Thursday 22 September 2011

God has Really Good Listening Ears

By Narelle Nettelbeck

This entry is not about writing, it is what I write; how my relationship with God helps me thrive and survive as a mum. I pray this is a blessing to all of you. You can read more of my thoughts HERE.

As well as having two boys of my own, I work with children four days a week. I love listening to children chatting with each other; they say some really interesting things!
On Wednesday I overheard Miss 4 saying to Mr 3, “God has really good listening ears you know. He can hear you even when you are very quiet and whisper.”
I never cease to be amazed at the lessons I learn from children. I was so encouraged by Miss 4’s words and I have thought a lot about prayer ever since.
I know; we know, that God hears us when we pray. He hears our calls for help, our petitions and our pleas. He also hears our songs of praise and our private adoration.
Sometimes our prayers are not even audible, they are just whispers. Sometimes our prayers are not even as loud as a whisper; they are simply desires of our heart.

Recently I was talking to someone about ‘impossible prayers.’ By this I mean the prayers we pray but still have a lingering doubt as to whether or not God can actually answer them. The situations, the people, the circumstances we pray for that we just cannot fathom how even our Mighty God will be able to intervene.
Perhaps it’s just me with an ‘impossible’ prayer or two?
I have been lead to two verses from God’s Word that have inspired my faith in the impossible. Ephesians 3:20 reads, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Secondly, Mark 10:27, “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God
I may still have my ‘impossible’ prayers, but I know that I am human and limited in my understanding. I know I believe in a God who can do so much more than I can ‘get my head around’. I know He loves me and understands my doubts and I know I have a God who has ‘really good listening ears!’
Do you have 'impossible prayers' on your heart and mind?
Consider the verses above as you spend time in prayer today.
Blessings and love,
Narelle

19 comments:

  1. I love this post, Narelle! Oh have I been THERE. I love the way The Message Bible translates the quote from Luke:

    "No chance at all," Jesus said, "if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."

    Have a marvelous, blessed day!

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  2. Oh yes, Narelle, I have seen God do things we would consider impossible, or at least improbable. If we could only remember all the things He constantly does for us!

    As a young Christian, I read about a woman who had a 'shadow box' into which she placed a representative object for each wonderful thing the Lord did for their family. This display became a focal point in the home and formed the springboard for passing on the stories of God's goodness to children, grandchildren, and even visitors. What a great idea!

    Thanks for writing on this subject, Narelle.

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  3. Thanks for sharing this, Narelle. That impossible prayer means so much to me right now. Children in their absolute honesty have a way of honing in on things we know, but don't really KNOW and understand at a deeper level. I need to keep reminding myself of the Lord's "IMMEASURABLY MORE" when I whisper those impossible prayers!

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  4. Very encouraging start to my day, Narelle! Good work!

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  5. Thanks, Narelle. I'm so glad God has those 'really good listening ears'! I currently have severe sciatica, and caught myself today even as I prayed for healing also wondering how God would do it! God bless.

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  6. Children are such wonderful reminders of God's promises. You're post is so relevant, especially in my life lately. :)

    I keep forgetting we act from only one of two places...faith or fear. I can't wait to share this with my hubby and son, and remind them of God's listening ears.

    Thanks, Narelle! xo

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  7. Great post, Narelle. Everything can be accomplished through him who is more powerful than we will ever know. Thanks for this reminder.

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  8. That was spot on, Narelle. That is one of my favourite scriptures, but I hadn't thought of it for awhile and I've been a little discouraged lately about the 'impossibles' in my life. Thanks for lifting me up today.

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  9. I have been praying for something for many many years now. I believe in God granting a desire of your heart (Ps 20:4) I have been holding onto that verse for years. Recently every verse I have underlined in my Bible has something to do with prayer and answers, or promises from God.
    It is hard to sometimes keep trusting God, but in a vision I was given about the time I started these prayers God told me to "just keep trusing me, keep trusting me"

    MEL

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  10. I have tears in my eyes reading your comments.
    Praise God for His timing and for the fact that this post is relevant to so many of us.

    I was going to write about something entirely different but felt God prompting me to write about Miss 4's words of wisdom. I'm so glad I did.

    Mel, it is sooooo hard to keep trusting and waiting on God but His answer, in His time will be so very worth it, I have NO doubt about that. xoxo

    God is just so good :)

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  11. All so true Narelle. I spent a whole day last year in a day's retreat with some people focussing on 'Immeasurably more' and what it might mean for us if we let God have his way in everything. Wonderful thought. Thanks for the reminder.

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  12. Hi Narelle, thanks for sharing your encouraging words with us today :)

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  13. Hi Narelle,
    Thanks for the encouragement.
    Jennifer Ann

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  14. I'm glad you wrote this prayer too, Narelle. I've had an 'impossible' prayer over an issue which needs healing that I thought had been dealt with but has recently returned. He does have good listening ears. I think in my disappointment, I tend to forget about that. Thanks.

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  15. This scripture resonated with me recently when I cried out to God ...
    "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
    consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:3-11
    I do not write (only) for me, but as an act of worship that brings glory to Him.
    Great post - just lovely xx

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  16. Thank you Narelle. I've had a couple of black times in my faith when I've held God at arm's length, but He's always been there when I've come back and he's always loved me unconditionally. I hope I get the chance to share Jesus with someone today so they can meet the God who listens too.

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  17. Thank you Narelle, what a wonderful reminder. I am so blessed to be able to whisper, and whimper even, and know God will hear me.

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  18. Thanks Narelle. God does have good ears! He hears things that I don't mean for Him hear! On two occasions God has answered my unwhispered heart pray - the ones that I have withdrawn because I don't think I deserve them. Guess what? He gave me them anyway. I love my God!

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  19. I really related to this post Narelle. I have a five year old who constantly astounds me. Like me, he is a good communicator, but not always a good listener. I have been telling him to stop and clear his mind when people talk to him. Being a good listener is a gift – and the greatest listener is our Lord. How blessed we are that not one emotion, desire, prayer, or thought escapes his attention.

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