Summer of Prayer 8: Guest Speaker - Chaplain Tom Zahradnik - Learning to Listen in Prayer
Why Listening in Prayer Matters?
The message gets distorted when no one listens well. We often talk at God, but rarely pause to listen to Him.
I. Prayer Is a Two-Way Relationship
· Listening is a skill—but it’s also a discipline and a posture of the heart.
· We often treat prayer like a monologue, but biblically, it’s a dialogue.
· James 1:19 — “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”
· James 1:22 — “Do not merely listen to the word… Do what it says.”
II. The Shema: Listening as Loving God
· Deuteronomy 6:4–5 — “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord… with all your heart…”
· “Hear” = Shema — not just hearing sounds, but listening with the intent to obey.
· Prayer is not about convincing God—it’s about aligning with God.
Reflection question:
Could it be that you’re not hearing God because you haven’t positioned your heart to obey what He says?
III. Samuel: Learning to Hear God’s Voice
1 Samuel 2:12, 22-26, 3:1-19
7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. 8 So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.
10 And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
18 So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back. “It is the Lord’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”
Lessons from Samuel:
· God is always speaking—but we may not recognize His voice.
· Many times, we need spiritual help to discern God's voice (like Eli). – God speaks in community.
· Samuel’s posture: humility, attentiveness, and obedience.
IV. Why Does God Speak in Prayer?
· Listening to God isn’t about hearing something novel—it’s about hearing something necessary.
· God speaks to guide, convict, comfort, and call.
Matthew 17:5 – “This is my Son… Listen to Him!”
Listen with the intent on obeying - Shema!
Proverbs 19:21 NLT
· John 10:27 – “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
· Revelation 3:20 – “I stand at the door and knock… If anyone hears my voice…”
WHAT IF -
God says “no”?
God says “wait”?
There is no answer when we ask, “why”?
V. How to Practice Listening in Prayer
Be still – Silence is where listening begins (Psalm 46:10).
Ask open-ended questions – “Lord, what are You saying to me today?”
Read Scripture slowly – Let God speak through His Word.
Write what you sense – Journaling helps clarify and reflect.
Test what you hear – Align it with Scripture and wise counsel.
“Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” can be your daily prayer posture.
Are You Listening?
· Listening in prayer is not passive—it’s active, intentional, and relational. ITS ABOUT OBEDIENCE.
· God still speaks. Are you quiet enough to hear Him?
· The question is not “Is God speaking?” It’s “Am I listening?”
Response:
· Take a piece of paper and write, “Lord, I will…” Leave the rest blank. It’s up to God to fill in the details.
· “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
· Set aside 5–10 minutes daily of silent, listening prayer.
Closing Prayer
“Lord, we confess that we often rush into prayer with our words and leave no space for Yours. Teach us to listen like Samuel. Help us to obey like Jesus. Let Your voice shape our lives. Speak, Lord—Your servants are listening. Amen.”