How to Listen to God

How do you listen to an all-powerful but invisible God?

The Bible has a lot to say about it. Over and over God interacts with people in a variety of ways. Our God
is endlessly creative in how he communicates with them.
God spoke to Daniel through visions, Balaam through a donkey, Peter through a rooster, and of all things,
he spoke to Moses out of a shrub.
He is a God who says, Listen for my voice.
Examples of Listening Prayer
There are hundreds and hundreds of examples of God speaking to people in the Bible. Its his modus
operandiand he gives detailed instructions for this in both the Old and New Testament.
We also have a rich history of God speaking to man from Jesus time until the presentpeople like
Augustine, Mother Teresa, Joan of Arc, and Brother Lawrence.
In our relationships, we are so distracted and busy that its often the exception rather than the rule that
people listen to one another, much less listen to God. We need to learn how to listen.
Listening Prayer Can Transform Your Church
Recently I spoke to a church. They asked me to ask for the churchs missions faith promise offering. I
asked, How did you do last year? The answer came back, Not so well, people gave just 46 percent of
faith promise monies they had pledged.
I thought, Thats interesting. Ill bet the reason the figure is so low is not that they dont have the money,
but that they didnt hear the Lord correctly. If they heard him clearly, then the figure would be 100
percent.
So I did a survey. How many of you feel as though you hear clearly from the Lord? The answer came
back: 46 percent. The same figure!
I dont think its a coincidence. Frankly, almost everyone struggles to hear God and many people have
never heard him.
Listening Prayer Exercises
Learning to hear the Lords voice isnt complicated. But it does require some discipline to find a quiet place
and to allow some time just listening.
Perhaps the hardest part of listening prayer is clearing your mind. With all the noise of life regularly
cascading through your mind, it can be hard to hear Gods voice. Theres no formula, but let me share a few
principles that have worked for me:
Set aside at least half an hour to start. When you are ready, quiet yourself. If stray thoughts come through
your mind, write them down on a separate piece of paper.
Read some scripture. Ask the Lord to speak to you through it in a way that you can understand. Ask God to
protect you in Jesus name from deception.
Then write down your question for prayer. Pause. This is where you wait and listen. God may direct you to
another passage of Scripture. He may share a tender word. Whatever you feel he may be saying to you,
write it down.
Ask him to confirm anything he shared with you.

Simple Strategies for Better Prayer Times

Use a journal; it will help you focus. Plus its a great resource to look back and see the journey the Lord
took you on. It also helps fine-tune your spiritual ears to better hear him. Writing down your impression of
the Lords responses creates in you an expectancy that he will respond.
Use two different pens. I like to use the first color to record my thoughts and the second pen to record what
I sense God is saying. The different colors clarify whos talking.
If, when you sit down to pray, you often have a to-do list pop up in your head, then have another piece of
paper handy to make a list with any other thoughts that pop up. Its okay and its natural. Just let them come
out so you can focus.
Questions To Test What you Hear from God
Was it a clear word or just an impression? God may give us different degrees of confidence in what he has
said. We therefore need to humbly admit our fallibility. Get someone you trust to check your impression
and to confirm it or not.
Does it exalt Christ? (John 16:14)
Is it scriptural? Scripture is our authority. God does not contradict himself. (Proverbs 30:5-6)
Do other Christians confirm it? (Proverbs 20:18, Proverbs 15:22)
Does God cause it to actually take place? (Isaiah 55:11, Deuteronomy 18:21-22)