One question I have gotten a lot lately is how to listen to God in prayer. We often think that listening prayer means sitting around quiet and bored and waiting for God to say something.
While this sometimes may be the case, listening prayer is more of a conversation, His replies come quicker than we may realize and when we have the expectation that He will answer we are more apt to be listening.
This guided listening prayer exercise will help you begin to dialogue with the Lord and recognize His answers. Listen to the song in the video first and then enter into the guided prayer exercise.
Listening Prayer Exercise
Holy Spirit we invite you to come tear down the boxes we have tried to put You in. Expand our understanding of who You are and what our relationship with you can look like. We may be full, but we are not satisfied. We long to have more of You. Amen.
As you go through these guided prayers, feel free to write down the answers you hear, see, feel. If you get an answer that doesn’t make sense, follow up asking, “God, what does that answer mean?”
Part 1:
Jesus, show me the lenses I see life, situations, and people through.
I repent for filtering relationships through these lenses, for viewing others through them, and making judgments that are false.
I hand to You every false judgment that I have made in filtering my life through these wounds
I choose to forgive myself for being deceived by wearing these lenses.
Jesus is there anyone I need to forgive related to these lenses?
I choose to forgive them for whatever they did to contribute to me seeing through these lenses.
Jesus would you bless them and break any judgments I have made against them.
Jesus, I hand to You these lenses, what do You have for me in exchange?
Thank you Jesus, that I am going to see differently now, and it is going to be good.
Part 2:
Holy Spirit, is there a box I am putting You in?
What is the lie that led to that box?
What is the truth?
Holy Spirit, I reject the lie about You and accept the truth about You
Holy Spirit, is there anyone I need to forgive related to that lie?
I choose to forgive them for whatever they did to contribute to me believing that lie.
Holy Spirit would you bless them and break any judgments I have made against them.
Holy Spirit what do You think about me?
Holy Spirit, I invite You to have full freedom in my life
Part 3:
Father God, what is a dream or calling You have given me?
Am I believing any lies about that dream?
Father God, what is the truth?
I reject the lie about that dream and accept the truth about that dream
Father God, is there anyone I need to forgive related to that lie?
I forgive them for whatever they did to contribute to me believing that lie.
Father God, would you bless them and break any judgments I have made against them.
Father God, what do You have to say about me and this dream?
With hands held symbolically palms face down.
Lord, I release anything I have clung tightly to, that wasn’t from You. Even things You have given me, I release for You to do whatever You want to.
And now with hands held symbolically with palms face up,
Lord, I receive anything You have to give me. Teach me to live with open hands, ready to release and receive constantly whatever You ask of me.
You can begin your own dialogues with God about anything you want to talk with Him about. While these guided prayers are helpful, the goal is to develop an ongoing lifestyle of conversation with the Lord. Learning to hear God’s voice clearly starts with identifying the voices we hear all the time and choosing which one’s we’ll listen to.