I think the essential ingredient of being a good listener is to have no agenda. This carries into our relationship with the Lord. It helps define ‘apart from Me you can do nothing’ more clearly. Nothing. When we come to dine in His Presence, we come with nothing. His banquet is complete. There is nothing we can add to it.

Our total involvement is with our heart only. Our sole purpose in being quiet is to enjoy being with Him. If we come with an agenda, we will not be able to hear every whispered word. Let’s consider our agenda an obstacle, or a block in our heart to Heart communication. Isaiah 55:2-3 says, “…Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight in its abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live.” Living is predicated on hearing.

Part of our being still before the Lord involves rest. If I have an agenda, I feel a need to fulfill my ‘list’ before I can rest. Hebrews 4:10 needs to be our stance as we come to the Lord. He, as always, is our example. It says, “For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” The Lord was busy creating for six days. On the seventh day He rested, or ceased from creating.

Releasing

Everything

Simply

Trusting

We cannot trust when our heart is full of our list of anxieties. An anxiety is an agenda. Anything that involves self has an agenda. Have you ever thought about that before? I didn’t until just now as I was typing. In Matthew 6:25 Jesus said to not worry. Strong’s definition for worry is: a distraction, a preoccupation with things causing anxiety, stress, and pressure. In truth, we have nothing to worry about because He cares for us.

Psalm 23:2-3 says of our Good Shepherd, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul…” Spending time in the Presence of the Lord feeds, strengthens, and restores our spirit. Song Of Solomon 5:1 is a lover speaking to the one he loves. I like to read it in the Amplified, and capitalize it as though the Lord is speaking to me. “…Drink, yes, drink abundantly of love, O precious one (for now I know you are Mine, irrevocably mine!…”

David loved the Lord. He wrote such heart reaching words. Psalm 63:8 in the Amplified is one of my favorites. It says, “My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.” Here is a new song. Drink Deep. It expresses a heart set on the Lord. O take down the barriers of my heart so your love can fully enter in. I desire to desire You as You desire me. Let nothing block. Let nothing hinder as I gaze into Your eyes of love. I want Your love to penetrate every aspect of my life. O heal my heart with Your love.