{"id":5978,"date":"2019-01-30T12:08:41","date_gmt":"2019-01-30T18:08:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedisciplemaker.org\/?p=5978"},"modified":"2019-01-30T12:08:41","modified_gmt":"2019-01-30T18:08:41","slug":"how-god-speaks-in-prayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.navpress.com\/sites\/thedisciplemaker\/2019\/01\/how-god-speaks-in-prayer\/","title":{"rendered":"How God Speaks in Prayer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jesus demonstrated a life of perfect communion with God. He interacted with his Father throughout the day, spent entire nights conversing with him, and explained to his disciples that he only did what his Father told him to do. As a human being, Jesus experienced the distractions, frustrations, and struggles we all face (Hebrews 2:14-18), yet always kept his ear turned toward heaven. What keeps us from having the confidence that we, too, can converse with God day in and day out?
\nOne of the greatest hindrances might be our preconceptions as to what God should sound like. We hold onto stories of quaking mountains or burning bushes or tongues of fire, but those are the exceptions, not the rule for how God speaks in Scripture. Rabbi and Hebrew scholar David Wolpe points out that this was an issue for young Samuel when God called his name:
\nSamuel did not understand that the voice belonged to God, because it seemed so ordinary. He took it for Eli\u2019s voice, for surely the voice of God would be accompanied by awesome signs, by peals of thunder. Samuel\u2019s lack of experience was his failure to realize that God does not speak in earsplitting declarations, but in subtle messages to the heart.[i]<\/a><\/p>\n

Impressions of the Heart<\/h3>\n

This is how God speaks most often\u2014in gentle impressions of the heart. As we wait in stillness and sense his presence, we are aware that a voice other than our own has joined our thoughts. Dallas Willard suggestes this still, small voice is God\u2019s way of coming into our souls to \u201cmake our thoughts his thoughts.\u201d[ii]<\/a> Fran\u00e7ois F\u00e9nelon, martyred for his commitment to Jesus Christ in the late 1600s, encourages us to be silent in order to let God speak, and then \u201clisten in the stillness of your heart.<\/em>\u201d[iii]<\/a>
\nWhile we cannot command how and when God will converse with us, as we share our burdens, our concerns, our questions, and our fears, waiting in stillness for him to respond, he often will. Can we be mistaken about what we hear? Yes, and a later section examines this question. For now, accept the reality that he has waited for this moment, knocking patiently at your soul\u2019s door. The God of the universe is calling your name\u2014can you hear him? He wants to reveal himself, to make his voice familiar to you\u2014will you let him?<\/p>\n

Practicing Prayer: Getting to Know God\u2019s Voice<\/h3>\n

Preparing Your Heart<\/h4>\n

Spend a few minutes thanking God for his presence and desire to converse with you. Affirm in faith that you are one of his sheep and therefore can know him and hear his voice. Ask for his guidance as you pursue the practice of conversational prayer.<\/p>\n

Pressing In<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n

Read 1 Samuel 3:1-11 and consider the following questions:<\/p>\n