A Prayer for Willingness to Hear and Obey
"But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear." - Zechariah 7:11
Heavenly Father,
As I come before You today, I am reminded of the powerful scripture in Zechariah 7:11, which states, "But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear." Lord, I humbly acknowledge that there are times when I have been like those who refused to listen to Your voice. I confess that there have been moments in my life when I have pulled away from the gentle nudgings of Your Spirit, closing my ears to the truth that You desire to reveal through Your Word and through the wisdom of those You place in my life.
Father, I ask for Your forgiveness for any instance where I have deliberately turned away from Your guidance. In my distracted state, I have at times been quick to dismiss Your calls for change, for growth, and for repentance. I recognize that my unwillingness to hear has not just impacted me but potentially those around me who look to me for leadership and direction. Help me, O Lord, to open my heart and mind to Your will, to be receptive to what You have to say.
I pray for a spirit of humility, Lord, that I may come before You genuinely seeking Your counsel. Teach me to have a soft heart, one that does not pull away from the weight of Your truth or respond defensively when confronted with my shortcomings. Let my posture be one of eagerness, ready to embrace Your teachings and corrections, even when they are difficult to bear.
Father, I also acknowledge that there are distractions in this world that can easily lead me to stop my ears. It’s so easy to become overwhelmed by the noise of daily life—the concerns of work, personal ambitions, the incessant demand for my attention through technology and entertainment. I pray that You would grant me the discipline to quiet these distractions. Help me carve out time to listen to Your voice in prayer and meditation on Your word. Remind me that while the world may offer solutions, true wisdom and understanding come from You alone.
Lord, I seek to cultivate a life that genuinely seeks Your counsel. You have promised that those who seek You will find You (Jeremiah 29:13). May I pursue You daily, longing to know and understand Your ways deeper. I pray for a heart that is not hardened by past experiences or disappointments, but one that is open and trusting in Your promises.
As I strive to hear and obey Your voice, Lord, instill in me a courageous spirit. There may be times when what You ask of me is not comfortable. I might be called to take steps that seem daunting or to share truths that may not be well-received. Give me the boldness to follow through, knowing that my obedience to Your calling brings glory to Your name and may even change lives around me.
Lord, I pray for the strength to encourage others who may also be pulling away from Your voice. Help me to be a light that directs others back to You, reminding them of the beauty and freedom found in obedience to Your Word. May I be an instrument of Your grace, displaying love and patience as I walk alongside them in their journey of faith.
In conclusion, Lord, I surrender all resistance in my heart. Help me to break down any walls that I have constructed to shield myself from hearing what You wish to say. Fill me with Your Spirit, make my ears attentive, and my heart responsive. I desire to walk in Your ways, to heed Your call, and to experience the fullness of life that only comes from a deep connection with You. It is with gratitude and great expectation that I pray this, believing in Your faithfulness that You will help me to hear and to obey.
Amen.
Want to pray more deeply over Zechariah 7:11?
Explore this scripture further with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for diving deeper into God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, find related verses, and enrich your faith.
Get Our Apps
Zechariah 7:11 Artwork
Zechariah 7:11 - "But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear."
"But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear." - Zechariah 7:11
Zechariah 7:8 - "¶ And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,"
Zechariah 13:7
Zechariah 11:7 - "And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock."
"¶ And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying," - Zechariah 7:8
Zechariah 7:1 - "And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;"
Zechariah 11:11 - "And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD."
Psalm 24:7-11
Zechariah 11:7 So I fed the flock for slaughter, in particular the poor of the flock. I took for myself two staffs: the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bonds; and I fed the flock.
Zechariah 11:4 - "Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;"
Ezra 8:11 - "And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males."
Zechariah 12:11 - "In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon."
Zechariah 7:4 - "¶ Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying,"
Zechariah 2:7 - "Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon."
Zechariah 1:7 - "¶ Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,"
Zechariah 11:1 - "Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars."
Zechariah 8:11 - "But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts."
Zechariah 11:15 - "¶ And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd."
Zechariah 5:7 - "And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah."
Zechariah 14:11 - "And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited."
Zechariah 11:3 - "¶ There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled."
1 Chronicles 26:11 - "Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen."
1 Chronicles 5:7 - "And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,"
Zechariah 7:8-10 - "And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’"
Zechariah 6:11 - "Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;"
Zechariah 5:7 (Brenton) 7 And behold a talent of lead lifted up: and behold a woman sat in the midst of the measure.
Luke 1:11-12
Zechariah 5:7 (Brenton) 7 And behold a talent of lead lifted up: and behold a woman sat in the midst of the measure.
"And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD." - Zechariah 11:11