By Hal Green
Pondering Prayer
Most of us have a problem listening. It seems to be something of a universal issue among humankind. I mean really listening, listening with the ear of your heart as well as your head. We readily take in surface stuff; yet to get the deeper message, we have to stop what we are doing, open up, and fully face the other, like flowers opening to the morning sun. Psalm 46:10 puts this very simply: “Be still, and know that I am God!” You have to be still and silent to take in, learn and know. To do that, you must want to hear the message.
One of the most remarkable verses in the entire Bible is Revelation 3:20. It presents a great summary of what Christ seeks to do and for us to do in response, all in Christ’s own voice. The resurrected Christ tells the church at Laodicea, “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.”
These are words to take to heart and even memorize. I silently recite them nearly every day. It helps keep me opened to, centered and focused on Christ. Some years ago, while I was a pastor teaching a confirmation class, a life-changing event took place for one of the students. It happened while I guided them through a meditation exercise. The theme: what would happen if Jesus knocked at the front door of your home? I had them close their eyes and let their imaginations run free. Then I calmly and softly guided them through the meditation.
Every one of the students reported an experience of Christ being present in their home. For one young man, however, it was life changing. Robert was nearly in tears as he attempted to describe what had occurred. He said, “I heard Jesus knocking and when I opened the door, it felt like he was really there! I invited him in, and to my shock, Jesus told me right away that he wanted me to become a pastor!” Years later, Robert became an ordained United Methodist pastor.
In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, the word for “listen” is “shema.” It has served as the creedal statement of Judaism for thousands of years. It is to be recited twice a day and is called “The Shema.” It comes from Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”
Most significantly, the verse that follows it is what Jesus called the greatest of all God’s commandments: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:5-6).
Seek to open to and listen for God today. Meditate on this passage from Revelation. Hear these words as if Christ is actually addressing you at the door of your heart. It is for you alone to open that door in the freedom God has granted you. You must desire and choose to invite God into your heart and soul. Christ will do the rest.
Imagine the communion the two of you could have in the privacy of your heart. Such sweet communion is the substance of salvation. It will be yours for eternity. Yet if you are ready, you can begin that communion now. Once begun, it need never end.
(Hal Green, Ph.D., is author of Pray This Way to Connect with God. You can contact him at drhalgreen@gmail.com.)
