A Live Microphone

We’re familiar with the many gaffes caught on a microphone that the wearer thought was off. Some are hilarious, some politically damaging,* and others are downright cruel remarks.

We might sometimes say things that would have been better not said. (I’ve written a few posts on this subject. You can access them here and here.) But, that’s not what I’m talking about today. Today’s post is about talking to God and listening to Him. It’s an open mic both ways—actually communicating with God. The Bible calls it praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

The truth is, our mic is always on to the Lord’s ears. This should be an encouragement, rather than overwhelming. Here’s why:

• God wants to hear our cries. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry (Psalm 34:15). So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted (Job 34:28).
• God wants to hear from the poor and the oppressed. For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners (Psalm 69:33).
• God wants to understand our needs and concerns. Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me (Jeremiah 18:19).
• God wants to hear from His own in prayer. The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29). Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth (John 9:31).
• God wants to grant our petitions, according to His will. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us (1 John 5:14).

We need to also listen to the Lord.

• And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth (1 Samuel 3:10).
• Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock (Matthew 7:24).
• He that is of God heareth God's words (John 8:47a).
• Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice (John 19:37).

Keeping our mic open to God and our ears listening to Him will keep our hearts attuned to His will. We’ll want to follow His commandments, keep His law, and love others. By the way, loving God and keeping His commandments go hand in hand all through Scripture. These verses are just a sampling:

• Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway (Deuteronomy 11:1).
• But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul (Joshua 22:5).
• And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments (Nehemiah 1:5).
• And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments (Daniel 9:4).
• If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15).
• By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments (1 John 5:2).
• And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it (2 John 1:6).

Prayer means communication—an open mic both ways. Let’s learn to be totally transparent with God—holding nothing back and enjoying His company, direction, and love.

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* In case you're wondering, I wrote this post a couple of months before the Donald Trump open mic disclosure.