Listening While Praying:

Romans 8:26-30 says “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress.  For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.  And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.  And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And he gave them right standing with himself, and he promised them his glory”  What is Paul telling us here is some wonderful truths about God.  One, He knows us better than we know ourselves and His spirit helps us and guides us in prayer.  This also tells us that we need to be listening to God when we pray, what is God trying to tell when we pray? 

You may be saying what do you mean we should be listening, is God going to speak to us in an audible voice.  No that is not what I mean at all.  But I believe many of us may not go into our prayer time ready to really have a two sided conversation with God.  Let us stop for just a second and look at how we get ready for our Sunday morning service.  We come to sanctuary, we get seated and we listen to the opening song, then pray, then we sing more.  Then the pastor gets up and speaks.  Why do we do this?  We Do it to prepare our hearts and minds to hear God speaking to us through His word, through what He has told the pastor to speak on that day.  Many of us may read our bible then pray then get up and leave.  What if we really prepared to come to God and have true communion with Him. Maybe listen to some worship music, quite our hearts, read His word, write down those things that God brings to our mind.  Pray to God, then when we are finished be quite for a few minutes  and see what He may have to lay on your heart. Write it down if your journal, read whatever piece of scripture He may lay on your mind, leave changed. 

What is so great about God is He has given us His spirit to guide and direct us, as we read His word and pray, His spirit guides and directs us. Richard Blackby explains it like this; “when the Holy Spirit reveals a truth to you in prayer, He is present and actively working in your life. This kind of prayer is a divine encounter. Here's what happens as you seek God's will in prayer: God takes the initiative by causing you to want to pray. The Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, reveals God's will to you. You pray in agreement with the will of God. You adjust your thinking and attitudes to God's truth. You look and listen for confirmation or further direction from the Bible, circumstances, and the church (other believers). You obey. God works in and through you to accomplish His purposes. You experience Him as the Spirit revealed when you prayed. Praying and reading your Bible are inextricably connected. The Spirit of God often uses the Word of God when you pray. When I pray about something, Scripture often comes to mind, and I immediately open my Bible to the passage I believe the Spirit of God brought to my attention.”

Blackaby, Richard (2008-09-01). Experiencing God (pp. 160-161). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.