The exercise of talking with God (praying), was invented by the Lord Himself … to make way for both communion and transformation.
God talks. He has worthy things to say. All His communications are that way.
God also listens, as He wishes that his children grow to know him as companioning friend, not simply as “rescuing deity.” He speaks. He listens and, surprisingly to some, He is very content at just sitting with His image bearers in unstrained silence. This is itself a form of prayer and the practice carries a label. Christ followers through the ages have spoken of the discipline of silence.
But whether it is God speaking, the person speaking or simply an intentional time of God and His beloved child taking in one another’s company without a word uttered, He ever has this in mind. Change.
The Creator is ever in the business of saving His people and of growing His people to become much like Himself. This is the only way His children are able to come to know him as he intends. In rightly practicing the discipline of silence within the discipline of prayer, the devotee to Jesus is almost sure to undergo metamorphosis. Change of character is underway as the disciple discovers that the really great thing going on is not a cosmic movement rattling the universe.
“Everyone thinks of changing the world,” Foster writes. “But where, oh where, are those who think of changing themselves? People may genuinely want to be good, but seldom are they prepared to do what it takes to produce the inward life of goodness that can form the soul.”* For the believing Christian whose heart cannot stop yearning for more of Christ – His presence routinely getting manifest in the ordinariness of daily living – nothing short of personal transformation will do.
*Celebration of Discipline
– ©2025 Jerry Lout Writer/Speaker Jerry Lout grew up in Okmulgee County. Jerry’s “Living with a Limp” and “Giants in the Rough” are available through Amazon. Current projects include “Inside-Out” and “Thresholds” – a string of narratives highlighting surprises, sorrows and adventure in the post-Africa years. Jerry welcomes reader comments at jerrylout@gmail.com and 918-857-4373.
