In prayer, we share our worries, our gratitude, our fears, our hopes, and our dreams with God.
We also listen as God speaks to our hearts.
Discernment -- listening for the voice of God -- is a skill we can practice.
This playlist will help you slow down and find stillness so that you can listen to God and practice discernment.
May the offerings below help you to settle into a quiet place where you can just be with God in holy listening.
(You can find more Prayer Playlists for adults HERE.)
Here are some Scripture passages that express our desire to listen to God and that show how God speaks to us:
Here are some blog posts to help you reflect on your experience of listening in prayer:
How I Use Ignatian Discernment to Help Me Make Decisions Big and Small
Waiting for God: How to Keep Listening When God Seems Silent
Looking for a Sign From God? Try These Prayer Practices Instead
Nine Reasons to Embrace Ignatian Discernment
Here's some advice for when you are Struggling to Hear God's Voice.
Father Mike Schmitz talks about The Value of Silence.
From Igntatian Spirituality: What Is Discernment?
Here's a lovely little reflection: This Is Prayer
Michael Joncas, My Soul Is Thirsting
John Michael Talbot, Come To the Quiet
Jeremy Camp, When You Speak
Steve Angrisano, My Soul Is Thristing
Matt Maher, As Good As It Gets
Lauren Daigle, Salt and Light
Laren Daigle, You Say
Matt Maher, Lord Of My Life
Matt Maher, Light the Way
Tom Booth, Sacred Silence
Audrey Assad, You Speak
Maranatha, Waiting Here For You
Hillsong, The Potter's Hand
Chris McClarney, I'm Listening
Tony Alonso, In the Arms of God
Here are some things to reflect on during your prayer time. They can also serve as journal prompts.
- What are some things in your life that make it difficult for you to listen to God?
- (hard to find stillness/silence? hard to stop doing and just be? racing mind even when you come to prayer?)
- What is your favorite place to be quiet, still, and just BE?
- What helps you know when it's God speaking to your heart?
- What are some of the competing voices that pester you when you want to listen for God?
- What do you hear God speaking into your heart today?
Here's a lovely poem from Mary Oliver: Making the House Ready For the Lord
Three Minute Retreats from Loyola Press:
Practice being a better listener in your relationships with others (as well as with God). Here are some tips:
10 Steps to Becoming a Better Listener
Two Ears and One Mouth: Why We Should Listen More Than We Talk
Why not try sitting in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist for a few silent moments each week? If sitting in silence is new or scary for you, start small. Begin by just trying 5 quiet breaths, then next time try 10 breaths. Or start with sitting in quiet prayer for just 5 minutes, then next time try 10 minutes. Or, if sitting still is challenging for you, try going on a silent walk and taking God with you.
Pray As You Go has a whole online retreat of audio prayer practices to help you find stillness and quiet: Practicing Prayer.
God In All Things offers a self-paced online course on Ignatian Discernment: What Is God's Will?
Becky Eldredge at Ignatian Spirituality offers a series of reflections on listening for God in various situations:
Listening for God When We're Stuck
Listening for God in Consolation
Listening for God in Scripture
Listening for God Through Spiritual Direction
Listening for God Through Our Imaginations
(You can find more Prayer Playlists for adults HERE.)