I grew up hearing that prayer was a conversation between you and God.
Conversation implies that both parties are speaking. We speak to God, and He speaks to us. However, most of my prayer life has been a one-way conversation. I came to God with my praise and prayer, then left.
I was like that friend who you see at the grocery store. They dominate the conversation with every detail of their life, but when you begin to share what’s going on with your family, they suddenly have to go. My prayer life was me going through my prayer requests, saying amen and then moving on.
God invites us into a conversation with Him. In Jeremiah 33:3 God says, “Call to me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
Did you catch that? God wants to speak to us. He wants to tell us great and mighty things.
God promises that when we call on Him, He will hear, answer and speak. Prayer is our calling out to God, and Him answering.
Unfortunately, we rarely give God a chance to speak to us. We blow into our prayer time, go through our list of requests, then check out without even giving God a chance to reply.
How many times have you asked God for wisdom or direction, then rushed off, not taking the time to wait for His response. If prayer is a conversation, then we must give God an opportunity to speak to us.
For many years, I thought my prayer time had to be filled with me speaking. When I tried to spend extended time in prayer, I simply ran out of things to ask God for. I would confess my sins, go through my prayer list, pray for everyone I knew, and just a few minutes had passed. I thought, “How could someone spend 30 minutes in prayer, I could never talk to God for that long. Once I learned that listening prayer is just as important as asking prayer; spending time with God became a wonderful time of conversation with God the Father. I share what is on my heart, and He speaks to me.
If listening prayer is new to you, here are four things to help develop the habit of listening prayer.
1. Ask God what you should be praying about.
When we sit down with friends, we often ask, “What would you like to talk about?” When you approach your prayer time, why not ask God what He wants to talk about? Let Him lead your prayer. By asking God to lead your prayer time, you submit your prayer to Him. When you allow God’s Holy Spirit to direct your prayers, you will find new fulfillment and confidence in your prayer.
2. Expect God to respond
Do you expect to hear from God when you pray? Do you really think God wants to speak to you? Are you expecting God to give you wisdom when you ask for wisdom? An expectant heart is an indicator of faith. Next time you pray, expect God to speak to you.
3. Still Your Heart When You Pray
You can’t rush into the presence of the living God. Take a moment and still and quieten your heart. Many of us are uncomfortable with silence. The air must be filled with music, television or something. Quiet is not something many of us do well. I have learned over the years that God still speaks in the quiet moments. God rarely shouts over the noise of our lives. If we are going to hear from Him, we have to still our hearts.
God rarely shouts over the noise of our lives.
4. Wait with an open and listening heart.
There are great promises in the Bible related to waiting on God. Sometimes I feel like God is saying “I will answer you if you will just allow me to get a word in edgewise.” Welcome God to speak to you, and then wait for Him to speak. Isn’t it amazing that we can spend an hour in the waiting room at the Doctor’s office, but not spend two minutes waiting for the presence and word of God? God speaks on His timetable, not ours. When we wait on Him with a listening heart we honor Him by submitting out time into His hands.
Developing the habit of listening when we pray will open new and exciting avenues in our prayer time. You don’t have to be the one who always speaks, open your heart, close your mouth, quiet your spirit, and wait for that quiet still voice. I think you will be amazed at what you heart God say to you.
What’s your experience in listening prayer? Share it in the comments below.
I have heard this concept in the past and occasionally have tried it. However, I have always wondered when I’m listening, are the thoughts that come into my head my own mind or that of God and how would I know the difference? When there is a serious issues I have or question that I want answered, are they my own thoughts and therefore could lead me in the wrong direction, or are they God’s thoughts and would be helpful to follow.
That’s been my experience when I try to listen.
Ryan, I think that is one of the main reason people are afraid to practice listening prayer. Sure we can miss God at times, but I think more often, it’s simply our insecurity. We need to test what we hear against the Bible. God is never going to speak to you contrary to the Bible. However, God has given us the mind of Christ. His thoughts can be your thoughts. I’m hoping to create a more in-depth teaching on hearing God’s voice in the future. Thanks for your comments.
Thanks for sharing Ryan and Billy!
I too have been challenged in that area, as the revelations that come are Biblically sound, yet have found insecurity and a lack of confidence in myself that warred against me taking preventing me from taking the faith actions; feeling I need to be confirmed, affirmed to be sure. Which this post and my reply are helping me to identify. And it’s the false “warring” thoughts concerning myself, my abilities, and God’s purpose for me, that I must overcome through the weapons of my warfare. Thank you, both for sharing! Blessings!
I think Ryan has a valid concern. The fact is our hearts can be deceitfully wicked. The first mistake is thinking prayer is a conversation. Prayer is simply this: talking to God. It’s not Prayer when God talks to us. The Bible never says God prays to His people. Biblically what God does is revelation. God is revealed generally in nature but specifically through His word. My time of listening to God is centered on reading and meditating on His word. Looking for further revelation is not a sound Bibkical practice. God has spoken (past tense) through His Son, and by His Holy Apostles. We have this revelation in scripture. That is where God speaks to us. And yes, the Holy Spirit can give us understanding and illumination into His word, but not new revelation.
There is no question that the Bible is the complete and divine revelation of God. At the same time God has always spoken to His people. As a boy, Daniel heard God’s voice and said “Speak, your servant is listening.” David said in Ps 85, “I will hear what God the Lord will speak:” The Holy Spirit led and directed Paul on his missionary journeys. If God no longer speaks to His people, how does he call a pastor to ministry, give wisdom amidst an important decision, or guide us through our daily life? He has given us the promise of the Holy Spirit to teach us all things. I have never heard the audible voice of God, but I have heard Him speak to my spirit again and again. It is not new revelation or will ever be in conflict with the Bible. One test in hearing God’s voice is that it lines up with the Bible and the principals of scripture.
I am occasionally led into prayer by the Holy Spirit in this way- listening. This article is confirming just how much we need to expect and anticipate hearing from God. Though It is an awesome privilege to hear from God it is an opportunity that is always available for His children. I agree… More teaching on this type of prayer would be great! Thanks Bill.
In 2017 i was introduced to “soaking” while soft inspirational music played mostly instrumental while simultaneously listening for the voice of God to speak…usually a group of btwn 4-6 ppl…we are then required to journal what we’ve heard spoken and share…almost every time God speaks something to each of that either matches or confirms what was said to us individually but that the heartbeat of the Spirit was in the room…a tool that jas enhanced my time of prayer sometimes I just Listen and I choose not to use music the stillness of silence is more profound to the discipline for me
I don’t practice listening nearly as often as I should! Thank you for sharing this! My problem is I have a hard time being still. I love the silence. God has already been speaking to me about speaking less and listening more. This is right up my alley. When I have a lot of time I usually do ask God what He wants to say. I will take these suggestion & implement then today.
That’s powerful. God spoke and He is still speaking today. Thank you guys.
Wow pray for me I realise I speak more even in my quite time in my spirit , teach me holyspirit to speak less and listen more. More like the grocery friend sad.
How true. This busy world is creating fast talkers and slow listeners. This brings to mind a growing concern in our Sunday School and children’s ministries – I grew up in a Sunday School environment where a single guitar accompanying children as they sang was enough and we weren’t afraid to have long moments of quiet and singing softly to God in our hearts. Over the years, my church Sunday School has adopted the attitude that there MUST be a live youth band and accompanying flashy videos to worship God (ala a full blown Hillsong concert) – even if the musicians were loud, noisy, less than skilled and with a less than Godly attitude. The reasoning is that “kids today need fast moving flashy media to keep their attention”. I disagreed – saying that we were teaching our kids that God “required” a full blown rock concert to please him. I have never been able to come to terms with this. I believe we are creating generations of kids who think that God is pleased when we bombard him with loud rock music as long as we say “we’re worshipping God” forgetting to “Be still and know that I am God”. Sorry for the long rant.
God certainly speaks to us, through our spirit, thoughts, the scriptures, etc. A lot of times, during prayer, 2He could give us a Bible ref which we were familiar with, but with a unique and new meaning this time. We just have to listen open heartedly. How I sometimes differentiate my imaginations from God’s voice is the peace and certainty I feel. Thank you sir.
I think when we hear “listening” it may give the impression that we are waiting to hear “God’s voice” but when you speak of listening I view it as being connected or plugged into God. Prayer should not just be about asking God for things but an opportunity to commune with our Heavenly Father and just spend time in His presence and allow for His Holy Spirit to move through you however he pleases.