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A Time to be Silent, a Time to Speak
A series on Prayer
Prayer is a universal human experience. In respect of prayer to God, it is the human desire to encounter the divine that prompts us to pray. It is God who initiates the conversation. His very being beckons us to him, and in response, we seek encounter.
Prayer is posture, silence, speaking and listening. Through prayer, God makes his eternal purposes known to us, and we receive the benefit of his companionship, love, forgiveness, compassion and care.
Prayer is a time to be silent –and let God speak to us. “Speak, Lord for your servant is listening”(1 Samuel 3:9) is a good principle and practice before we blurt in our requests.
It is also a time to speak, when we have first become still in the presence of God. He will listen to us –that is assured.
The words “A time to be silent, a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7) are a good maxim to reveal what true relationship and conversation with God should be like for us.
All of this will be our experience if we let God teach us to pray. All we have to do is to spend time with him.

