As church leaders we make many decisions that can affect the course and culture of the church. It’s foolish not to pray about everything we do because it’s HIS Church, not ours. We need to get on page with Him. Sometimes, however, we pray and then proceed without listening for His response. When the steps we take fail, then we wonder why. The kind of praying that leads to effective ministry must be more than token prayers.
— This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (1 Jn. 5:14) — To pray according to His will, we need to take a step back and first listen so we’re praying as we ought. We need to listen to pray according to God’s will, which will enable us to be better listeners when He answers.
Praying According to God’s Will Begins with Listening to His Word
We will be able to determine God’s “good, pleasing and perfect will” when we stop trying to conform to others and offer ourselves to Him instead (Rom. 12:1-2). He will use His Word to transform us by renewing our minds. As 1 John 5:14 clearly states, freedom to boldly approach God in prayer comes when it’s about His will, not ours.
God has already given us an authoritative source for determining His will. Answers to our prayers will never contradict His Word so listening to what He says in His Word must be our starting point if we’re going to pray according to His Will.
To Pray According to God’s Will Also Requires Us to Listen When He Answers
Not all decisions we must make are clearly spelled out in Scripture. So, we pray for wisdom (James 1:5) and trust the Lord with all our heart rather than lean on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6). Nor do we depend on the myriad of books, websites, videos, and more to guide us. God may use the ideas of others to plant ideas but we need to take time to pray about those ideas and then listen for God’s final word. Their suggestions may or may not be God’s will for us or our ministry. Even strategies that have effectively worked in other churches need to be run through the grid of Scripture and prayed about to make sure we’re following God, not merely other churches or leaders.
As our minds are being renewed more and more by God’s Word, we become more and more attuned to His voice. Just as sheep know the voice of the Shepherd because of the time spent with him and the trust built in him to care for them, so we, as His sheep, are able to identify His voice above other voices. (Jn. 10:1-6)
For More on These Topics, Go To:
All Posts about Listening Skills:
- Start by Listening to God
- Getting Others On Board Starts by Listening
- Listening, A Core Element of Body Life
- Why We Start by Listening to the Lord
- Why Listen to Others
- Jesus Actively Listened
- Christ-like Listening Communicates
- If Listening Doesn’t Come Naturally
- Is Listening One of Your Weaknesses?
- Listening Enhanced with the Help of the Holy Spirit
- Praying According to God’s Will Begins & Ends with Listening
- Want Someone to Listen?
- Scripture Equips Us to Listen
- Doing Everything in His Name Makes Us Better Listeners
- The Gospel Gives Us a Reason to Listen
- Strongholds That Keep Us from Being Good Listeners
- The Resurrection Gives What We Need to be Better Listeners
- Listening Affects Fulfilling Leadership Roles