Power in Prayer: Be Wholehearted

by Marilynn Chadwick

How often do you take time to really listen to God? Many of us blow through our days without thinking about God. Even our alone times are filled with so much noise that it can be hard to hear his voice above the fray.

It was the seventeenth century theologian Francois Fenelon who said, "How rare it is to find a soul still enough to hear God speak." I believe that training my heart to hear (and obey) God's voice is my most important task on earth. No doubt it has the most eternal impact.

Maybe you've discovered that listening for God's voice is not always easy. Every voice you hear in your head is not from God. We pick up signals from the world, our flesh, and even our enemy, the devil. The Bible tells us he can disguise himself as "an angel of light." Personally, I find the devil sometimes speaks with a Southern accent sounding remarkably like me!

Because we live in such a busy, noisy world, we must be determined to get quiet long enough to hear God's voice—especially his whispers. That's why I periodically need to refresh my "spiritual listening skills."

I'll share a few practical tips I've discovered along the way. Start with Scripture. God's Word is filled with ways to strengthen your power in prayer. Over the years, I have seen amazing answers to prayer. I've learned from experience that God can be trusted to speak to me through the pages of Scripture. It's no wonder God's Word is called the "sword of the spirit." It is also referred to as being "living and active" (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12).

I find it helps to have teammates, fellow seekers to provide encouragement and accountability. This helps me stay on task and remain wholehearted in my call to pray.

It helps to add a bit of structure to my commitment to seek God. Getting started can be simple:

1. Pick out a special place for prayer. A favorite chair, a corner of your study, your back porch. Wherever you feel close to God. This is your spot.

2. Carve out early time for prayer. My time alone with God is my first hour and sets the tone for the rest of my day. I like to call this my "power hour."

3. Gather your tools: A Bible, a notebook or journal, maybe a favorite devotional.

4. Begin now to talk to God and tell him that you want to learn to hear his voice more clearly. You might not notice much at first, but I can assure you. If you are serious about seeking God wholeheartedly, the rewards will come.

5. Ask God who is on his heart—pray he will prompt you to pray for people, places, and situations you may not have considered. Expect to be surprised at the doors he opens.

Above all, be intentional. Make prayer your top priority. Make it your goal to pray throughout the day—keep a running conversation with your heavenly Father. The Lord gives us a promise: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).