Listening Prayer

Listening Prayer is a new kind of prayer proposed at the 1990s. As compared with the traditional Christian prayer, the Listening Prayer demands a "Hearing and discerning God's voice through prayer and scripture; then obeying the Lord's direction in personal ministry."
Traditional prayer requested people to thank the giving from God, as well as telling God their own request. Some people say that "God did not hear me" or "God did not respond to me". Therefore, as a self-reflection of the praying process, theologians suggested "Was it that God did not respond to you, or was it that you did not hear from God"? Therefore, the Listening Prayer requested those praying to calm their minds down and read the Scripture. During the reading, some sentences may pop into mind. Then ask God, "Is that what You want to tell me?"
In traditional prayer the content of the prayer comes from the head of the person praying, Biblical text or some script provided by church tradition or a leader. In contrast, in Listening Prayer one takes time to tune in to God before praying. In this way God's voice has an opportunity to be heard and then expressed in our prayer.
Prayer of the heart is based on heart felt faith that is derived from a direct revelation of God's word received by God's Spirit. God created (Genesis 1) by speaking. Power in prayer tunes in to God speaking.
Prayer based on listening was modelled by Jesus when he said: "I do nothing but what I see the Father doing." John 5:19.
Listening Prayer departs from traditional prayer by listening from the heart and letting God speak rather than dictating our own requests to God from our own thoughts. Listening Prayer has no need to plead or convince God to answer because it starts by seeking agreement with heaven before speaking.
In Traditional prayer man brings his needs and requests to God in hope that God will answer. In Listening Prayer one humbly steps back and allows God's will be done by taking time to listen and basing prayer content on what is heard or seen.
Listening Prayer helps avoid Witchcraft Prayer where prayer is used to control God or others. Jesus gave us the "Our Father" where it is said "Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven." Luke 11:2.

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