Listening Prayer

Most of the time when we pray, we do the talking. But listening prayer is different—it’s about slowing down, focusing on the Lord, and asking the Holy Spirit to speak to us. In this particular form of listening prayer, we invite the Holy Spirit to reveal things like lies, sins, unforgiveness or strongholds that have crept into our hearts. Then, after He reveals it, we can walk through biblical principles that lead to freedom.

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Hearing From God

Did you know you can hear from God? At first, that might sound unusual. But when you think about it, it makes perfect sense. God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present. He created you for relationship with Himself, and real relationship includes communication. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with stories of God speaking directly to His people in more ways than just having them read Scripture. Aside from that, God spoke to the 40 authors of the Bible when He inspired the text. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Since He spoke then, why wouldn’t He still speak now? Jesus is not distant. He is personal, and He desires an intimate relationship with you. For some Christians, the idea of hearing God’s voice feels strange, but not because Scripture denies it. For some, it's because their church culture didn't teach or encourage it. For others, it's because they've seen other Christians make mistakes when claiming to hear from God.  But if God truly wants to speak to us by His Spirit, we shouldn't let those things deter us. Like any relationship, learning to recognize God’s voice takes time and practice. As you grow in listening prayer and root yourself in Scripture, you can develop discernment and confidence in hearing Him. He is speaking—and He wants you to know Him more deeply.

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Bible Verses About Hearing from God

• John 10:27 - “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
  
• John 14:26 - “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
  
• John 16:13 - “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
  
• 1 Corinthians 14:1 - “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.”
  
• 1 Corinthians 14:5 - “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.”
  
• 1 Kings 19:11-13 - “The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still small voice.”
  
  

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Ways to Hear from God

2 Timothy 3:16–17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Bible makes it clear that Scripture is our ultimate and authoritative source of truth. It is also the primary and most reliable way we hear from God. Anytime He speaks in another way, it will never contradict the truth of His Word. That being said, God is not limited in how He communicates. Throughout Scripture, we see Him speaking in many ways—through the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual gifts of other believers, dreams, visions, circumstances, answered prayers and, at times, an audible voice. In listening prayer, our main focus is tuning our hearts and minds to God's still small voice. God’s still small voice may bring Scriptures, words or pictures into your mind or promptings to your spirit.

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Distinguishing God’s Voice

The following information is not exhaustive information regarding what the Bible says about God’s voice.  However, you may find it to be helpful information to begin distinguish between your thoughts, demonic oppression and God’s voice.  

• Our Thoughts: Our own thoughts are analytical, cognitive, connected thoughts limited by our own knowledge, wisdom, understanding and abilities.
  
• Demon-Inspired Thoughts: Spontaneous, intrusive negative thoughts are often from demons. They align with the devil’s character of being an accuser, adversary, liar, destroyer, condemner, thief and murderer.  
  
• God’s Still Small Voice: God often speaks through spontaneous thoughts that He impresses on your spirit and they light upon your mind. They are usually light and gentle. They are distinct from our thoughts in that they carry more wisdom, healing, and love than our thoughts. God's voice reveals things with pinpoint accuracy. The revelation He gives you will often lead to “ah-ha” moments in which you are able to now clearly see a reality you were unaware of previously. When these thoughts align with Scripture and reflect God’s character as the Edifier, Comforter, Teacher, Creator, Healer, and Giver of life, they may indeed be His voice.
  
  

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When it Feels Hard to Hear from God

Sometimes we have trouble hearing from God. These are a few tips to enhance that:

• Keep seeking God and asking Him to help you grow in discerning His voice. Ask others to pray for you in this area too. Earnestly desire to enhance this part of your relationship with Him.
  
• Stay in His word. The more familiar you are with His word, the better you can discern His voice and will for you.
  
• Have regular communion with Him in general prayer and fasting to maintain intimacy with Him.
  
• Stay in community. Keep going to church and discipleship groups.
  
• Practice confession, repentance and forgiveness. Sometimes when people have unrepentant sins, their heart has hardened towards God and it is harder to discern His voice.
  
• Get discipled by someone who has a good track record with hearing from God.
  
• Read books or watch videos on hearing from God.
  
• Ask God if you have walls up. Sometimes after difficult life circumstances, we knowlingly or unknowingly put up walls towards God. This can make it harder to hear from Him. Ask Him to help tear it down.
  
• Know that none of us hear perfectly from God. It can be wise to approach listening prayer with a posture of, “I don't know with 100% certainty, but I strongly assume God just spoke this to me...”
  
• Don't over think it. Oftentimes, in listening prayer, when you ask God a question, His response can be the first thing that pops into your mind (When it meets the criteria of how God's voice is described in the video below).

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The Blindspots in our Hearts

In Scripture, the “heart” often refers to the core of our being—where our thoughts, emotions, will, and soul intersect. While we can often discern things happening on the surface of our heart, none of us, on our own, can see or access everything going on in the deeper parts of our heart. We all have blindspots. In Psalm 139:23–24, King David prays, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” One thing we see here is that David recognizes that there are parts of his heart he can’t fully see or access on his own. However, he knows that God can see everything going on in his heart. He also knows God can help him break free of harmful things going on in the depths of his heart in order to walk in more freedom and obedience. Similarly, in listening prayer, we can invite the Holy Spirit to uncover anything affecting us beneath the surface. This can include lies, sins, demonic oppression, unforgiveness, or past wounds. Then, after it is revealed, we can walk through biblical principles to help us walk in more freedom and obedience. You'll see in the examples at the bottom of the article that during listening prayer we may ask God questions like:

• What lies am I believing?
  
• What is the truth You want me to know?
  
• Is there anyone I still need to forgive?
  
• Is there any sin in my heart that You want to deal with?
  
• Are there any footholds in my life creating territory for the enemy?

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Biblical Principles for Freedom

If the Holy Spirit reveals things going on in your heart, you can walk through biblical principles to enhance your freedom and obedience. Here are some examples of what that can look like:

• If God reveals a lie you believed you can renounce that lie and hand it to Him. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
  

• If God reveals a truth He wants you to know you can declare that truth and meditate on it. “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).
  

• If God reveals unforgiveness or past hurts you can choose to forgive that person. “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).
  

• If God reveals emotional distress you can give all of it to Him. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
  

• If God reveals sin in your heart you can confess and repent of it. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
  

• If God reveals an area the enemy has had territory in your life, you can take authority over it to command it to leave you. “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness” (Matthew 10:1). “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

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Starting Your Listening Prayer Time

Before you begin listening prayer, take time to invite God to speak, prepare your heart, silence distractions and focus in on Him.

• Pray and ask God to speak to you. Ask that your spiritual ears and eyes would be attuned to discern His voice.
  
• Ask God to fill you with the fullness of His Spirit and to guard your heart and mind with His perfect peace.
  
• Pray and ask God to silence your thoughts so they will be less likely to interrupt.
  
• You may not have any demonic oppression around you at the time, but just in case, speak out loud to silence and cast away any demonic spirits off the premises and command that they never return to you.
  
• Sit in stillness and quiet. Quiet yourself so you can hear God’s voice.
  
• After you ask God a question, close your eyes and look for His still small voice to illuminate upon your mind. You may see Scriptures, words or pictures in your mind or just get a sense of what God is impressing on your spirit.

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Listening Prayer Options

Below you'll find listening prayer prompts you can follow. Let these guided questions create space for God to meet you personally and powerfully.

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Liberating Lies About Father God

• Focus on and turn towards Father God.
  
• Father God, are there any lies I'm believing about You?
  
• Father God, where did I learn this lie?
  
• Father God, is there anyone I need to forgive that contributed to me learning this lie? If God brings someone to mind, say, "I choose to forgive ______ for ______."
  
• Father God, can you show me where You were when I learned this lie?
  
• I renounce the lies that (fill in the blank with the initial lie you believed about Father God). Father God, I hand you this lie and everything that comes with it.
  
• Father God, what is the truth You want me to know about You?
  
• I declare the truth that (fill in the blank with the truth God said about Himself).
  

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Liberating Lies About Jesus

• Focus on and turn towards Jesus.
  
• Jesus, are there any lies I'm believing about You?
  
• Jesus, where did I learn this lie?
  
• Jesus, is there anyone I need to forgive that contributed to me learning this lie? If Jesus brings someone to mind, say, "I choose to forgive ______ for ______."
  
• Jesus, can you show me where You were when I learned this lie?
  
• I renounce the lies that (fill in the blank with the initial lie you believed about Jesus). Jesus, I hand you this lie and everything that comes with it.
  
• Jesus, what is the truth You want me to know about You?
  
• I declare the truth that (fill in the blank with the truth Jesus said about Himself).
  
  

Liberating Lies About the Holy Spirit

• Focus on and turn towards the Holy Spirit.
  
• Holy Spirit, are there any lies I'm believing about You?
  
• Holy Spirit, where did I learn this lie?
  
• Holy Spirit, is there anyone I need to forgive that contributed to me learning this lie? If Holy Spirit brings someone to mind, say, "I choose to forgive ______ for ______."
  
• Holy Spirit, can you show me where You were when I learned this lie?
  
• I renounce the lies that (fill in the blank with the initial lie you believed about Holy Spirit). Holy Spirit, I hand you this lie and everything that comes with it.
  
• Holy Spirit, what is the truth You want me to know about You?
  
• I declare the truth that (fill in the blank with the truth Holy Spirit said about Himself).
  

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Liberating Lies About Yourself

• Focus on and turn towards Jesus.
  
• Jesus, are there any lies I'm believing about myself?
  
• Jesus, where did I learn this lie?
  
• Jesus, is there anyone I need to forgive that contributed to me learning this lie? If Jesus brings someone to mind, say, "I choose to forgive ______ for ______."
  
• Jesus, can you show me where You were when I learned this lie?
  
• I renounce the lies that (fill in the blank with the initial lie you believed about yourself). Jesus, I hand you this lie and everything that comes with it.
  
• Jesus, what is the truth You want me to know about myself?
  
• I declare the truth that (fill in the blank with the truth Jesus said about you).
  

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Forgiving Others

• Focus on and turn towards Jesus.
  
• Jesus, is there anyone I need to forgive?
  
• Jesus, where were you when this event happened?
  
• What lie am I believing about this? I renounce the lies that (fill in the blank with the lie). Jesus, I hand you this lie and everything that comes with it.
  
• What is the truth you want me to know? I declare the truth that (fill in the blank with the truth Jesus shows you).
  
• Jesus, I confess all unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, resentment, hatred, pride, entitlement and desire for revenge that I've been harboring. Jesus please take these things from me as I hand them to You. I choose to turn from these things.
  
• Jesus, I hand you all hurt. Please heal the wound in my heart created by the event.
  
• I choose to forgive (insert person’s name) for (insert what happened).
  
• Pray a prayer for God to bless that person.
  

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Liberating Sin

• Focus on and turn towards Jesus.
  
• Jesus, is there a sin in my heart you want to deal with?
  
• What lie am I believing about this? I renounce the lie that (fill in the blank with the lie). Jesus, I hand you this lie and everything that comes with it.
  
• What is the truth you want me to know? I declare the truth that (fill in the blank with the truth Jesus shows you).
  
• What thoughts, attitudes and actions have I engaged with in regards to this sin? I confess all engagement with this sin. I hand this sin to You. I choose now to turn from this sin.
  
• Ask Jesus what He wants to give you in return from His Spirit to help you with this.
  

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Liberating Emotional Distress

• Focus on and turn towards Jesus.
  
• Jesus, where were you when this distress began?
  
• What lie am I believing about this? I renounce the lies that (fill in the blank with the lie). Jesus, I hand you this lie and everything that comes with it.
  
• What is the truth you want me to know? I declare the truth that (fill in the blank with the truth Jesus shows you).
  
• Is there anything in regards to this distress that You want me to confess and repent of? If yes, then say, “I confess all engagement with this sin. I hand this sin to You. I choose now to turn from this sin.”
  
• Jesus, please take away these feelings as I hand them to You.
  
• Jesus, please heal the wound in my heart created by the event. I receive Your healing.
  
• Ask Jesus what He wants to give you in return from His Spirit to help you with this.
  

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Liberating Demonic Oppression

• Focus on and turn towards Jesus.
  
• Jesus, do I have a foothold in my life that has created a territory for the enemy?
  
• What lie am I believing about this? I renounce the lie that (fill in the blank with the lie). Jesus, I hand you this lie and everything that comes with it.
  
• What is the truth you want me to know? I declare the truth that (fill in the blank with the truth Jesus shows you).
  
• Jesus, what sinful thoughts, attitudes and actions have I engaged in that contributed to this foothold? When He shows you something, confess it to God. Keep doing that until He's shown you everything relating to that foothold. Then say, "Jesus, I hand You all of this. Please take it from me. I now turn in repentance of these sins.”
  
• Now that the foothold is destroyed, the enemy has no more place. Say out loud, “By the authority of Jesus Christ, I command every demonic spirit to come out of me, leave this premises and never return to me!”
  
• Repeat previous steps in case Jesus reveals any other footholds to be destroyed. Do this until He no longer shows you any more.
  
• Ask Jesus what He wants to give you in return from His Spirit to help you with this.
  

As you can see, there are various ways to engage in this form of listening prayer. There is no need to do them all at once. Just find a time to get quiet, undistracted alone time with God. Then, start small with one listening prayer example and see how it goes.

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Final Thoughts

This form of listening prayer is about drawing close God to get revelation and liberation from things hindering your walk with Him. He knows the hidden parts of your heart better than you ever could, and He longs to bring healing, freedom, and deeper intimacy with Himself. As you quiet yourself, invite the Holy Spirit to lead, and root everything in the truth of Scripture, you can learn to recognize His still, small voice. Over time, you’ll discover that listening prayer is not only a way to experience God’s love more personally, but also a pathway to greater obedience, freedom, and transformation.  The same God who spoke through His Word, His prophets, and His Son still speaks today—and He is eager for you to know Him more deeply as you walk with Him in listening prayer.