Learning To Listen Instructions

Main Blog

INTRO

Learning to Listen is an intentional 21-day journey designed to help you hear from God. Over 21 days, you will read John's entire gospel account, pray intentionally every day, and fast from 3 essential things. Prayer, Scripture meditation, and fasting are all spiritual disciplines that make space in your life for God to speak to you. In the busyness of life, we often neglect these fundamentals of our faith.

Every day for 21 days, you will read the corresponding BLOG post. Each post will contain an encouragement, that day's scripture reading with some context for application, and a set of guided prayer prompts.

HOW TO

When you prepare to go through your daily BLOG, get somewhere alone and comfortable. Bring a notebook and pen/pencil. Every day, before you start, ask the Holy Spirit to show you something meaningful. Read through the passage slowly and intentionally. If you get distracted, don't feel bad about it - refocus on starting back where you last remembered paying attention.

Things will begin to stand out to you as you read. When that happens, stop and write down what you are thinking. It may be a moment of enlightenment or inspiration or a question of something confusing; either way, write down what comes to mind. Don't hesitate to stop in the middle of reading and pray! Ask for clarity or thank God for something He has shown you!

When you finish reading, follow that day's prayer prompts and, of course, also pray for anything you want! Remember, prayer is something we have access to all day long. Allow your time with the BLOG to be a catalyst for developing an active prayer life where you seek God all day!

FASTING

As a part of the Learning to Listen journey, we are asking that you fast from one thing each week:

-Week 1 a food item or category (sweets, sodas, fast food, coffee, alcohol, etc.)

-Week 2 an activity you often do (watching the news/Sports Center, going out with friends, shopping, etc.)

-Week 3 all Social Media

Fasting is intentionally giving up something in our life to grow more dependent on Jesus. The purpose of fasting is not to be miserable! The goal is to allow our desires and cravings for those things to remind us to pray. When you crave that food item or habit, use it as a trigger to go to God and seek what he has for you.

Fasting has been a spiritual discipline throughout Christianity. Even Jesus himself fasted! The intensity is the point. We are demonstrating how serious we are about hearing from God!

CONCLUSION

I am so excited for you to take this journey. God wants to speak to you, and your best life will come from hearing what He has to say. Try to be consistent with your days. If you miss one day, make it up and keep going. If you mess up on your fast, recommit and get back after it. God is not looking for perfection - He is looking for hearts seeking after him!