Listening to God – Your Prayer Guide

LISTENING TO GOD

          We hear Jesus speak to his Father, but we often forget that implied in the story is that he also takes a lot of time to listen. 

         Even though it seems difficult to find the time, in prayer we are invited to approach the Lord in quiet solitude with a listening heart.  God speaks first.  In prayer, we acknowledge God’s presence and in gratitude we respond to God in love.  The focus is always on God and on what God does. 

        The following suggestion is offered as one way of praying with Scripture. Even if your style is more spontaneous, to take the time at some point in your day to focus very intentionally on listening with a passage of God’s Word will help the listening process.

A DAILY  PATTERN OF PRAYER

1. Preparation for prayer.

• Set aside a time and place for your prayer.  If you don’t give yourself the time you will not get it. Start with an amount of time you think you can do and gradually add minutes. There is a meditation app on smartphones – Insight Timer
• The evening before you pray the passage, take time to read it and any additional notes related to it.  Just before falling asleep, recall the Scripture passage. 

2. Structure of the Prayer Period

• Quiet yourself.  Remember first that you are in God’s holy presence. Breathe deeply and try to let go of any distractions to be fully present to God.
• Ask God for the grace you want and need.  In other words, ask for God’s loving action in response to a need that you have.  For these weeks, your intent centers around the desire to learn how to get closer to God, learn what God is calling you to do and where God is calling Amazing Grace to next.
• Read through and reflect on the chosen scriptural passage for the week. These will be provided.
• As you come to the end of your prayer time, try to make sure that your prayer turns into dialog with God.
• Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer.

Suggestions & Scripture Readings for Week 1, Jan. 15

Suggestions & Scripture Readings for Week 2, Jan. 22

Suggestions & Scripture Readings for Week 3, Jan. 29

Suggestions & Scripture Readings for Week 4, Feb. 5

Suggestions & Scripture Readings for Week 5, Feb.12

Suggestions & Scripture Readings for Week 6, Feb.19

Suggestions & Scripture Readings for Week 7, Feb.26

Suggestions & Scripture Readings for Week 8, Mar.5

3. Review of Prayer

        It is very important to review your prayer experience at the conclusion of your prayer period.  The purpose of the review is to heighten your awareness of how God has been present to you. Be aware, sometimes you may hear or be aware of very little to nothing. This is okay!

Method: In a notebook or journal, after each prayer period, indicate the date and the passage.  Answer each of the following questions where appropriate:

How can I grow closer to God?

• What is God calling me to do?
• What is God calling Amazing Grace to do next?
• Was there any word or phrase that particularly struck you?
• What were your feelings?  Were you peaceful?  loving?  trusting?  sad?  discouraged?  What do these feelings say to you?
• What images came to your mind’s eye? 
• How are you more aware of God’s presence?
• Is there some point to which it would be helpful to return in your next prayer period?
• How where you placed in the scripture event and how did you respond to Jesus or the situation. How were your issues addressed by the Lord in your prayer time?

The Listening to God Support & Planning Team