfully use a set of walkie-talkies, one person must talk while the other person listens. Then the second person talks, and the first person listens.

Prayer is the same way. We must pray to God, knowing that He will listen. But then - and this is the part that most people forget to do - we must wait to hear back from Him with His advice, His counsel, His guidance, and His answer to our prayer.

Too often we only mumble a 1-minute prayer as we rush out the door in the morning, or a 30-second prayer before we eat, and we never listen for what God may be wanting to say back to us. Successful prayer is like a successful conversation. You pray, and God listens. Then God talks, and you listen. It's a two-way street.

James 1:5 (Message) says, "If you don't know what you are doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get His help, and won't be condescended to when you ask."

Psalm 32:8 (Message) says, "Let Me give you some good advice; I'm looking you in the eye and giving it to you straight."

Jeremiah 33:3 says, "Call to Me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own."

God wants to hear you praying to Him, and He wants to respond back. He wants to help you. He wants to give you His advice. He wants to answer you and tell you marvelous and wondrous things - but you have to call to Him first. Make the call. Pick up the walkie-talkie. But when you're finished talking, be sure to listen. He may have a lot to tell you.