Daily Devotion - Thursday, April 22

Becoming a Better Listener

“Give ear to my words, O Lord;
give heed to my sighing.
Listen to the sound of my cry, O my God,
for to you I pray.”
--From Psalm 5

“I Need to Listen” is the title of a prayer by Kenneth Phifer. This week we are praying through this prayer, trying to become better listeners. The verses of the Psalm are from a person desiring that God hear his/her prayers. Rev. Phifer’s prayer is asking for God to empower him to be a better listener. The two themes can be drawn together. Part of today’s section of the prayer turns within, listening to ourselves.

“Help me to listen to myself,
to still small voices of conscience, to whispers of faith,
and to the soft inner humming of hope.
Help me to learn to trust myself more than I do,
trust myself not because I am wise and good,
but because I am loved and wanted.

“Help me to listen to the stranger who may be an angel is disguise,
to the friend who may be lonely and lost.
Help me to listen to the angry and the outraged
who may be saying to me words I need to hear.”

Divine presence and help is near. As we see Dr. Phifer’s requests simply stated, may each of us find our conversation with God a time of simply identifying the help we need to maintain the quiet center of our lives. A listening Creator enables us to be better listeners.

Have a good day.

--Ben Keckler
04.22.10