Developing a relationship with God and the acquisition of wisdom both require two paths, that of knowing and not knowing; that of acquiring and emptying.
Jesus taught us two ways of praying. The first is the Our Father and his encouragement to “ask” and “knock” (Matthew 7:7). Much of the prayer we know are of this form; social, public, and liturgical prayer, often centering around intercession, gratitude, and worship.
However, Jesus also taught prayer beyond words: “praying in secret” (Matthew 6:5-6), “not babbling on as the Gentiles do” (Matthew 6:7), or his predawn, lonely prayer (Mark 1:35), because “your Father knows what you need even before you ask” (Matthew 6:8). These all point toward what many today call meditation—openness to and union with God’s presence; resting in God more than actively seeking to fully know or understand.
We have been accustomed to the pursuit of absolute truth claims in the form of words, whereas Jesus’ truth claim was his person (John 14:6), his presence (John 6:35), and his ability to participate in God’s perfect love (John 17:21-22). We have emphasized on speaking to God, while truly loving Him is in listening to His loving guidance and direction.
Proverbs 2:1-5 “My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.”
Revelation 3:20 “Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me.”
