John Esper has recounted ways the saints have dealt with distractions during prayer and what the Catholic Catechism recommends. Consciously relax all your muscles. When we listen to God in Scripture, what we pray for, the way we pray, and our expectations of the answers to prayer are brought into alignment with God. In many articles on “How to pray,” I’ve read that a regularly scheduled time sets up a good habit. Fr. Then, we respond. If we do not take the time to listen to God when we pray, we will not be able to hear His voice. Another Navigator reported on more ministry now through Google Hangouts and Zoom. Practice Saint Paul’s injunction that we “pray without ceasing“. Contemplative prayer is thoughtful, reflective prayer. That’s a difficult question to answer, but I’ll give some of my thoughts below. The Oxford Group¹ originated in the early 20th Century in Philadelphia and then Oxford. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! How to listen to God? Not talking, not singing, not reading, not watching TV. This is a fruitful time for ministry. Here is a prayer to hear God’s voice you can pray in faith: Father, in the Name of Jesus, I thank You that You desire to speak to me every day—guiding me in spirit and in truth to obey Your Word and enjoy an abundant life. The program I’ll outline below is taken largely from a four page pamphlet by John Batterson, a member of the Oxford Group in the 1930’s. That might be an expected response, even though God, the Omniscient, loves us all. Over and over God interacts with people in a variety of ways. He is our creator and the one to whom we owe everything we have, including our lives. Samuel heard it because he was listening. With words of conviction, God reveals actions or attitudes we need to confess to Him—and sometimes others—and directs us to seek reconciliation. It is the discipline of being still and knowing that He is God (Psalm 46:10). If prayer is a difficult area for you, learn these basics principles of prayer and how to apply them in your life. Many of us don’t wait in His presence long enough to let Him love us. His conclusion: distractions are inevitable, but we should return to prayer and offer love to God as a barrier to them. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts." Learn how your comment data is processed. Guidance shows us which is the right side-not who is right, but what is right. In my post Solitude I point out how important it is to seek a quiet place for your prayer time. The Janus of January and the Minerva of Memory, Discipleship – A Way Of Life For Every Catholic, Chesterton: The War of the Gods and Demons, The Importance of Dressing Well for Sunday Mass, Eugenics in America: The Legacy of Sanger and Gates, Addiction: Empowerment, Connection, and the Recovery Journey, Marriage – the Ultimate Commitment to Giving, Advent and Christmas: Antidotes for Excessive Individualism. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. The following quotes are taken from Batterson’s pamphlet, “How to Listen to God,” linked above. We serve him because he first served us. I find that singing a psalm helps me ponder it afresh by increasing my involvement with what I’m reading. Be definite and specific in your request. —1 Kings 19:11-13 (KJV). Here are six ways to hear God’s voice more clearly. God still speaks today. Perhaps it is because we are afraid of what we might hear. What a blessing it is to listen to God in prayer! Spend time in prayer, worship, Bible reading, and meditation on God's Word. Prayer should not, then, be a one-way conversation: we need to listen to God as well as to address Him. Henri Nouwen calls all prayer "listening to the voice of the one who calls us beloved". One of the key things to listening to God and responding to God’s call is to tap into that God-inspired desire within oneself to please God, to respond to God in love, to reverence and stand in awe of God. One of the best ways to do this is to spend time with God as much as you can. Contemplative prayer is being with God, empty-handed, waiting attentively for whatever He wants to say. Why is simply sitting at His feet with no agenda so difficult—even frightening? I found prayer to be more about developing a relationship with God, than a time to list everything […] 3 Steps to Find Focus for Your Year - Finding Hope says: January 12, 2016 at 4:19 am […] Set aside time for prayer. If Samuel only talked or talked over God’s voice, he would have no idea what God wanted from him. God will speak to us in His own words, in His own time. Many people believe that prayer is not just a religious exercise but that God does listen to prayers and answers them. Developing a discipline takes perseverance. While this may sound counterintuitive, silence is a key to satisfying hunger for God. First, you let God speak to you before you speak to him. … Continue Reading. All Souls Church Englewood Co Age 53, of Englewood. This will free your mind to be able to concentrate on God and listen for His instruction. I don’t agree entirely with this approach. God does know what you truly need. Let me emphasize that I agree with some of the Oxford Group’s program, but not all. In the sections below I’ll summarize advice the Oxford Group gives on achieving fruitful two-way prayer (listening to and addressing our Lord). Take some deep breaths to clear your thoughts or use a breathing exercise. If you are not listening how do expect to know your racers are answered? Wait expectantly. Sing and pray the Psalms: “Sing praise to the Lord” (Psalm 68:32). I’ll say more about this below. Ordinary people like you and I can listen to God in prayer. I am neither. Required fields are marked *. Thoughts, ideas, and impressions will begin to come into your mind and heart. Most people have found that early morning is the best  time. Write something you want to tell God (a statement, rather than a question, about something happening in your life). — Ward Ballard, Navigators International Student Ministry. I am an elder in a reformed church since 2001. Are these thoughts in line with our duties to our family, to our country? How to Pray through Listening Prayer: Set aside some quiet time when you can focus. It can also consist of strictly being in God's presence in silence (sometimes called contemplative prayer). Ponder it and slowly repeat it. Why don’t most of us practice this discipline? In my daily conversation with God I always get answers. And these distractions are what Batterson wants to include as possible communications from God (see below). 1.Worship God With Heart and Honesty I heard this eight years ago listening to an audio tape of one Fr. Journal in prayer: Write your prayers to God and wait for His response. Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand” (Psalm 139:17,18). quiet, relaxed and open. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I must quiet my heart and embrace the stillness that allows me to truly know that he is God. Samuel shows us how when we pray to God, we need to talk and listen to Him. Ask the Lord what He wants to say to you (Psalm 119:78). Looking for encouragement, resources, or ways to get involved in ministry? Sometimes just silence is appropriate. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Let him sit alone and be silent” (Lamentations 3:25,26,29 NASB). I think that is a large part of what it means to pray “in the name of Jesus”: to think God’s thoughts after Him. Convert to Catholicism in 1995. We will find every reason not to practice contemplative prayer: things must be done, phone calls must be made, worries crowd our thoughts. I believe mediating is essential and being silent before God. Each hu. Then we hit the pause button. All Rights Reserved. As we sit in silence, we will itch and squirm, our backs will ache, and our stomachs will grumble. Before doing that, just note the four stages of prayer St. Teresa of Avila discussed in her autobiography: Meditation, The Prayer of Quiet, Union, Rapture. For years I have been writing that prayer is 10 percent talking to God and 90 percent listening to Him. The things I’m suggesting are not formulas. As you consider them, ask God to show you additional ways to incorporate this discipline into your life. Running my fingers through the sand, I remember David’s words, “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! That God would use the Navigators First Responder Ministry to be the life-line of hope to those they find in distress. (I don’t agree with the advice about pen and paper; I’ll have more to say about that below.) Retired, cranky, old physicist. Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle, Fourth Mansion, Chapter 3. God desires to communicate with His people, even more than we desire to communicate with Him! As a Catholic I believe that communication comes to me both from God and from the Enemy. We tend to think of prayer as a spiritual discipline where we talk to God. Have you ever dealt with a strange response? Be definite and specific in your request. When I pray, do the Liturgy of the Hours or the Nightly Examen, distracting thoughts occur and I don’t always know how to get back to the important stuff. Discernment—which thoughts come from God—is to be achieved when you examine this written list and apply the following criteria: Batterson advises you to share these thoughts with another person if you’re not able to decide whether or not they come from God. Also, you have to be loose about how God might speak to you. It was then in Akron, Ohio, that Bill W and Dr Bob (Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith) used Oxford Group precepts as a springboard to develop the 12 Step program, Alcoholics Anonymous. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. You read the Bible. But it does require some discipline to find a quiet place and to allow some time just listening. We also believe that God also speaks to us through the word centered manifestional gifts found in 1 Corinthians 12: Prophecy; Tongues, with interpretation of tongues; The … I do this as I fast and pray. Use this prayer guide to join with Navigators around the world. This is not a time to zone out or think of the activities for later in the day. And yet, God delights for us to sit at His feet and enjoy being with Him. He will always make the first move in your life. God assures us that if we pray in this way, “he hears us.” (1 John 5:14) So, for our prayers to be heard, we need to get to know the God of the Bible and learn what his will is. — Chris Green, Navigators First Responder Ministry. We talk to God because he first talked with … But the key is in order for Him to hear us, we need to know what kind of prayer He will listen to. Either silently or aloud, just say to God in a natural voice that you would like to find His plan for your life—you want His answer to the problem or situation you are facing just now. But many people often do not receive the Lord’s response or feel His presence. “But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).