When was the last time...?

Several years ago I started asking this question, of those I knew that professed to be Christians, in groups, or as I had opportunity to talk with people one on one. I was surprised by the responses I received and the silence that the question often seemed to create. "When was the last time you saw God at work in your life, as a result of your prayer ?" I wasn't looking for spiritually or theologically deep responses, I was just wondering if others paid attention to circumstances in life and whether or not they could attribute them to God answering a prayer they had offered. As an explanation, because I would often get either general feedback, like "all the time" or the response might be "what do you mean", I would explore further by suggesting that if you have had a conversation with God (prayer) in which you have made a request, for provision, protection, purpose, presence, have you been intentional about looking or listening, for His response ? After all, Matthew 7:7 seems to suggest that there will be a response to asking, seeking, knocking.

I like what Peter Lord wrote about "responding" in his book, Hearing God, "The law of response says our sensitivity increases in direct proportion to the positive responses we give to our impressions. The more we respond to the things of God—especially to the guiding voice of the Holy Spirit—the more aware we will become of Him and His world." Have you ever known someone who lived near and airport or a railroad ? Over time, what initially seemed to be an unavoidable annoyance became something that didn't affect them at all. They stopped responding to the noise and thus conditioned themselves "not to hear". My own experience was with a Westminster Chiming clock, that would chime every 15 minutes. Others would visit and when it began to chime they inevitably would ask, how does that sound not annoy or disturb you ?! Yep, the response was over time, if you ignore it, you really don't hear it anymore. God's voice, his actions in our lives, are seldom as loud as an airplane railroad, or even Westminster Chime clock, but the principal is the same. If you stop responding to it, eventually, you stop hearing Him or seeing Him work.

“Be still, and know that I am God…” – Psalm 46:10

“Come near to God and he will come near to you…” – James 4:8

“In all your ways acknowledge him…” – Proverbs 3:6

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” – Colossians 4:2

Practice bringing your prayers with you into your day, waiting, expecting, watching, listening for Him to speak or act. Doing so makes this possible - “Pray without ceasing.” -

1 Thessalonians 5:17