Capacity To Listen

“I pray that I will not strive more than I listen.”

Work comes naturally to us, listening does not. We are much more comfortable doing something for God, than we are simply sitting in conscious trust in Him. Work seems to give us a tangible measure of progress, whereas listening seems tedious and unproductive. However, it is far better to listen than to strive, because work does not give spiritual enlargement— listening does. 

As vessels of the Lord, we need enlargement. We must have capacity to withstand the full indwelling of the Spirit of the Lord. Oft times this is a strenuous process of “He must increase, and I must decrease.” We cannot be filled with the knowledge of His will, while we continue to stubbornly cling to our own.  We cannot be filled with His wisdom and understanding, if we continue to fill ourselves with the world’s. 

One of the most frightening prayers I’ve ever prayed was, “Lord, enlarge my capacity for You.” I trembled as the words fell from my lips, because my soul instinctually knew that to whom much is given, much is required. We have not because we ask not, and we ask not, because deep down inside, we know that to be given more capacity for Christ in us, requires a cost of “self” that we simply are not willing to pay. 

O Lord, grant us the courage to ask for capacity. Help us to listen more than we strive.

(Col 1:9-11) …we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience…

(Matt 7:7,8) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

(Psalm 37:4-6) Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.