Learning the Art of Listening in Prayer
Written by Jamie Lamson
Prayer hasn’t always come easy for me.
As you make listening prayer a consistent practice in your prayer time, you can experience powerful communication between you and the Father that will encourage you for a lifetime.
As a young girl growing up in the ’90s, I remember repeatedly standing during numerous prayers and liturgies in my large, airy Methodist sanctuary. With each let us pray, a dreaded sigh escaped my lungs. I remember the feeling of pins and needles as I shifted my weight from one shiny black Mary Jane to the other. Daydreams of Sunday lunch at the cafeteria-style restaurant next door and wondering which neighborhood friend I would ride my bike with afterward always filled my thoughts.
Needless to say, and quite honestly, prayer just wasn’t my thing. Not as a child, definitely not as a teenager, and not even in my early twenties.
And then there was a shift.
The Holy Spirit met me in the confines of my study room. Dust particles danced in the golden light as the sunshine trickled through my wooden blinds. As I sat still in my oversized armchair, He began to speak to my heart. He encouraged my downtrodden spirit with visions, timely words, and pictures from heaven. In that initial moment, I could feel him holding my sobbing shoulders.
And in an instant, prayer drastically changed my life.
What is the purpose of prayer?
What do you consider to be the top three characteristics of your closest relationships? Most of you would likely agree that trust, transparency, and communication are essential. May I suggest that our relationship with the Father is no different?
Prayer is a great intention as we get to know the Lord. While we cannot do anything extra to gain or diminish His love for us, communication through prayer opens our heart, mind, and spirit as we begin to flourish in our faith and trust in Him while experiencing answered prayers and hoping for big things!
With many ways to pray, from “popcorn” prayer to meditation to guided group prayer, you can find a daily rhythm that feels right for you in whatever season of life you are in. However, I have found that listening prayer is one of the most intimate, relaxed ways to connect with God.
How can I practice the art of listening in prayer?
With text notifications and app reminders vying for our attention, I will be honest and tell you that listening prayer takes practice. Because it requires you to be still, quiet your thoughts, and listen, this may be excruciatingly annoying and frustrating for most of us. But, as you make listening prayer a consistent practice in your prayer time, you can experience powerful communication between you and the Father that will encourage you for a lifetime.
- Set a Timer
The most practical way to begin listening prayer is to start small. Begin by setting a timer for thirty seconds. This may sound like a small pocket of time, but you would be surprised at how distracted you can feel. Add 15 seconds to your time each day until you reach the desired amount of time you wish to pray.
- Take a Few Deep Breaths
Before you begin, take a few deep breaths. This allows your breathing to regulate, your heartbeat to stabilize, and your body to relax. And not only are you resetting physically but you are clearing your thoughts and preparing to receive from the Lord.
- Invite the Holy Spirit to Speak
Inviting the Holy Spirit into your prayer time is the most important step because without Him you will just be sitting in the quiet! Before you start your timer, ask the Holy Spirit to say whatever He wants to your heart and spirit.
- Sit Still and Listen
After you ask the Holy Spirit to come sit with you, quiet yourself, and listen. This step may be the most difficult because now, with electronic devices, delivery for just about anything, and breaking news stories at our fingertips. Our brains and bodies are just not able to sit still for very long. But take heart – with practice and intentionality, you will soon be able to be with the Lord and ponder His words in your heart.
Tips for Practicing Listening in Prayer
As you implement listening in prayer into your daily prayer life, you may notice a few bumps in the road, from thoughts that just won’t slow down—or even shut up—to being interrupted when you only have seventeen seconds left on your timer. So, friend, here are some practical things that help me when I am distracted during prayer.
- Keep a Notebook Nearby for Random Thoughts
There is nothing more frustrating than trying to sit with Jesus, and all you can think about is how much dish soap you have under your kitchen sink. With a notebook, a sheet of paper, or even a post-it nearby, you can write down the CliffsNotes of your runaway thoughts while being assured that you won’t forget a thing. Jot it down and forget about it!
- Play Instrumental Music
If you’re like me, you may have difficulty quieting your thoughts and concerns or even finding a pocket of time where you can’t hear the person in the other room. I find it helpful to play instrumental music in my AirPods or over my laptop in a closed room. Bethel Music and Upper Room Music have beautiful instrumental albums that complement any prayer time.
- Journal What He Reveals to You
As you begin to practice listening for His voice and pressing into what the Holy Spirit is saying, record it in a journal. This is a great way to build upon your memorial stones of how the Lord is working and speaking to you. Then, as you are praying for healing, breakthrough, and encouragement, you will have a collection of divine words from heaven.
There is no right or wrong way to pray—the Lord just wants to communicate with us! See what works for you in the season you are in.
Be encouraged that as we make time for the Father and invite Him into our space. He will always come running because you are His beloved!
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