Yada Yada Yada

God gave us two ears and one mouth because we should listen more than we talk. Or so the saying goes. Many people flap their jaws so much you might think that they had two mouths and one ear! Whether they can't stand the silence, or whether they just like the sound of their own voice, they think others will listen to them more. Or maybe they think that others will perceive them as intelligent or important. It is not the quantity of words that count. In fact, rambling on and on will ensure that everyone stops listening to you! In fact, the two most memorable speeches by the greatest of men were also the shortest! I bet most of you can quote Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" and Winston Churchill when he spoke to a group of students and told them to "Never, ever, ever give in." Their brevity and word choice made them memorable.

Is it possible for us to over-talk like that when we pray to God? Our first reaction might be to say, "No way!" And while it is true that God hears every word you utter, whether it is with your mouth or your heart, maybe we do need to slow down and zip up our lips for a moment. The first thought that came to my mind was when Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. Open your Bible to Matthew 6:5-15. Read through it carefully. Now, take a closer look at verse 7. "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." There it is: do not keep on babbling. Verse 8 explains why. God knows what we need before we ask Him.

God wants us to come to Him and speak to Him and tell Him all about our troubles. He wants to hear from us, but He also wants us to listen to Him. For however long you speak to God in prayer, you should be listening for twice that. Psalm 46:10 "He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Just be still. Perhaps God has words He wants to speak to you. Do you let Him speak to you? Open your Bible and find out what He wants you to know.