Listen to What I Mean and Not What I Say

My Mammaw used to tell us often, “you need to listen to what I mean and not what I say.”  To a kid that sounded ridiculously funny.  As an adult, I get it.  How many times have I lost a word when speaking or switched one for another?  Anyone else ever do that?

My husband laughed at me as I asked him recently to put something in the dishwasher in the garage.  At the time I was doing dishes and needed something put in the outside refrigerator.  My daughter would have chuckled and complied.  Not my comedian of a hubby.  “Want me to put in dishwasher soap, too, honey?” he asked trying to maintain a straight face.    Then I realized what I had actually said.  (Watch for him in a comedy club near you – hahaha!)

Words are meant as a means of communications.  Sometimes they work smoothly and others they just don’t.  We share them with others.  Sometimes when life gets tough and trials come, words fail me.  They want to stay bottled up inside.  Friends are always ready to lend a shoulder and ear, but it isn’t always that easy.

Abba hears us and knows exactly what we mean even before He hears the words.  His Word assures us of that.  Isaiah 65:24 says “…before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”  Our God is so powerful He know our prayers before we pray them.  He always listens to what we mean.

Sometimes my soul is weary or hurts and words leave it.  I want to pray but I can’t seem to form the words.  Tears fall with no problem.   Things in my life or the world seem insurmountable.  There is a lot going on that should not be.  In Romans 8:26 scripture tells me that “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”  So God hears me even when I cannot form the words.  The Holy Spirit knows.

I hope you take comfort as I do in knowing that our prayers are always heard even when we are so down hearted we can only “be silent” with God in prayer and let the Holy Spirit intercede for us.  If you misspeak, like I often do, God hears what you mean. He sees us through the eyes of a Loving Father.