When it comes to prayer, it appears we most often experience one of two things: either it’s difficult to think of words to pray meaningfully, or we become so wordy that the words themselves almost lose meaning altogether. Unfortunately, I’ve found myself falling for both ends of the issue: where I pray marvelous words, but feel empty and hollow in my repetitious, nightly routines. Unwilling to be a Pharisee (as in Matthew 6:7), I’ve set out to make a change – but how does one actually achieve this?
Learning to Listen
The Role of Silence in Prayer
Of course, routine can be very helpful – in fact, I’ve written multiple articles on methods that make consistent prayer easier. With Jesus’ instruction on how to pray in Luke 11:1-4. We see that following a guideline isn’t at all condemned, but rather encouraged. But how do we break from the repetition and into a meaningful routine?
Often, one of the most important components is, perhaps counterintuitively, silence.
Our world is now one of noise. It seems almost wherever we go, we’re bound to hear the sound of a car, boat, bike, or plane. Motorised sounds are constant, and technology makes that constant buzz that we can hear when we allow ourselves to tune in. Even in the most desolate areas, it seems there’s at least power lines floating ahead, or a flight path somewhere nearby. Like our environment, we’re constantly buzzing. In a society where being busy equates to being valuable, we find it hard to stand still at all, let alone patiently wait for an answer. When we do pray, it's a long list of please and thank you’s without letting God even get a word in. And there’s the final challenge: how can we sit still and wait for an answer when we’re not sure what it’ll even sound like?This problem isn’t new – in fact, it seems that even the prophet Elijah faced a similar issue in 1 Kings 19:9-13. After a dramatic showdown with the prophets of Baal and fleeing for his life, Elijah finds himself alone, afraid, and desperate to hear from God. He retreats to a cave on the mountain, and when he looks for God, he too has to look past the loud and bold features that are attempting to steal his attention away. While we may have our daily chores, social media, friends, family, or life’s worries crowding up our attention, Elijah’s facing massive winds, an earthquake, and a fire.
But God wasn’t in the wind. He wasn’t in the earthquake. He wasn’t in the fire.Instead, Elijah heard a gentle whisper — some translations say “a still small voice.”That’s where God was.
This story illustrates that while we often expect God to shout over the noise of our lives, He might be waiting for us to quieten down enough to hear Him speak softly. Elijah didn’t hear God in the dramatic displays; he heard Him in the quiet. And perhaps that’s the point — God often chooses not to compete with the chaos, but invites us to step away from it.
Learning to be still before God is difficult. It requires intention, patience, and trust. But when we do slow down — turning off the noise, calming the internal chatter — we may finally hear the whisper that’s been there all along.Now, I don’t expect all of us to be able to literally quiet our lives. Those with children, families, demanding jobs, or even a restless mind are sometimes unable to put the world on hold for a second while you talk to God. But making room for God in your life doesn’t just have to be about literal silence. Here are some things that may help find that peace and quiet, no matter your situation:- Setting Aside Quiet Time: It’s Not Just for Toddlers
Setting aside a set time (even just a minute or two) can be a great start to developing the ability to be still and listen to God. This may involve a timer set for a certain amount of time after or during prayer, or even for a certain time of day – reminding you to just take the time to listen. Routine prayer helps us establish a consistent mindset and reminds us that we’re not alone in the struggles we face. Take Daniel 6:10-12 as an example – we see in Daniel’s story that praying three times a day in his window was a necessary routine. Even under the threat of persecution, Daniel didn’t give up this time with God. His consistency shaped his courage, and ours can too.
If you’re in a particularly distracting space, do what you can to minimise the noise — but listen out anyway. God spoke in the middle of battlefields (Joshua 10:8-10), over crowds of wailing mourners (Mark 5:38-42), and even from a burning bush in the middle of a desert (Exodus 3). He doesn’t need perfect silence to speak, but we often need stillness to hear.If your distraction is your family or children, this doesn’t just have to be an obstacle, but an invitation. Instead of trying to carve out solitary silence in a loud home, consider how your family can join you in the habit of prayer. Organising a simple “quiet time activity” — like inviting children to draw or write a short prayer in their own notebook — can help them practise listening to God too. Not only does this support your own time of stillness, but it teaches them to value silence and reverence in a world that rarely offers it. The quiet won’t always be perfect, but God doesn’t ask us for perfection. Whatever your space is, invite God into it, and sit with Him there, however you can.2.God Speaks Your Language
Many of us find it hard to sit still and just listen for an extended period of time – so if that’s you, don’t fear! Just because we’re focusing on God doesn’t mean we need complete stillness and silence. Rather, throughout the Bible we see people speak to God in their own ways, such as through writing (i.e. the Psalms), through silent heartfelt prayer (e.g. Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:12-13), or even face to face, as to a friend (Exodus 33:11). There isn’t a one-fits-all recipe to talking to God – just as there isn’t for any other relationship! Instead, we’re simply encouraged to be honest and meaningful both when we speak to God and when we await His response.
With that in mind, don’t be afraid to find your own way to listen! If you’re easily distracted and struggle with silence, try listening to worship or instrumental music at the same time, or read a chapter of the Bible aloud and focus on what God is saying in it. Personally, I find tuning into nature a great way to feel God’s presence, finding peace and reason filling my heart when I’ve been outside alone, quietly listening to God’s creation.3. When God’s Reply Isn’t a Burning Bush (or a Talking Donkey)
Like in Elijah’s story, we sometimes expect God to speak to us in loud, awe-inducing ways. Whether that’s through a storm or even hearing verbal speech, we learn from Elijah that God doesn’t always speak how we expect. As seen in the story of Abraham and Sarah with the angels (Genesis 18), or in the case of many prophets and disciples, God often sends a messenger into our lives to share His will with us. God even used a donkey (Numbers 22:21-39) to share His plan with others! However, most often we hear God through the Holy Spirit, which may even just be felt – many describing it as an inner sense of assurance or peace after spending time with God.
Prayer and stillness are meaningful in so many ways – we get the opportunity to quiet our heads, and free up our space and our time. Rather than being dragged around by the world and its schedules, prayer is a time where we can choose to sit still for a while and spend our time with God. After all, if anyone can help us navigate life, it’s the Creator of it.
If you’d like to learn more about prayer and our part in it, try taking our Power of Prayer course. Inspired by Pastor Pavel Goia, it’s free and full of insight. To begin, click the link here.
About the Author
Azaria is a passionate young writer devoted to exploring and sharing the truth of God’s Word. With a heart for faith and a love for storytelling, she seeks to inspire and engage readers on their spiritual journeys.
Azaria Jones
NSW, Australia
