I’ve lived and traveled abroad, and one of the things that always made me laugh was when someone would try to communicate with someone else who did not speak his or her language. Instead of trying to use sign language or find an interpreter, often the person trying to communicate would just use the same words, only speaking more loudly. Or, sometimes yelling!

As if by raising the volume would change make the message come through clearer!

Of course, it seld0m, if ever, did.

We sometimes do the same thing, though, when we pray, especially if our prayers have not yet been answered as we think they should be. Instead of trying to see God’s way and will in a particular situation, we might get “stuck” on the same supplication from our end, only praying the same thing louder and longer, believing that at some point, God will answer our way.

Think about the prayers you lift up this week. Think about to whom you are praying, not to a reflection of yourself, who agrees fully with everything you are asking for, but to God, who knows what is best for you – and that best might not be exactly what you think it should be.

By praying sound-ly, and not loudly, we can better communicate with and hear God.

Joy and peace,

Maureen