Listen to Prayers: How do I Listen to God in Prayer?

 When we were young, most of us prayed sort of like a monologue: We talked to God, sharing our gratitude and offering up our petitions and requests. Listening to prayer centers around a clear request for God’s guidance. In making our request, we give God’s guidance authority over the other voices we hear throughout our daily lives. Then we hit the pause button. We wait on God in a time of silence, giving the Lord an opportunity to speak to us. We focus our time of prayer on intentional, purposeful listening and let God do the talking. You’ve been asking God for help and think you’re not getting an answer from Him. But you’re probably missing what He’s saying. 

Does God always Listen to Prayers? Yes, of course. This promise is all over the Bible. For example, John 16:24 says, "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."  1 John 5:15 - "And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." God listens and He is ready to answer, all you have to do is ask. 

Is it possible that God sometimes ignores some of your prayers? No, He never does. He never ignores His children. He promises that, too.  The simplest way that God speaks is through His word. God is speaking to you when the same type of verses or theme keeps coming up.

Acts 9:4-7 “You may think God doesn’t work this way anymore. However, I can testify that He does because He’s spoken audibly to me. And at that moment, my life changed completely and irrevocably.”

Also, God is speaking to you through other people. This can take different forms. All throughout the Bible, you can find many examples of God speaking to people through visions and dreams.  For example, like Moses, you may receive wise advice:

When did Moses’s father-in-law see everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?”.“What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’s father-in-law said to him. Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you.

Exodus 18:14, 17, 19