praying effectively: Hear God's Wisdom ( the gospels)

(Luke 8:18)  So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”

(Matthew 4:24-25)  And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. 25 For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

(Matthew 13:9)  He who has ears, let him hear.”

(Mark 4:9)  And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

(Luke 8:8)  Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

(Matthew 7:24-27)  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

(Luke 6:47-49)  Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

(Luke 14:34-35)  “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35 It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we are careful how we listen (Lk.8:18)

- that we are careful about what we listen to (Mt.4:24-25)

- that we hear the Lord Jesus and His message (Mt.13:9, Mk.4:9, Lk.8:8)

- that we hear the Lord Jesus and His message and act on them (Mt.7:24)

- that we lay a solid foundation on God's word (Lk.7:47-48)

- that we are share the gospel message of hope to the world (Lk.14:34-35)

Today's prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, help us to clearly hear Your message.  And if we hear another kind of teaching, give us wisdom to discern if it is from You or not.  Help us to always come back to Your words, eagerly studying the Bible in order to have a solid foundation of faith and to keep growing in  our trust in You.  Guide us to opportunities to share the gospel message in ways that are not overbearing, but definitely help us not to become tasteless.  Give us the words, and convict the ears that hear them.  Amen.