Make your relationship with God central to your life by regularly spending time alone with Jesus.

The following are just three models (Listening Prayer, A.C.T.S. and Listening for God in the Highs and Lows) for having a consistent, time alone with God.  May we be like Jesus who: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35).

Listening Prayer

I. Preparing to listen...

A. Find a quiet time. Make it a regular time such as in the morning before you go to school or work, or at night just before you go to bed.

B. Find a quiet place.  Find a place where you can’t be disturbed.  If the place is in your home, then make sure the T.V., radio, cell phone, computer, and any other gadget are off and the door is shut. Also, let a family member or the answering machine take your calls.

C. Sit quietly and breathe deeply.  Psalm 46:10 says, “Be stilland know that I am God.”  To sit quietly is a learned skill…this will take you time and practice to slow down your breathing and to slow down your brain so that you can be quiet and still before God.

II. Listen to Jesus...

D. Read a small portion of God’s Word slowly (a great place to start is the book of Mark or John). You don’t have to speed read your way through the Bible.
   - Read until a word or a phrase connects with you.
   - Repeat the phrase over again several times.

E. Read the same Bible verses a second time (slowly) and explore how this word or phrase connects with your life:   

   -“What does this mean to me?”
   - “What changes does it require?”
   - "What values does it reinforce?”
   - “What difference does it make?”
   - “What does this tell me about God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?”
   - “What does God want me to do as a result of what I’ve learned
   - “How am I called to serve God or other people?”
 

F. Talk to God about what struck you from the passage and then:

• When there is no more to say, stop and listen to God.
• Breathe deeply to stay focused.
• Be quiet.
• Be still.
• When you begin to feel restless and/or your mind begins to wander you may choose to finish your prayer or begin this process over.

 A.C.T.S.

1. Prepare for Prayer 

• Find a quiet time.
• Find a quiet place.
• Sit Quietly and breathe deeply.

 2. Read a portion of God’s Word. 

• From what you have just read move to a time of prayer.  You may include the following parts of prayer:

Adoration

1. Tell God and Jesus what you love about them.

2. Focus on one or more of His attributes or characteristics and praise Him for them. Examples: God’s love, holiness, forgiveness, power, grace, majesty, mercy, sovereignty.

Confession

1. Examine yourself to see if there is anything hindering your fellowship with God. If there is, then admit it to God, ask Him for forgiveness, and promise Him that, with the help of His Holy Spirit, you will turn from it.

Thanksgiving

1. Thank God for what He has given you and what He has done for you.

2. Especially thank God for giving up His only Son for you and for the salvation which Christ purchased for you by His blood.

Supplication (Requests)

1. Make your requests to God.

2. Make your requests for others first, and then for your own needs and desires.

3. As your final request, ask for the Holy Spirit’s leading into all truth with the intention of obeying what you learn.

 Listening for God in the Highs and Lows...

What was today’s high point?

Example: When did I feel most alive, full or engaged?  When did I feel most at one with God?  When was I aware of receiving or giving love?  For what moment of the day do I feel most grateful?

 What was today’s low point?

Example: When did I feel most drained, detached or empty?  When did I feel most distant from God?  When did I give or receive the least love?  For what moment of my day did I feel least grateful?

 How might God be present in these highs and lows?

Example: What is God speaking through this high or low point?  How is God offering me his care?  Is God inviting me toward or away from anything?  What hidden path toward transformation may exist here?