LISTENING to God is a rewarding activity and is akin to scientific prayer. The Apostle Paul said, "I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also" (I Cor.14:15). May we not say, "I will listen with the spirit, and I will listen with the understanding also"? Humbly listening to God and obediently following His divine leadings bring boundless blessings to men.
The patriarchs of old learned to listen to the Holy One of Israel. When but a child, Samuel, instructed by Eli, answered the Lord's call with, "Speak; for thy servant heareth" (I Sam. 3:10). From that time on, the Lord was with Samuel and "did let none of his words fall to the ground" (verse 19). Samuel went on to serve the Lord in a rewarding career as priest, prophet, and judge.
How we yearn to commune with the omnipotent and to know that our prayers are answered! But how do we commune with God? How do we listen? Christian Science reveals that prayer and real listening go hand in hand; and in the chapter entitled "Prayer" in Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy gives this lucid instruction (p. 15): "To enter into the heart of prayer, the door of the erring senses must be closed. Lips must be mute and materialism silent, that man may have audience with Spirit, the divine Principle, Love, which destroys all error."
