Prayer and Listening

[MorningStar]

A sister in my ward gave us a wonderful lesson during Primary one day when I was subbing. She compared it to talking on a phone - you don't just call someone, say everything you want to say, and then hang up. You listen to what the other person has to say.

She said that when we pray, we should continue to kneel as we wait for the answers to come. She knew a guy who would do that as long as it took and he kept a journal next to him, then he would write down the impressions he received. I thought that was such a great idea.

Do any of you do anything like that?

[Misshalfway]

When on the mission, I wouldn't end my morning prayer formally, but then keep my heart open as I got ready for the day. It kinda turned into a habit and I found that I never actually closed the prayer. I guess it is my way of keeping a prayer in my heart or keeping myself open to spiritual communication.

One of my favorite examples was my good friend. She keeps a revelation journal. It is really small and her entries are sometimes one liners. But it helps her see how much the Lord really is trying to communicate with her. Sometimes late at night she would read some of her entries and we would have tears streaming down our faces.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Sometimes the answers don't come immediately but I do know what you mean about not jumping up and rushing away as soon as you say Amen.

[Moksha]

Combining prayer with meditation always seems beneficial to me.

[Guest tomk]

Something I have begun doing each morning is what I call "counseling with the Lord in writing." I learned about this technique in a book I read.

Basically, what you do is keep a journal. Instead of praying vocally, you pray "on paper". You write-out your prayer and then record the Lord's response to you in writing as well. I write the Lord's response back to me in ALL CAPS so as to distinguish what He says from what comes from "me."

I do the same thing for my scripture study. I write-out the verse, and I write down what I feel the Lord is saying to me about a particular phrase. I stop and I write His words to me, right in the middle of the verse oftentimes.

Here is an example from a recent journal entry of mine:

=======

Tuesday, 11 March, 2008

Dear Jesus,

Good morning

GOOD MORNING, TOM

LET'S CAPTURE FROM D&C 1

1 Hearken, O ye people of my church, [HEARKEN, TOM] saith the voice [MY VOICE THAT YOU FEEL INSIDE OF YOU, MY VOICE THAT YOU FEEL MORE THAN AUDIBLY HEAR] of him who dwells on high, [READ THIS AS MY INVITATION TO YOU TO JOIN ME, TO COME TO WHERE I AM!] and whose eyes are upon all men; [iN MY CAPACITY AS YOUR GOD I MONITOR ALL THAT ALL THAT YOU DO, SO THAT A MERCIFUL JUDGEMENT MAY BE WROUGHT UPON YOU AT THE LAST DAY] yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people [HEARKEN, TOM] from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together.

Why do you say "listen together," instead of just "listen"?

IT DENOTES MORE OF A GLOBAL LISTEN. I AM INVITING THE WHOLE WORLD TO LISTEN.

LET'S CONTINUE =)

2 For verily the voice of the Lord [sTILL, SMALL, QUIET, PEACEFUL] is unto all men, [iS UNTO YOU, TOM] and there is none to escape; [THE WORD ESCAPE HERE REFERS TO THE FACT THAT THE LIGHT OF CHRIST FILLS THE IMMENSITY OF SPACE, IT IS IN AND THROUGH ALL THINGS - THERE IS NONE TO ESCAPE] and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated.

"EYES SEEING" - SEEING MY HAND IN YOUR LIFE

"EARS HEARING" - HEARING MY VOICE

"HEARTS PENETRATED" - THINK BROKEN HEART AND CONTRITE SPIRIT -- THE CONVERSION PROCESS.

I need to go =/

I KNOW. I LOVE YOU, TOM. AND I HAVE LOVED SPEAKING WITH YOU THIS MORNING. =)

NOW GO. =) STAY CLOSE TO ME TODAY. =)

============

The above is not a joke or a gimmick. It is my sincere desire to connect with my Jesus, and to record what I feel are His words to me. I try not to doubt or worry that I am just "making all of this up." I just try to have faith in His words and in what I feel.

This process has blessed my life significantly! I feel closer to Jesus than the previous 38 years of my life -- no question about that.

I hope this blesses others.

[skalenfehl]

When I pray to Father In Heaven and ask some big questions, seldom do my answers come immediately. Sometimes I feel prompted to go way out of my comfort zone, and when I finally muster up the will to do it, I find that I come closer to my answer and in the past the answer hasn't always been what I expected, but the message was loud and clear.

I also try to keep my heart constantly drawn out in prayer, as if conversing with the Lord daily. My thoughts are directed to Him, which also helps to keep me focused and from having idle thoughts.

[WANDERER]

My day is ongoing dialogue here and there. Gave up on the wall phone and got a mobile.

[Misshalfway]

My day is ongoing dialogue here and there. Gave up on the wall phone and got a mobile.

Love it!!

[Elgama]

I do mine as part of a meditation which involves me spending time listening its something that is taught in our branch a lot. I do want to do better with the journal bit though I have a strong testimony of how important that is because sometimes I forget what I have prayed for and then I don't know its been answered lol even when it has.

-Charley

[MaidservantX]

My mother has done prayer writing. I did it once in the past, and oddly just started a "prayer notebook" again today. For me at least, part of the point is to aid in concentration more than revelation, and also so that I can look back on it and see what may have come from the prayer; and I also want to note times when and how I think my prayers have been answered so that I acknowledge that to God and to be able to bear my testimony about that better to my posterity and to others.

I rarely stay on my knees for more than a minute after finishing my speaking; I've thought about doing that, but I am generally not asking for answers, I'm asking for help, and so my help is going to come through my day, not in my mind right after the prayer. I am asking for blessings. But when I am reading and studying my scriptures, after praying that the spirit might be with me, I ALWAYS write my studying, and I know that I learn things (revelation!) better because I am writing. (Similar to what Tomk shared above.)

On the other hand, I have had prayers where I didn't say a thing, but just threw myself at His feet, so hopefully, I was receiving during those times.

I am aware that prayer is meant to be when I literally enter the Father's presence, so I look forward to learning more how I can effect that in my life, including having a literal, two way conversation in my prayers. I'm sure I have a long way to go.