Mennonite Church USA

This then, is how you should pray: “Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” —Matthew 6:9-10 TNIV

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”—John 5:19 TNIV

Jesus taught his disciples to address God as a loving father who gives directions to his children. We, too, are invited to address God in this way and to listen for God’s instructions.

One of my growing edges is to listen for God’s voice in prayer. As my friend Keith Yoder says, “Listening prayer is one practice that cultivates our ability to hear God. Listening prayer is part of the historic practice of solitude and silence before God. In this kind of prayer one does not make requests or vocalize praise and thanksgiving. Rather one simply quiets the noise within and without and listens.”

Because Keith regularly writes a column entitled “Moments with Father,” I asked him to tell me about his practice of listening for God. He noted that one “may begin by meditating on a particular Scripture passage and listening for additional thoughts and personal instruction, or we may ponder a question and wait with dependency and expectancy for God to direct our understanding.”

Keith acknowledges that what he writes are “impressions received while listening to God in prayer.” He tests these impressions with Scripture and the character of God’s Son, by which God has already spoken. He finds the Holy Spirit drawing his attention to passages that have the concept, the wording or both that come to him as he listens.
The following sentences are drawn from one of his meditations. They are written as though God were speaking:

Even as I wait upon you, I would have you wait upon me.

You may wait for a person or event. Wait with me for the coming of the Lord Jesus to catch away his church as a bride. You may wait by a person, to stay as a presence, support or advocate. You may wait by a situation, taking a stand, keeping watch, seeking justice.

You may wait upon a responsibility, guarding a stewardship to which you have been appointed … at a time … to a place … for a purpose. You may wait upon a person, attending to their interests and needs as a servant like a waiter or waitress. Often such waiting involves patient continuance. Often you wait, gathered together with others in a common purpose and hope.

Waiting upon another, as I wait upon you, is to incline toward and accept others—to reach out to be near them, receive them and serve them. Waiting upon another is longing for their presence and strength—to know and be known by them. I long for you to wait upon me.

In essence, waiting is attentive and engaged. Attentive: with one’s eye upon others to know their interests, their needs, their nature. Engaged: ready to act on behalf of others, to move toward them. From waiting proceeds favor, mercy, strength and a godly heritage.

(“Confirming Scriptures”: Numbers 8:24-25; Psalm 123:2; 130:18; Isaiah 30:18; 40:31; John 15:4-8; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1-2; James 5:7)

I am featuring Keith’s practice of listening prayer as a way to encourage us to notice God’s work in the world. Some who have been abused by an earthly father may not be comfortable addressing God in this way. Since I lost my father at a young age, I am comforted by such words of assurance and direction. May you, too, find comfort and hope through moments spent listening to God.

Ervin Stutzman is executive director of Mennonite Church USA.