Ecclesiastes 5-8

July 18

Ecclesiastes 5-8

It is better to listen than to speak. We have two ears and one mouth, therefore we should spend twice as much time listening as speaking. These words of advice apply in our relationship with God just as they apply to our relationship with people. We tend to spend our prayer time rambling on to God about our wants and desires, but spend little time listening to His response. Prayer is a time of communicating with God, not a time to just talk “at” God. "Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few." (Ecclesiastes 5:2, NIV)

God wants to hear from us. He invites us to come before Him with our prayers, but He also tells us to be still and wait for Him. "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him." (Psalm 37:7, NIV) "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10, NIV) We get in a hurry. We want answers now. But God is not on our time, but He is always on time. Sometimes we have to slow down so we can hear what God is trying to tell us.

Elijah went up on the mountain in 1 Kings 19 to hear from God. God did not come to Elijah in the wind, earthquake or fire, but he came in a “gentle whisper.” He would not have heard it if he had been rambling about how unfair the turn of events were to Elijah after he had given his life to serving God. He would not have heard it if he had not gone out to meet with God and waited for God to show up. Sometimes we just have to be quiet and wait. When His timing is right, He will speak to us, often in a gentle whisper that we will only hear if we are listening quietly.