If you haven't read my last blog post titled 'Listening Prayer: How to Designate a Place to Connect with God', check that one out first.
After you have found the PLACE, now its time to:
PAUSE
Sitting in silence, in the times we live in, can be one of the hardest things to practice. However then we read words like these from Psalms;
Psalm 37:7a - 'Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.'
Psalm 46:10a - 'Be still and know that I am God.'
Our minds are so full of distracting thoughts that quieting ourselves and stilling our minds is something we need to learn by practice.
I found some helpful hints on this from the book “Invitation to Solitude and Silence” by Ruth Haley Barton.
God often speaks to us in a quiet voice just like he spoke to Elijah.
1 Kings 19:12-13 - 'God wasn’t in the wind, the fire or the earthquake but in the sound of a low whisper.'
It’s good to take about 10 minutes to be silent as a starting point. Find a comfy chair (although not too comfy or it will be easy to fall asleep) feet placed firmly on the ground and hands palms up on your lap. Close your eyes and focus your thoughts on Jesus. It may be useful to use a word like “holy”, “Jesus” or a phrase like “ my Lord and my God” to help bring your attention back when your mind wanders which it is bound to do.
You may not hear anything from the Lord at first, this is a practice that takes time but you are being still and knowing that He is God. If you do have any inclination or verse from the Bible, make a note of it in your journal, the Holy Spirit will bring clarity.
During these times God will begin to do a work in our hearts that will bring us into a closer relationship with him.
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