Just Listen (Today's Pilgrim Challenge)

So often we are at the center of our conversations with God. We sit down or kneel, and begin rattling off our needs, our wants, our petitions, our intercessions, our struggles, our joys etc. So often our prayer is so one sided. Prayer happens on our time, when we have something to say. We are busy, so we say what we need to say, then move on with life. No time to waste, no time to linger.

Here on Pilgrimage, we have been sharing often how great it is to have long amounts of time in the Churches we have visited, to look and pray and reflect and journal. Our challenge today is to do a 180 from our normal prayer life. Instead of being on the offensive today, just listen. Don't tell him what you want, what you think you need. Don't tell him where you've sinned, or fallen short, or where you are weak. Instead, take a conscious amount of time, and just sit with your journal and listen. Begin by genuinely asking God:

What do You want to tell me? What is it You want to show me? What do You need from me? What do you desire for me?

Then, listen. It may be hard at first, but if you find yourself talking, recenter yourself. Go back to those questions, and listen again. Write down and journal what God is telling you. He so much wants to speak to you. He so much wants you to know it. Today, give him the floor. Give him the time. Let him lead and direct the conversation.

God what do you want from me? What do you desire for me? What are you trying to tell me?

I invite all of you back home to unite your prayers and hearts with ours and to try to live the same challenge at home.