God spoke to Saint Francis, "Go, Francis, and restore my Church." Francis heard the words coming from the crucifix - which right away tells us something. Francis was in a church and he was praying! If we want God to speak to us than we also must spend that time in prayer.

Another word for prayer is "relationship" - we speak to God and God speaks to us. As readily as we want God to listen to us - so we must give that same readiness to listening to God. If we want God to answer our prayers - we must be ready as Saint Francis,to respond to God in the same manner.