Do You Know How To Really Connect With God In Prayer

“God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.”
Mother Teresa

Do you ever get frustrated over your prayer life?  You’ve prayed and prayed for someone or something in your life but God doesn’t seem to answer.  When I have been in this situation I began to ask, ‘God are you really there?’ and ‘If so, do you really care?’  The answer to both my questions was a resounding ‘YES’. God is there and He does care. The problem was actually with me.  I was coming to God with a ‘shopping list’ of prayers. Oops! I was communicating with God like it was a one-way conversation.  I was continually talking at God and not talking with God. I wasn’t listening to what He had to say. Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation?

For any relationship to grow and flourish it requires two-way communication and it’s the same with relating to God.  Just like your relationships with other people, if you want to understand someone and get to know them, you need to listen to them.  I decided to look at the way Jesus prayed. 

Firstly, Jesus spent a lot of time praying.  Luke 5:16 says, ‘But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.’  Luke 6:12, describes how ‘Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray and spent the night praying to God.’  (Don’t worry I’m not going to tell you to pray all night.) He modelled having undistracted time in prayer with His Father.

Jesus’ prayers were based in His relationship as the Son of God with His Father and involved listening to God. Share on X

Secondly, Jesus’ prayers were based in His relationship as the Son of God with His Father and involved listening to God.  In John 5:19 (NIV) Jesus says: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” Wow! Jesus had such an intimate relationship with God and through the Holy Spirit, He had visions of what the Father wanted Him to do.  Then in John 12:49 (NIV), Jesus says ‘For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.’  He took the time to listen to what His Father wanted Him to say and spoke those words.

As the Son of God, Jesus lived a life of total submission to His Father, even when He was facing a cruel death of crucifixion in the Garden of Gethsemane He said, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42 NKJV

Did you realize that as a believer you have the Holy Spirit living in you (1 Corinthians 6:19) and you can communicate with God in the same way Jesus did?  You are designed to connect with God, Holy Spirit to your spirit. He loves you so much, He is patiently waiting to spend time with you and speak to you.  Just like Jesus you can pray and hear from God. 

You can communicate with God in the same way Jesus did? You are designed to connect with God, Holy Spirit to your spirit. Share on X

As I began to realize how Jesus prayed, I ditched my ‘shopping list’ prayers and followed His example of prayer.  I started asking God questions in my devotional times like, ‘What do you want to say to me?’, and ‘What is it you want me to do and say today?” During my devotional time, I have a journal where I write down what  God is saying to me through the bible reading and devotional I am using.  

When I come to pray I ask God how He wants me to pray. Sometimes He will highlight a verse from the bible reading and say ‘I want you to declare it over the situation that you are praying about.’  Other times as I am meditating on a situation or person I want to pray for, I have a revelation, a vision or a word from God, and He shows me what is going on in the spiritual realm, which gives me understanding beyond the natural situation that I am aware of.  Through this God is showing me how to pray and if I pray that way then answers come. 

This is exactly what happened when I prayed for a friend who had a really genuine need for provision for her family. (This was not a shopping list request.) Within two weeks she was miraculously given, for free, a second-hand van in great condition that was perfect for her needs.  She was now able to take her large family all together to church, on family outings and to after school activities. 

I have also come to realize that when I approach God this way, I am praying from a completely different identity.  I am praying from the heart of a daughter of God, who knows her Father is loving and faithful, providing all my needs according to His riches in Glory. Philippians 4:19.  He not only understands what I need but He will also reveal His strategies and plans as I pray so my prayers are answered and my needs met.

I encourage you to try this for yourself and start praying the way that Jesus did. 

1. Sit with God and just listen. Even if God doesn’t seem to be saying something persevere.  
2. Take note of any thoughts or visions that are crossing your mind?  
3. Read His word and ask God what He is saying to you about the scripture.
4. Write down whatever you are hearing or seeing and you think God is saying to you in a  journal.  
5. Pray about what God has spoken to you and ask Him what it means for you and how He wants you to apply it in your life.  

I can’t stress enough, that if at first, you find this difficult don’t give up. Keep persevering.  Always make sure that what you hear is consistent with the Word of God. 

I would love to hear how you go listening to God.  Please share any questions you have or comments you want to make about the blog through the Contact Page.

If you found this blog helpful and you think someone you know may find it helpful too then please forward it to them.

To your identity,

Robyn