Barriers often pop up when we try to listen to God.
Rusty Rustenbach, author of A Guide for Listening and Inner Healing Prayer, says he takes a number of steps to prepare for hearing what God wants to tell him.
One is to "exercise the authority of Christ over all the other voices that seek to speak to you".
Satan is active in trying to distract us. But the apostle James tells us in James 4:7 that we are to submit ourselves to God and "resist the devil and he will flee from you".
Rustenbach prays out loud: "In the name of Jesus Christ, I command any voice other than God from speaking or interfering with this time." This speaks to Satan because, unlike God, he cannot read our minds.
Another step is to "ask Jesus to come in a very special way and manifest his presence".
As Rustenbach says, the Bible is filled with requests to God to make his presence known. God is ready to manifest his presence in special ways when we ask.
Rustenbach prays: "Come, Lord Jesus, come. Come Father God, come. Come, Holy Spirit, come. Transform me into your likeness."
A further step is to "ask Jesus to search your heart and bring up anything that needs his healing touch".
Rustenbach prays along these lines: "Father God . . . would you search below the surface of my life to bring up any hurtful way that might be hidden there? Would you also take me to the root of things? Only bring up what would be beneficial for my healing and appropriate for this time."
Then, says Rustenbach, ask Jesus to communicate with you.
He suggests words like this: "Jesus would you be pleased to communicate with me during this time? I am listening to you and you alone."
Finally, listen and write down the thoughts that God gives you.
"After you have prayed through the preceding steps, the thoughts that come to you are usually God's communication to you," writes Rustenbach.
This approach seems to me like cleaning out a clogged drain that is blocking the flow of water - or, in this case, the words of God.
It makes sense to me.
Rusty Rustenbach, author of A Guide for Listening and Inner Healing Prayer, says he takes a number of steps to prepare for hearing what God wants to tell him.
One is to "exercise the authority of Christ over all the other voices that seek to speak to you".
Satan is active in trying to distract us. But the apostle James tells us in James 4:7 that we are to submit ourselves to God and "resist the devil and he will flee from you".
Rustenbach prays out loud: "In the name of Jesus Christ, I command any voice other than God from speaking or interfering with this time." This speaks to Satan because, unlike God, he cannot read our minds.
Another step is to "ask Jesus to come in a very special way and manifest his presence".
As Rustenbach says, the Bible is filled with requests to God to make his presence known. God is ready to manifest his presence in special ways when we ask.
Rustenbach prays: "Come, Lord Jesus, come. Come Father God, come. Come, Holy Spirit, come. Transform me into your likeness."
A further step is to "ask Jesus to search your heart and bring up anything that needs his healing touch".
Rustenbach prays along these lines: "Father God . . . would you search below the surface of my life to bring up any hurtful way that might be hidden there? Would you also take me to the root of things? Only bring up what would be beneficial for my healing and appropriate for this time."
Then, says Rustenbach, ask Jesus to communicate with you.
He suggests words like this: "Jesus would you be pleased to communicate with me during this time? I am listening to you and you alone."
Finally, listen and write down the thoughts that God gives you.
"After you have prayed through the preceding steps, the thoughts that come to you are usually God's communication to you," writes Rustenbach.
This approach seems to me like cleaning out a clogged drain that is blocking the flow of water - or, in this case, the words of God.
It makes sense to me.
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