Listening to God and talking to Him seem to gain a renewed sense of mystery and privilege this week as we remember the price God paid to open this line of communication for us. God not only initiates prayer by “talking” to us through His word, His world, and His children, but then goes on to welcome us near, reminding us that He wants to give us mercy and grace.

I want to give God the respect of eye contact when He talks to me this week. I want to develop healthy communication patterns. Not one where I tolerate the others speaking, in this case, God Himself, so that I can say what I have already planned to say, but one where, when I have listened carefully, my response demonstrates that I have heard and am pondering.

I think I should start a prayer journal where I record what God is interested in talking about. In Malachi 3:16 we have this remarkable window into what God does with our words, “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name.”

If God thinks what I say is worth writing down then certainly I need to treat His words to me as precious keepsakes and record them in a book of remembrance.

Let’s let God write our prayer list this week. I would love to hear about your conversations.