Prayer Power

Hearing God's Voice in Your Mind
By Petey Prater

I sat in church questioning God. “Lord, why don’t we have a Pastor yet? It’s been eight months since Pastor Bill took a new assignment. Aren’t we ready for a new leader? When will you send us a Pastor?”

God spoke these thoughts into my mind:

It’s been years since the church has met just to pray and seek My face. Now concerts of prayer and praise are rising to Me every Sunday night as you pray for a new leader. Many are asking for miracles to be poured out at your altars. For the church to move in miracles there must be a river of prayer and praise flowing under the foundations of this church. That riverbed has been dry. Now it’s filling with worship and intercession, which is the water of the Word. When your prayers and praises overflow the riverbanks your new Pastor will come. Then the altars will be full and miracles will flow down as your prayers ascend.

Hearing God

How do we hear God speak in our minds? How can we be sure it is the voice of God and not self or Satan and demon powers misdirecting us? First, God’s Word never contradicts Scripture and is always accompanied by peace. We should also “Test everything.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21 NIV Jesus promised, “My sheep listen to my voice…and they follow Me. John 10:27 NIV Joy Dawson’s book Intercession: Thrilling and Fulfilling, YWAM Publishing, shares these insights on hearing God:

Quieting Self’s Mind

To hear the thoughts of Christ we need his mind. He commanded, “Let this…mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5 AMP We surrender our desires and thoughts and receive his mind by faith. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV God speaks to all who seek him.

To surrender self I pray, “Lord, I give you my thoughts and desires (naming them helps) and receive your mind by faith. Thank you.”

Overcoming Satan and demon powers

Next, put on the armor God speaks of in Ephesians 6:10-20: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, gospel shoes, helmet of salvation, shield of faith and sword of the Spirit. Then take authority over the enemy, praying, “Satan and demon powers, I silence your lies in the name of Jesus. “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 NIV Pray out loud, in faith, quoting the Word, claiming the blood of Christ or the name of Jesus. These weapons will silence and stop the enemy. “The weapons we fight with… have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV

“Thank you, Jesus, for victory over the enemy.”

Hearing God

Now your mind is clear to hear God. Bring your questions to Him expecting direction and answers. Listen for a thought or a word, praise him and obey. The secret (of the sweet, satisfying companionship) of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its (deep, inner) meaning. Psalm 25:14 Amp

Prayer

Thank you, Father, that you have no favorites. You love me and speak to me when I call. Thank you for teaching me to hear your voice and obey. I delight to do your will. Amen.

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Petey Prater is a Beaverton, OR writer and speaker who can be reached at peteyprater@yahoo.com. She writes articles, poetry, and has contributed to two books:

Prayers for Troubled Times compiled by Jeannie St John Taylor, AMG Publishers and
101 Stories of Answered Prayer by Jeannie St John Taylor and Petey Prater, AMG Pub.