The Voice of the Heart

David Wilkerson wrote, "Some do not come to God's throne because they think prayer must be audibly voiced. There is indeed a time to pray with the uplifted voice, to cry aloud, but I find my most effective praying is silent. IT IS THE VOICE OF THE HEART. This is heart crying, or heart praying."

In 1 Samuel 1:13, we read of Hannah, "Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard." She prayed earnestly, yet never uttered a word. With God, the attitude of the heart is more important than the posture or procedure.

Spurgeon stated, "The prayer of the heart is the heart of prayer."

David testified in Psalm 6:8, "For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping," and in Psalm 27:8, he spoke to the Lord, "When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face, Lord, I will seek'."

George Muller was once asked how much time he spent in prayer. He answered, "Hours, every day. But I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk, as I lie down, and when I rise. And the answers are always coming. Tens of thousands of times have my prayers been answered."

The prophet Amos declared, "Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). "Secret" means circle. God and His children can commune confidentially with each other, as in a circle. It means consulting with others. "Secret" also means deliberation. Lastly, it means an intimate conversation between God and His people.

Henri J. M. Nouwen said, "Without solitude, it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. Solitude begins with a time and place for God, and Him alone. If we really believe, not only that God exists, but also that He is actively present in our lives – healing, teaching, and guiding--we need to set aside a time and space to give Him our undivided attention."

"True prayer is not the noisy sound

That clamorous lips repeat,

But the deep silence of the soul

That clasps Jehovah's feet."

"When thou prayest, rather let thy heart be without words than thy words without heart" (John Bunyan).

Dave Arnold, Pastor

Gulf Coast Worship Center

New Port Richey, Florida