Learning to Hear God's Voice Through Listening Prayer
Notes from the message preached by Nate Bush at New City Church in Albuquerque, NM, on May 24, 2026.
In our fast-paced world, many Christians wonder if they can truly hear from God in their daily lives. The answer is a resounding yes. Through the practice of listening prayer, believers can experience both hearing God's voice and feeling His presence in profound ways.
What Is Listening Prayer?
Listening prayer is built on two foundational beliefs: you can hear from Jesus, and you can experience His presence. As Jesus said about being the good shepherd, "My sheep hear my voice." This isn't just a metaphor - it's a reality available to every believer.
While salvation comes through faith and grace alone, there's a fullness of life that God desires for us beyond our initial salvation. The apostle Paul prayed for believers "to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" (Ephesians 3:16-17).
Can Christians Really Hear God's Voice?
The Bible clearly teaches that God speaks to His people. In the age of the Holy Spirit, we should expect communication from God. As Peter quoted from Joel: "And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy" (Acts 2:17).
God speaks through various means:
Nature (Psalm 19 tells us "the heavens declare the glory of God")
His Word in Scripture
Dreams and visions
Opening and closing doors
Community and fellowship
The Importance of Abiding
Listening prayer flows from an abiding relationship with God. As Dallas Willard notes, "You cannot expect to hear from someone you never hang out with." Abiding means being aware that God is with you wherever you go, cultivating an ongoing conversation throughout your day.
How to Practice Listening Prayer
1. Practice with a Slow Heart
Listening prayer isn't best learned through emergency situations. When we're caught up in drama, stress, or urgent pressure, it becomes nearly impossible to hear God's voice clearly. Instead, find moments of quietness and surrender.
2. Avoid Double Crosses
Pay attention to contradictions between your prayers and your lifestyle. For example, praying for weight loss while not changing eating habits, or asking God to show His love while actively engaging in self-hatred. Align your heart and actions with your prayers.
3. Start with Simple Prayers
Begin with prayers you already know the answers to from Scripture:
"Father, am I your child?" (The Spirit testifies that you are)
"Father, do you love me?" (God so loved the world that He gave His Son)
"Can I hear Jesus?" (My sheep hear my voice)
4. Ask Jesus What to Pray
The most transformative prayer is: "Jesus, what do you want me to pray?" This aligns your prayers with God's will and creates deeper intimacy with Him. As 1 John 5:14 says, "If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."
Using Lectio Divina to Train Your Ear
Lectio divina, meaning "divine reading," is an ancient practice that helps believers hear God's voice through Scripture. This method involves four movements:
First Reading: Listen for God's Direction
Read the passage asking the Holy Spirit to direct your thoughts to specific words, phrases, or ideas He wants you to notice.
Second Reading: Reflect on God's Focus
Ask if Jesus is drawing your attention to particular words, phrases, images, or thoughts. What is He beginning to show you?
Third Reading: Discover What to Pray
Ask Jesus to show you what He wants you to pray about. Whatever you hear, simply pray it and say yes to His leading.
Fourth Reading: Listen for More
Ask "What else, Lord?" to see if there's additional revelation or direction He wants to give you.
Recognizing God's Voice
Learning to distinguish God's voice comes through experience. Look for three witnesses that confirm God is speaking:
Internal leadings and impressions from the Holy Spirit
Alignment with Scripture's eternal truths
Evidence of God's providence and answered prayers in your circumstances
When these three witnesses align, you can have confidence that God is moving and speaking.
The Promise of Abiding in Christ
Jesus calls us to abide in Him as branches abide in the vine. In John 15:4-5, He says, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
This abiding relationship isn't just about productivity - it's about intimacy and connection with our Creator. Through listening prayer, we cultivate this abiding presence that transforms our daily experience.
Life Application
This week, commit to practicing listening prayer for just 10 minutes each day. Start by asking God simple questions you know the answers to, then progress to asking "Jesus, what do you want me to pray?" Use the lectio divina method with a short Bible passage, reading it four times with the different focuses outlined above.
Consider these questions as you begin this practice:
Am I creating space in my life to actually hear from God, or am I too busy and distracted?
What double crosses exist between my prayers and my lifestyle that might be hindering my ability to hear God's voice?
Do I truly believe that God wants to speak to me personally, or do I think He only speaks to "super spiritual" people?
How might my relationship with God change if I experienced regular, two-way conversation with Him?
Remember, God desires intimate relationship with you. He's not silent - He's waiting for you to slow down, listen, and abide in His presence. The practice of listening prayer can revolutionize your faith and deepen your experience of God's love in ways you never imagined possible.
