Listening: Step 11 For Cultivating Daily Delight in Prayer
“Could you not watch with Me one hour?”
Matthew 26:40 (NKJV)
Step Eleven _________________________
Basic Definition
The Act of Divine ________________________
Action Focus: Supernatural ___________________
Key Word: _____________________
Voices from the Past:
“Prayer is not a soliloquy, where everything comes from one side; but it is a dialogue, where God’s child listens to what the Father says, and replies to it, and then asks for the things he needs. Listening to God’s voice is the secret of the assurance that He will listen to mine.”
—Andrew Murray
LISTENING: A Biblical Basis
Scripture:
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Ephesians 1:15-17 (NIV)
Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.
Revelation 2:29 (MSG)
Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.
Jeremiah 33:3 (MSG)
If you will listen obediently to what I say and keep my covenant, out of all peoples you’ll be my special treasure.
Exodus 19:5 (MSG)
God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Numbers 23:19-20 (NKJV)
Voices from the Past:
“Quietness in a man or a woman is a mark of strength. Noise is not eloquence. Loudness is not power. In all the departments of life it is the quiet forces that affect most. Therefore if we would be strong, we must learn to be quiet. A quiet heart will give a quiet life.”
—J. R. Miller
Summary Definition of LISTENING…
A time to ___________
Voices from the Past:
“Be still sometimes—so still that God may speak,
And make His voice heard in thy waiting heart,
Sometimes the husk of His calm presence seek;
From all the world’s confusion come apart,
And silence even praise, and breathe no prayer,
But only wait for Him to meet thee there.”
—Edith H. Divall
LISTENING: A Prayer Application
Receive _____________ instruction.
Voices from the Past:
“All practical power over sin and over men depends on closet communion. Those who abide in the secret place with God show themselves mighty to conquer evil, and strong to work and to war for God. They are the seers who read His secrets; they know His will; they are the meek whom He guides in judgment and teaches His way. They are His prophets, who speak for Him to others and ever forecast things to come. They watch the signs of the times and discover His tokens and read His signals.”
—Dr. A. T. Pierson
LISTENING: A Life Application
Develop a ___________________ spirit.
Where to Next?
LISTENING…
Four Ways to Get Started and Keep Going!
Following are four suggestions to help you personally apply this aspect of the 12 in daily prayer.
A Practical Prayer Summary
Step 11 in World-Changing Prayer
- In the “listening” time of prayer, do not hesitate to ask God very specific questions about difficult problems or situations.
- Search Scripture for specific answers to your questions. God most often speaks through His Word.
- Mentally evaluate all circumstances that relate to a problem. Ask God to show you His plan through these circumstances.
- Be prepared to write down any ideas God may share concerning the details of solving that particular problem.
Afterthoughts...Ponder and Pray
Ponder Points:
Discuss (or ponder) why you think it is difficult for some Christians to truly listen to God’s voice during personal prayer. One of the “life application” suggestions in this session was that we develop a “quiet life.” How would you define such a lifestyle?
Personal Afterthoughts
Prayer Points:
A wonderful and meaningful prayer exercise is to be quiet and listen to see if God will speak into our hearts with a “still, small voice.” Take time to listen to see what God may impress upon your heart during this time of prayer. If you are in a small group, end your time of prayer by praying back to God what you heard.