Listening to god through prayer
"For God alone my soul waits in silence." (Psalm 62:1a)
Often, when we think of prayer, we think of one-way communication with God. We pray for others' needs and our own needs, we pray for our world. But what if God is wanting to communicate with us through prayer? This playlist explores how you can take time to listen when you pray.
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"Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts."
--Mother Teresa Listen to the song to center yourself and reflect on the quote above. Click Here |
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Listening Prayer Guide: How to Hear From God
"Listening prayer is this beautiful – and little known – prayer practice that helps us to quiet our minds and learn to hear God better. Amidst all the daily responsibilities of work, school, family, and life, our minds can be full of plans, to-do lists, reminders, and noise. Listening prayer is the practice of stilling this noise, just a little bit, and allowing God’s word to come through... MORE"
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Listening Prayer
"I stumbled into listening prayer by accident. After having been a hyperactive church leader, I experienced huge disappointments in my work life and personal life. Everything seemed to fall apart. As a result, I no longer wanted to pray. Somehow I consented to go to a retreat where the speaker was positioned in front of a two-story high window in the chapel. I spent every session staring out that window at the tree-filled mountainside and a tiny tree-house structure near the top. I had a sense of God inviting me to stop being mad and just “be” with him. I stayed afterward in the chapel and shut my eyes knowing God was with me. No words. No tears. I just wanted to be still and know that God is God. I loved it... MORE"
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Read each Bible passage and answer the questions.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
"For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him." (Psalm 62:5)
"1O Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. 3You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways." (Psalm 139:1-3)
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Practicing Listening Prayer
The prayer below may be used as a prompt to help you learn how to center yourself to listen to God. Try reading through the prayer a few times and then waiting in silence to see what you might hear from God. Important: Don't be discouraged if you don't experience anything the first few times you try this. It takes practice. With continued practice, you will see results. Listening prayer Heavenly Father, I wait upon you. I pause, still my mind and still my heart. I wait upon you. I stop, and listen beyond the everyday. I wait upon you. I rest, and allow my soul to have space. I wait upon you. Quiet, at rest, held. I wait upon you. And call Abba, Abba Father. I know you have searched me, and you know me. I know you are the beginning and the end. I know you are the Redeemer. I wait upon you, Allowing your grace to penetrate my whole being. And in this place, close, protected and eternal I find that this grace renews my strength, Wipes away my tears, And promises new hope. I wait upon you. Read more: https://www.living-prayers.com/topics/listening_prayer.html#ixzz76SEedlpf |
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Listening Prayer Storyboard With Music From "The Guardian" (2012 version)
As you watch the video, contemplate how you might include listening in your prayer life. Click here. |
more activities to try:
Here are two more ways that you might try listening to God through prayer:
- Prayer Walking As Listening: Click Here
- Finger Labrynth: Click Here (Note: You may want to print this exercise before practicing it.)
