Have you prayed about it ?

Yesterday, I spent most of the day running errands with a friend.  She is starting a new job so she needed some work clothes. I needed a jump drive I could get some work done. I was hustlin' yall working to get some things done. My accountability partner  and I had a quick wrap session late that night.  I really enjoy the opportunity to talk to her because she always challenges me.The most pressing question we ask each time we speak is  :  

Have you prayed about it? 

I mean really opened you heart to a conversation with God about___________ . 

Notice that I use the word conversation.  I love love to  talk. I  but I deeply enjoy conversation.    In conversation I get to gain access to people's hearts, emotions and inner workings.  Successful and engaging conversation involves more than just me or the person I am speaking with rambling. Conversation is a three  part activity.  It involves being my mentally present, engaging in thought. It also involves articulating those thoughts , talking. And it also involves another very important often underrated part, listening.  I took the time to explain the components of conversation because we often over look or dismiss things that are truly profound because of their simplicity. Understand that prayer is a wonderful thing but it has to be apart of a larger relationship and conversation with God.
 My father always tells me to be careful what I pray for because  God answers prays. I  mean to say that often we get so focused on our desires that our prayers seem to more of  a wish list.  We also rarely take time to take into account God's timing. God answers prayers in unlikely and surprising ways. Just asks anyone who has ever prayed for patience.

Listening to God can seem like an overwhelming  task.  Thank God, we do not have to a degree or any special credentials to hear from God.  God speaks in so many ways.  God speaking is never the problem.  The problem is often that we do not stop talking and take time to listen.

"The secret to concentration is elimination." Dr. Howard Hendricks


What can you eliminate so you can have a  open and honest conversation with God?