Reflection: Listening in Prayer

Prayer is not just talking to God — it’s also learning to listen. Too often, we rush through our prayers, pouring out our hearts and walking away before giving God a chance to speak. But a true relationship requires both conversation and stillness.

Think of the young Samuel in 1 Samuel 3. As he lay in the temple, he heard a voice calling his name. Three times he mistook it for Eli’s, until the old priest realised it was God speaking. When Samuel finally answered, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening,” it marked the beginning of his prophetic journey.

God still speaks today — not always in an audible voice, but through His Word, His Spirit, circumstances, and the quiet nudges in our hearts. The challenge is often not whether He’s speaking, but whether we’re listening.

Listening in prayer is an act of humility. It says, “God, I value Your voice more than my own words.” When we quiet our hearts, we create space for His wisdom, comfort, and direction to flow.