How to "listen" during contemplation

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ltravis

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I apologize for the simplicity of this question, but it is really something I could use help with. Regarding contemplative prayer, how do you “hear” what God is saying to you? For instance, during adoration, I do as suggested and pray and quietly talk to God, often in my own words, offering him my complete self, especially my doubts, confusions, and troubles. I give him my complete trust that he may answer my prayers and guide me as he knows best. Now at this point, I just quiet myself because now that I have talked to him, it is time for me to listen to what he has to say to me. The obvious question: how exactly should I expect to “hear” him? I don’t hear actual voices, nor do I expect to of course. So how am I supposed to “get” his message? Would I get an intuition? Would there be a sign of some sort? Honestly, when I sit in silence, open to him, I don’t notice anything but silence. How does it work?

Larry
 
ltravis said:
I apologize for the simplicity of this question, but it is really something I could use help with. Regarding contemplative prayer, how do you “hear” what God is saying to you? For instance, during adoration, I do as suggested and pray and quietly talk to God, often in my own words, offering him my complete self, especially my doubts, confusions, and troubles. I give him my complete trust that he may answer my prayers and guide me as he knows best. Now at this point, I just quiet myself because now that I have talked to him, it is time for me to listen to what he has to say to me. The obvious question: how exactly should I expect to “hear” him? I don’t hear actual voices, nor do I expect to of course. So how am I supposed to “get” his message? Would I get an intuition? Would there be a sign of some sort? Honestly, when I sit in silence, open to him, I don’t notice anything but silence. How does it work?

Larry
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It all has to do with your inner spiritual voice. It’s like meditating with one part of you mind and “hearing” God in a different part of the mind. When in communion with God, I often try to meditate on Spiritual Love.

Did you ever have the experience where you are focused mentally on a task and can hear your thoughts in a different part of your mind? Well, it’s basically the same thing with your inner spiritual voice!

Also, I heard somewhere that you should pray with your forehead! This may help in your daily meditations.
 
This is a common question. 😉 Read St John of the Cross’ “The Ascent of Mt Carmel”. And best prayers for your growth. 👍
 
ltravis said:
I apologize for the simplicity of this question, but it is really something I could use help with. Regarding contemplative prayer, how do you “hear” what God is saying to you? For instance, during adoration, I do as suggested and pray and quietly talk to God, often in my own words, offering him my complete self, especially my doubts, confusions, and troubles. I give him my complete trust that he may answer my prayers and guide me as he knows best. Now at this point, I just quiet myself because now that I have talked to him, it is time for me to listen to what he has to say to me. The obvious question: how exactly should I expect to “hear” him? I don’t hear actual voices, nor do I expect to of course. So how am I supposed to “get” his message? Would I get an intuition? Would there be a sign of some sort? Honestly, when I sit in silence, open to him, I don’t notice anything but silence. How does it work?

Larry
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Hi Larry,
I always wondered the same thing… I think you asked a question many of us wonder about. When I was reading your thread, what was coming to me was to suggest bringing a notebook and pen and journaling. I had many people tell me to do this over the years when I would sit in front of the tabernacle and pray, I guess I felt kinda foolish about it at first and didn’t want to appear like I had any kind of gift. But than one day I felt Jesus pulling me to go to the church and pray in front of the tabernacle. And I kept thinking about the notebook and thought I would bring it just in case I could hear Jesus speaking to me. Besides, I was alone and who would know except me and God.

I remember the first time I did this I prayed my rosary and then I spoke the words, “Speak to me Lord, for your servant is listening.” I started to hear in my mind and heart Jesus speak, "My Dear Daughter… " I wrote the words in my notebook and as I wrote them I heard more words… I continued with this for months before I took it to the priest. I started to feel pulled to the Church and started to know in my heart when Jesus had something to say; so I would bring my notebook and pen. Later when I would reread the message it amazed me at the things I would write. But still, I needed more confirmation in my mind that what I was doing was okay. So I took “My Daily Bread” book with me which is full of messages from Jesus and after I would write in my notebook the message I felt I heard; I would ask Jesus (to forgive me for asking) but to give me confirmation through the messages in the book that what I wrote was truly from Him. Each time I did this the message I would randomly open too was the same. It brought tears to my eyes once I realized God was speaking to me and I was hearing Him.

Months later, I took my notebook to my priest to make sure I wasn’t doing anything against the Church. I never shared the notebook with anyone except the priest. I left it with him for a week and then when I returned to pick it up and asked if I was doing anything wrong; my priest said “you’re doing a great job”, it wasn’t against the church… people who hear God’s message this way are called “locutionist”… meaning the messages are private and mostly personal. I think in the two years I did this I only received one message I was asked to share to the priest.

I believe you will hear God if you ask Him to speak to you and if He has something to say. I do go to the church to pray often and don’t receive messages; but I do know when Jesus is calling me to Him to pray and spend time alone with Him in front of the tabernacle. I am fortunate our parish is unlocked so I can visit anytime of the day.

I have a feeling God has something to say to you since you found it in your heart to seek an answer as to how you can hear Him… like Robert mentioned, it’s your inner spiritual voice that comes from God.

Hope this helps… God Bless!
 
A couple of good modern books on contemplation might help:

“When the Well Runs Dry: Prayer Beyond the Beginnings,” by Fr. Thomas Green, S.J.

“Fire Within: St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Gospel On Prayer,” by Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M.

Fr. Green’s book is relatively short, readable, practical, and very solid. Fr. Dubay’s book is a summary and interpretation of the teachings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. I am reading it now and find it well-organized, clear and sound.

In addition to the writings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, another excellent book on the prayer of quiet is “The Cloud of Unknowing.”
 
You don’t necessarily have to expect God to speak to you every time you quiet yourself in adoration, although it is very good that you do so. When God does answer at this time it is not hearing voices, just a feeling of guidance in a certain way.

He may do so later on while you are in an activity, and a certainty can come to you that He is guiding you in some way.
 
Just say the words, “Lord Jesus.”

Repeat the words as often as you find yourself destracted or thinking of anything other than being in the presence of the Lord.

God’s language is silence and it is in the depth of our being where he speaks to us best. Don’t go looking for a audible voice as in our human experience,

God is spirit and He communicates to our our souls in spiritual language.

What God says to you will become real in your experience of Him as you rest in his presence.

Jim
 
Robert_Sock said:
It all has to do with your inner spiritual voice. It’s like meditating with one part of you mind and “hearing” God in a different part of the mind. When in communion with God, I often try to meditate on Spiritual Love.

Did you ever have the experience where you are focused mentally on a task and can hear your thoughts in a different part of your mind? Well, it’s basically the same thing with your inner spiritual voice!

Also, I heard somewhere that you should pray with your forehead! This may help in your daily meditations.
Click to expand...
With one’s forehead? How?? Your mind is behind it 🙂

ICXC NIKA
 
What I do may sound a little strange, but it works for me. I simply focus my mind on the darkness with my eyes being closed (technically you’re looking at the inside of your eyelid), and don’t think.
 
Alan55 said:
A couple of good modern books on contemplation might help:

“When the Well Runs Dry: Prayer Beyond the Beginnings,” by Fr. Thomas Green, S.J.

Fr. Green’s book is relatively short, readable, practical, and very solid.
Click to expand...
Father Thomas Green is a good spiritual writer. His book *Experiencing God: The Three Stages of Prayer * is very good on prayers. He put St. John of the Cross in a simple and easy to understand form.
 
GEddie said:
With one’s forehead? How?? Your mind is behind it 🙂

ICXC NIKA
Click to expand...
I believe it was Saint Theresa of Avila who said this. I do it by focusing all my mental energy into my forehead. So many negative personality traits, like uncontrollable rage, are thought to exist in the damaged portions of the fore-brain. I believe that being able to meditate with the fore-brain is a blessing!

I also have the habit of looking upward while praying with my forehead. This usually results in an increase of spirituality for me.
 
Wow friends, thank you so very much. I understand what you are saying. Kim77, your post in particular was most helpful and personally reassuring. I appreciate that. I will get some of these books and simply trust that God will reach me - on his terms. Even if I must wait I will know he will have a good reason for that too. Regardless, when it is just Him and I and I can open myself to him, it’s like an inner sanctuary and it seems I am getting a little extra help pulling out of myself what my heart wants to give to Jesus. I guess that alone is a wonderful gift.

Blessings,
Larry
 
ltravis said:
I apologize for the simplicity of this question, but it is really something I could use help with. Regarding contemplative prayer, how do you “hear” what God is saying to you? For instance, during adoration, I do as suggested and pray and quietly talk to God, often in my own words, offering him my complete self, especially my doubts, confusions, and troubles. I give him my complete trust that he may answer my prayers and guide me as he knows best. Now at this point, I just quiet myself because now that I have talked to him, it is time for me to listen to what he has to say to me. The obvious question: how exactly should I expect to “hear” him? I don’t hear actual voices, nor do I expect to of course. So how am I supposed to “get” his message? Would I get an intuition? Would there be a sign of some sort? Honestly, when I sit in silence, open to him, I don’t notice anything but silence. How does it work?

Larry
Click to expand...
Travis, that is called the PRAYER of silence, recognizing Him in the Eucharist. That is
a great act of faith in him. You are answering his question, “Who do you say I am?”
Beautiful!
 
For me it is sometimes the experience of just “being with” Him…in quiet prayer…
Other times I will pray, and then suddenly later in the day unusual things will happen that correspond directly with what I have been praying about and confirm that God was listening…sometimes it will also include another person that also has the same understanding of what God is saying…
 
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