'Pray and Say Less'

Annette Bradley
Sep 9
3 min read

The Two-Way Conversation of Prayer

Prayer is more than just speaking into the air—it is a divine conversation with the Lord. Too often, we think of prayer as simply presenting our requests and petitions before God. While that is one part of it, prayer is also about listening. True prayer involves two major elements: talking to God and listening for His response.

Talking to the Father

The Bible encourages us to make our requests known to God. Pouring out our hearts, our burdens, and our desires before Him is an act of trust and faith. Philippians 4:6 reminds us to “let your requests be made known unto God.” This is our opportunity to tell the Father what concerns us, to seek His guidance, and to invite His presence into our situations.

Listening for His Voice

Prayer doesn’t end when we say “Amen.” After we have spoken, we must allow space for God to speak back. Sometimes His response comes in the form of a still small voice within our souls. Other times, He answers through His Word, the Bible. Both require us to quiet our hearts and listen.

Habakkuk 2:1 illustrates this posture of listening:

“I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me…” (KJV)
“I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the LORD says…” (NLT)

Here we see a prophet who not only spoke to God but also waited expectantly for an answer.

The Waiting Season

One of the greatest challenges in prayer is waiting. We live in a “microwave” society where people expect instant results. But God does not operate on our schedule. He moves in His perfect timing. Sometimes His answers come quickly, and other times He requires us to wait, shaping us in the process.

Jeremiah 29:11 gives us reassurance in the waiting:“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

This promise reminds us that even in the silence, God is working for our good. His delays are not denials; they are divine appointments set to unfold in His timing.

A Call to Deeper Prayer

As you pray, remember that communication with God is not one-sided. Speak boldly to Him, but also quiet yourself to listen. Open your Bible, linger in His presence, and embrace the waiting seasons with patience and faith. Prayer is not just a transaction—it’s a relationship.

When we talk and listen, we experience prayer as the two-way conversation God intended it to be.

📖 Reflection Corner

Take a moment to sit with these questions as you deepen your prayer life:

When was the last time I sat quietly in prayer, not speaking, but simply listening for God’s voice?
How do I usually respond when God’s answer requires me to wait?
What can I do to make more room in my daily life to hear from Him?

Excerpt from: The Gift of Prayer, Author: Annette M. Bradley