What Is Heard

"Thus faith comes from what is heard." - Romans 10:17

I have songs I listen to when I want to pump myself up and I'm sure you do too. That's because what you listen to, whether you realize it or not, really affects how you feel and your emotions. What you listen to always affects your faith. It can build it or destroy it. So many of you tell me that reading these messages helps your faith. Why? Because you're hearing the Word of God. Your faith comes from what you listen to. Being around people that tell you about God, about their own relationship with Jesus will increase your faith as well. In the same way, when you listen to people who will bring your faith down and tell you things they have against religion and the church, guess what will happen to your faith? Unless your faith is super solid, it will decrease. If you read through the gospels, Jesus spent most of His time instilling faith into the disciples through His parables, His teachings…His words.

If you want to see God do amazing things for you in your life, you need to believe, you need to have faith. If you want this faith that can move mountains, you have to make sure you listen to the Word of God each day. Spend time with scripture. Have a conversation with someone about how good God is and most of all, guard yourself from people and things that will take away from your faith with what they have to say. When you're trying to stay positive, you cannot be brought down by the negative. Listen to the Word of God and receive the promises He has made for His people. Allow them to sink into your heart so that you can walk in the kind of faith that can overcome any obstacle and achieve the greatest things.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for our ears that help us listen to and accept Your Word. Keep me receptive to all You want to teach me and let Your Words take root in my heart. In Your Name we pray, amen.

The Meaning of Prayer

"Morning after morning, He wakes me up to hear, to listen like a disciple." - Isaiah 50:4

What is prayer to you? To many people, it is talking to God. But when Jesus gives us the "Our Father," He clearly tells us not to use many words to pray because our Father in Heaven already knows what we want and need…and, this isn't the only time that Jesus tells us that God knows what we want/ need before we even ask, He tells us this throughout the gospels.

So, then, what is prayer? Why do we pray? Even when we're happy and we all have what we want, why do we still have a need for prayer? Simply, it is because we feel a deeper need to be better people, and we know that God helps get us to that point. Therefore, prayer is actually our listening to God and yearning for His influence in our lives. A couple of months ago, I was praying, and I usually have everything I ask for all mapped out, but on this night, I felt as if a voice told me, "Audrey, don't use words, I already know. Just be in my presence." My prayer was made more effective by just listening and being with God on my private time. And the prophet Isaiah had this same experience with God. God would wake him up early to listen, to see what His will was for Isaiah.

Today, as you go and find your time to talk to God, please reflect on this passage. God knows what you want, what you need, and even what you'll want and need 10 years from now, instead, let your prayer time be to listen and be surrounded by His presence.

Today's Prayer:
Lord, sometimes I only think about myself and what I want You to do for me. Other times I can't listen to You because I don't make time or I can't sit still, or I'll even let doubts and distractions get to me. But despite this, I know You want to talk to me and I want to listen. Please, take this time to open my ears and make sure I listen. In Your Name we pray, amen.