Usually, by that I mean always, I spend my morning time with the Lord in our bedroom after everyone is gone out of the house. It is a freeing time for me to be able to meet with God however I need to, whether it is tearfully, loudly, or reflectively quiet. I am not one to love the discipline of routine, but the discipline of spending time with the Lord is a lifeline for me.

A few weeks ago, the Lord prompted me to head into one of our teen’s rooms for my time with Him. First, I cleaned the floor….just being honest. Then I read scripture out loud, poured my heart out and wept. Prayed over this special one asking the Lord to move, prompt, protect and excite this one’s heart for who He really is. Then just sang my guts out to Him in worship.

Although the routine of always heading to my room has created a much needed discipline, being willing to have Him change it up, and pray specifics over my family has been such a powerful faith changing time. I am learning to not only talk to God regularly, I am also learning the blessing of listening to Him.

The intriguing thing is, my husband and I were just talking last night about a recent “spark” we see in this particular child. We see a hunger, and a strength and stability when speaking of the Lord. We hear knowledge and truth pouring out in the spoken words about God. We see a discerning eye to things of the world.

I know as parents we are often praying for our children, pouring our hearts out to the Lord asking Him to “grab” their hearts. I take those prayers seriously, and I believe whole-heartedly God listens to them. I also want to be a “listener” to what the Lord is saying to me. Listen to the what to pray, where to pray, when to pray, how to pray.

I just looked up the word “listen”, it is in the bible over 100 times. I am learning what it means to not just routine my time with Him, but to “listen” to how to be moved by Him.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:26

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me.” Mark 7

“Listen then” Matt 13:17

“Whoever listens to you listens to me” Luke 10:15