One-Way Communication

Liliana let out a long sigh as she closed her four-year-old sister's bedroom door."Whew! I went in to say goodnight to Emma while Mom was getting her ready for bed, but I barely even got to say it! Emma was talking non-stop."Liliana's brother Milo laughed. "Whenever I talk to her, I feel like all I can say is 'mmm' and 'oh' every once in a while. Did she ask about your field trip to the pumpkin patch today?""She did, but before I could answer her, she started talking about something else, and I never got a chance to tell her I brought her back a pumpkin." Liliana giggled. "In our social studies class, we had a lesson on communication, and Mrs. Butler emphasized that it's a two-way thing! Emma must not have figured that out yet, because she just talks and talks.""She'll learn as she gets older," said Dad. "Though I guess we're all like that sometimes."Milo and Liliana shook their heads. "Not me!" they said at the same time."What about the way we communicate with God?" asked Dad. "Don't we spend most if not all of our time with God telling Him what's going on in our lives, pouring out our problems, and asking Him for things we need or want?""But that's what prayer is," said Liliana. "It's talking to God.""Yes, and spending time in prayer is important. But we also need to spend time being quiet and hearing what God says to us. For instance, if you ask God what you should do about a problem you're facing, shouldn't you stop and listen for His answer?""But God doesn't actually talk to us, does He?" asked Milo. "I mean, we don't hear a voice or anything.""He doesn't talk in a voice like mine, but He speaks to us through the Bible, and Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to help us hear His voice and understand what the Bible says. As we read it and meditate on it, He often quietly impresses on our hearts and minds promises found in His Word and principles He wants us to follow. Just like conversations with other people shouldn't be one-sided, the time we spend with God should include listening to what He has to say."-Tanya Ferdinandusz