Ecclesiastes 5:2 Don't shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don't be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God's in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better.

I heard a quote by Mother Theresa on time that has stuck with me.  It goes something like this:  She was asked by Larry King, “What do you say when you pray?”  She answered, “I don’t say anything, I just listen.”  Then he asked her back, “What does God say when you listen?”  She responded, “He just listens too.”  When we talk to God, it’s really more about listening.  There’s nothing we can say that He doesn’t already know.  Yes, there is a time for confession, but how are we going to be convicted of anything if we don’t listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to convict us?  Yes, there is a time to audibly praise God, but doesn’t the quiet obedience of our lives worship Him even louder?  Yes, there are times to ask God for something, but doesn’t He already know the desires of our hearts?  Better yet, doesn’t He know what’s best for us?

My mouth is my worst enemy.  I don’t know why I think people or God like to hear me talk so much.  The nuns and monks are on to something when they take a vow of silence.  I have actually lost my voice a few times in my life for no apparent reason, other than maybe God just wanted to shut me up so He could get a word in.  I continually work to be silent, especially in my “quiet” time with the Lord.  When I do, it is amazing the things that I learn, the thoughts that He shares with me, the plans that He lays out for me. 

Speak Lord, I’m listening.