SHUT UP AND LISTEN!!!

Today I was teaching a Sunday school class called Kid Zone. Our congregation isn't quite big enough yet being a news church to split the kids up in different classes according to there age. So all of our kids go to the same class. Anyway, I was teaching the kids about the time when Elija went to the mountain of the Lord and God spoke to him in a whisper. I wasn't really happy about teaching today, not because I didn't want to do it, but because I went to the nascar race yesterday and I was crazy tired. I also didn't feel that I was prepared enough. I lost the paper work that the person who does Kid Zone gave me on the lesson. By the time I got new copies it was Friday. I didn't study as much as I like to before I teach.

I woke up early this morning and went over 1Kings 19 again to refresh before I got to church. The whole drive to church I was nervous and scared, to be completely honest. I didn't want to bomb in front of these kids who need to be taught with confidence and the up most understanding so that they can get the most out of what the lesson is. Well we were in the service and it felt like the time went by faster than normal for the kids to come back. I prayed to God to please take over and let these children get the message straight from Him. And He sure did. The great part about that is that if I'm up there and it's not me teaching. Whether or not it's the children or the adults I get just as much out of the lesson as they do. If I'm not the one teaching I get to listen, so If I'm up there and I just let God take over than I don't have to worry about bombing first of all, and second, I get to listen to the message.

I learned something that I have been forgetting lately. I pray constantly through the day, and I ask God for the things I need according to His will, and to give me the strength to get through the day, and for my kids and so on and so forth. But, the biggest thing I have been forgetting to do is shut up and listen. I ask God for advise and then I hang up the phone. I don't even give Him a chance to answer me. That's insane, like asking your boss for the day off and then walking away, then getting mad when I come into work. Or buying a map and putting it under the seat with out even cracking it open. No wonder your lost.

This is what happens, we give God our requests and ask Him for the answers to our questions, or problems. Then we get off our knees and tackle the issue ourselves. Well I've got bad news, when we do that and try to do these things ourselves we fall short. See , I can't do anything right, not by my self, I need the help from someone. I know I can't do it, but I also know He can. And He can through me, and in Him I will. I know this because if the even the foolishness of got is far greater than the wisest of men,( 1 Corinthians 1:25)then I know that He can make no mistakes. So if He tells me turn left and I don't hear him I'll turn right without a doubt, but if I just shut up and listen I can hear the whispers and turn in the right direction,the God direction.

So If you feel like your prayers aren't being answered or perhaps your not getting the answers for your questions, I suggest you stop and examine your self. Ask yourself , do you submit your request and leave it, or do you shut up and listen? How often do you drive in your car with the windows up and the radio off and give Him an opportunity to talk to you? Do you really know Jesus, is your relationship with Him good enough so that when He talks you will recognize His voice? If not go right now and pick up your phone, or write an e mail ask someone to introduce you to Him. Drop to your knees and humble yourself to know that you are talking to the creator of everything you know and beg Him to help you know Him. Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7
Jesus tells us this is all we have to do so if you haven't asked, seeked, or knocked please do He is waiting to take you into His arms. Oh, and when you pray, just shut up and listen.