Mb Prayer Ministry Team Training Listening Prayer: An Overview

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1 Mb Prayer Ministry Team Training Listening Prayer: An Overview I God s whole purpose and plan when He created the world was to have someone, outside the trinity with whom He could have relationship. He wanted someone to love, someone to talk to, someone to be in close community with. He longed for close relationship. Let us accept His invitation and learn to walk into that high calling and our personal destiny. II Using Listening Prayer A. To Get Specific Directions From God 1. To get fresh wisdom & insight about life a. Ministry & occupation b. Family & relationships 2. To do what we cannot do in our own strength & wisdom 3. To resolve conflicts & disputes a. Marriage relationships & conflict resolution c. Write down what each thinks the Lord is saying & then share 4. To avoid error & understanding scripture a. Establish a running dialogue, e.g. What do you mean by that, Lord? b. Will you show us a scripture that pertains to these circumstances? 5. To Discover God s specific leading for crucial events in our lives. a. Ask specific questions: Which house?, Which job?, Which doctor?, Should I have surgery? b. Listening prayer reducs fear and allows us to hear reassurance from Him 6. To increase intimacy & dialogue with the Lord. a. We were created for companionship & voluntary love. b. I would not call you servant, I would call you friend. A servant does not know what the master is doing. John 15:15 7. To learn how to love in specific situations a. Listening prayer shows us how to feel loved and to give love b. Practical acts of kindness and generosity: Soft power encounters 8. To discover more about counseling than we normally would know a. Past hurts and memories that need deep-level healing. b. The Holy Spirit reveals hidden sin and unforgiveness 9. To Listen for church decision making a. Board and business meetings b. Ministerial gatherings 10. To hear God for our continuing pleasure, wisdom and sanctification. III We Can Listen A. We Can Hear God More Than We Realize: My Sheep Know My Voice 1. Through a still, small voice of our heart and mind. 2. Through songs in our spirit. B. Everyone Has an Individual Style For Listening 1. Prayer journal, tape recorder and/or pen by the bedside 2. Established favorite and regular places for our best listening 3. Body positions best for individual listening C. The Lord Cares About Big And Small Concerns D. The Lord May Repeat a Theme to You 1

2 E. Pace, Frequency and Length of Hearing His Voice Can Vary 1. Our response: Teach me more, Lord. Please explain further 2. He may speak through the scripture, parable, figuratively, dreams, words of knowledge, etc. F. Listening Prayer Is a Developed Skill 1. Practice helps reduce our becoming dull of hearing Heb 5:11 2. Learning and practicing to clear our minds from distractions 3. Quieting ourselves. Dial down, engage our heart, increases sensitivity 4. Obeying is often more difficult and challenging. If you only listen to the word and not obey you will deceive yourselves. James 1:22-25 G. God Longs for Us to Do Things With Him 1. Voluntary partnership with Him 2. He wants to share with us the releasing of His plans and purposes. IV Jesus: The Listener Listen to my instruction and be wise do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors. Pro 8:33-34 A. Jesus Listening Relationship to the Father 1. Truly, Truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself unless He sees the Father doing it: for whatever the Father does, these things the Son does in like manner. John 5:19 2. We know Him by seeing and doing His works, by the priority we give to receiving His Word. B. The Words We Receive 1. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. John 5:63 2. We must hear them ourselves at the heart-level first, in order to meditate and then obey. C. My Sheep Hear My Voice- John 10:27 1. Sensitive listening is essential if we are to walk in purity, power and love. 2. Intimacy comes through listening and speaking our love back to Him, more than doing. V Recognizing the Voice We Hear A. How to Discern God s Voice 1. How do we know it is God speaking? a. E.g. Some may say, I just know in my knower. c. He built into us the capacity to hear His voice. 2. God s voice is quieting, soothing, not demanding, always aligns with scripture. B. How to Recognize Which Voice You Are Hearing- 3 Types 1. God s Voice- Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit a. His character and His name will assure us and build confidence in His love b. His motive is to be a friend and to build relationship with us c. How you feel when you hear 1. Rested and peaceful, comforted, special, empowered by His kindness and gentleness. 2. Sounds unpretentious- We may fail to recognize easily at first 3. Still and quiet within us- sounding much like we talk 4. Because He wants us to understand Him. He speaks my language. Sounds like us. 2. Satan s voice and evil spirits a. His character: The adversary, the evil one, spoiler, liar, thief b. His motive: Devil wants to destroy relationship with the Father and others. c. How do you feel when hearing him 1. Hypnotic pull towards evil intention, mesmerized, confused, stuck 2. Sounds glittery with garnish, sense of having lost your will 3. Feeling you can t stop; quick, rash decisions, anxiety, pressure d. Tactics: Tries to make us uncomfortable about going to God in prayer 1. Tries to make us distrustful of God and others. 2. Speaks unforgiveness toward God and others 2

3 3. The self-talk voice: The voice of our flesh a. Character: Sounds positive; Pull yourself up by your boot straps, but this voice speaks from insecurity. 1. Echoes teachings, values and standards of this world 2. Self-talk is driven by need to be accepted and acceptable 3. Pre-occupied with self-evaluation, I am worse than, I am better than 4. Critical voice can be turned outward; disparaging and wounding others. b. Motive: We mistakenly think it motivates us but instead it causes us to focus on ourself. c. How do you feel: Demoralized and insecure; Just get over it. 1. Drives you to judge yourself inaccurately 2. Mood swings and feeling we must remain on the treadwheel d. Critical self-talk must be replaced with what God says is true about you e. Praise and worship defeat negative self-talk C. Ways To Pray That Help Hearing God 1. Choose to believe that God is already talking to you 2. Deliberately choose to shut down all voices other than God s a. He will speak thru the scriptures open up the bible b. Ask Him to assure and strengthen you as you practice listening c. His voice calms you, makes you feel good about yourself d. His voice stretches & challenges us asks us to go beyond all that we have risked before e. He reassures you He is with you and for you. 3. Try to eliminate word Please, if it connotes an unbelieving kind of begging God 4. Use short simple sentences a. Why Lord?, I don t understand, speak slowly and then wait. b. Lord, talk to me through your word ; I love you Lord. c. Meditate on the Word as He is speaking it to you. I will pray with my mind also d. The more you ask questions, the more you will receive His thoughts 5. If you begin having difficulty praying a. Lord, I need the Holy Spirit to pray for me, Jesus, go before the throne on my behalf. b. If you are under attack, Jesus help!.. I can t hear you., Lord teach me. 6. Learn to know the character of God a. Best way to learn to know His voice is to see what He says about Himself in scripture. b. This is the voice of a jealous God who is lovesick for relationship and relentlessly pursues you in your weakness to make you His bridegroom. VI Blocks Against Hearing God A. Block #1: Saying, I don t know. We are not accustomed to hearing. 1. If we cannot explain what our mind perceives, doesn t mean we don t know hear from Him. 2. Often we don t ponder fully on our perceptions long enough to discern 3. But you have an anointing from the Holy One and know all things. 1Jn2:20 4. Saying I don t know tells our mind to stop seeking the Word in our spirits. B. Block #2: Talking. Would you rather hear HIm talk or listen to yourself? 1. We keep ourselves from hearing when we do most of, or all of the talking. 2. How are we to hear if we do not listen? 3. Be still and know that I am God Ps 46:10 4. Solomon asked for Wisdom : translated as a hearing heart C. Block #3: Impatience. Those who wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength 1. Often, we do not hear because we do not wait to listen 2. It takes practice and a sincere hunger to wait in His presence for any length of time. Moses waited 6 days to hear on the mount Ex 24:16 3

4 D. Block #4: Rushing To Conclusions 1. After hearing we may be motivated to immediate action 2. We may miss hearing God s full counsel and directions E. Block #5: Asking The Wrong Questions 1. Prayers may be self-centered rather than, God, what are you doing? 2. We want to honor God more than to get our next assignment. F. Block #6: Crediting My Own Mind For His Voice 1. He is always giving words, ideas and plans to us. Receiving them is what enables our conversation with Him. 2. God s voice often comes to us as spontaneous thoughts feelings and impressions. 3. Say Thank you for that idea, and engage Him in conversation. 4. God s preferred way is conversation instead of just pronouncements or declarations. G. Block #7: Fear. His Love Will Cast Out All Fears 1. We can t allow pride or fears for our reputation, keep us from listening 2. Fear of persecution from other Christians. 3. Afraid God will demand I do something I don t want too do 4. Afraid He would ask me to do things I couldn t 5. Afraid He would not talk to me 6. Afraid I would hear incorrectly 7. When in fear, we need to press thru to come into His presence and say, Here I am Lord H. Practice Listening 1. Listen both for important and simple things 2. Practice so you can recognize His voice like a friend 3. Relationship comes thru conversation 4. He wants to guide us with His voice and eye. (Ps 32:8) 5. His desire is to walk & instruct like He did with those in scripture 6. The goal of listening is intimacy, relationship and love from a pure heart. VII More Blocks To Hearing A. We Don t Know How to Spend Time with Him 1. We may be always be in the working mode to do something 2. Jesus is a friend is one we can relax around 3. Just be with Me, I delight in you, You are precious to me B. We Think Prayer Is Monologue Instead of Dialogue 1. If we are not taught that God might want to speak to us, we most likely will not expect Him to C. We Really Don t Trust God 1. I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jer 29:11 2. Know therefore that the Lord your God who keeps His covenant and His loving kindness to all generations. D. Satan Will Try Every Trick To: 1. Keep us from listening and unengaged with the Holy Spirit. 2. Yeah, but, What if, That couldn t be possible E. Listening May Be Uncomfortable At First F. Afraid of Misunderstanding Him 1. We may confuse our thoughts with His words. 2. We may feel we do not comprehend G. A Divided Heart Will Be Hard to Hear His Voice I. His Voice is Unlike Our Earthly Fathers 1. His voice is not insensitive, passive or inconsistent 2. His voice is easy to approach 4

5 VIII Sin: Keeps Us From Listening A. We Don t Turn to Him to Meet Our Needs 1. In our hearts we may not believe God is loving, kind and gentle. 2. We feel our needs and desires are not legitimate 3. We don t believe we deserve to have our needs met B. How Do You Meet Your Needs? 1. Legitimate need for protection and provision 2. Legitimate need for love, comfort and companionship 3. We need healing, consolation and spiritual pleasure C. Addiction and Idolatry 1. Bondage and misplaced focus 2. Illegitimate needs to cover up pain, wounds and hurt D. Sin Will Demand We Work Hard to Earn Love by Self-Effort 1. Our Lives Become a taskmaster and religious. E. Allow God to Meet The Needs F. God s Desire is to Replace Destructive Forces with What Satisfies 1. Repentance: Lead person in confession and repentance 2. Guilt: Comes from what we do a. We punish ourselves and others to escape the guilt b. We can direct them to give their guilt to Jesus 3. Shame: Comes from who we feel we are. Shame cannot be confessed or repented of. a. The cross takes all shame You are bad and worthless b. We agree with God about who He says we are in Christ 4. Listening Prayer Sample Questions: a. Is she guilty, Lord?, Lord, when you look at her what do you see? b. Did she cause this abuse?, What do you want us to know about this? 5. Sin Separates a. Self-Protection as a defense, Lord, are you my protector? b. Difficulty trusting the Lord, Lord, can we trust you? 6. Truth: Path to health and wholeness a. Did I sin?, Is this sin, Lord? b. Victims are not guilty for sin done against them c. Victims can respond with hatred, bitterness and revenge 7. Satan s tactics that keep us separated from God a. Wants to keep sin hidden and secret b. False guilt: Attempt to feel guilty or shame 1. Others may heap condemnation on us. Project their guilt to others. 2. May take others burdens of guilt or shame on themselves. 3. Lord, am I guilty?, Jesus, did I do anything to cause this to happen? 8. Confession: In the name of Jesus, You are forgiven for your sin. God forgives you and so do we. a. Okay to take communion if opportunity allows b. Pronounce forgiveness because of His blood at the Cross. IX Counseling With Listening Prayer A. Prayer In Everyday Personal and Corporate Life 1. Teams: If two or more of you agree on earth it shall be done.. Mt 18:19-20 a. Teams help prevent client attachment, i.e. transference b. All prayer team members together, help solve problem with different gifting. c. Husband and wife teams, Lifegroups / Smallgroup, healing prayer, soaking prayer, etc. 5

6 2. Listening Prayer Involves Asking Questions of The Lord a. Leader and intercessors as directed, are asking a line of questions as others are praying b. Can write down God s response to questions and give to counselee for reference B. Core Beliefs Of Listening Prayer 1. The Lord desires us to inquire of Him a. Ask, seek and knock. We have not because we do not ask. b. He wants to answer us. Give ear to my prayer oh Lord Ps Goal is to train people (counselees) to hear God s still small voice. a. More important that counselees hear the Lord for themselves than it is for us to hear for them b. God has access to their hearts and minds if they listen and hear c. They are not dependent on prayer team. They have learned to come to Him for themselves 3. Being silent before the Lord: Contemplative Prayer a. Important to wait, listening: My soul waits in silence for God only, from Him is my salvation b. Quietness helps reduce excessive talking/discussion 4. Ask the Lord to identify root causes: Trace the fruit to the root a. Look beyond present day issues and problems to the root beliefs b. Root beliefs underlie the ways we think and react to sinful acts against us c. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up causing trouble, and by it many are defiled. Heb 12:15 5. Changes in behavior originate in our hearts and spirits. 6. It is repentance that produces change a. Change comes when the heart changes. Dr. Billy Graham b. Confession and regret is not the same as repentance c. Most effective prayer session includes some form of repentance 7. Necessary for healing: that truth be known and faced a. Guilt and shame make us want to hide b. Wholeness comes when we pursue truth about others and ourselves from His heart. 8. People change as they see and hear Jesus. My ears have heard you but now I see you. Job 42:5 1. Best approach is for counselee to spend time with Jesus in worship, prayer and devotions. 2. If we only sit and listen we have accomplished our job and ministry C. A Typical Listening Prayer Session: Our ministry as prayer counselors is to assure the person that Jesus will speak if we listen. Most people feel God will not respond due to their paradigm. 1. We stand on the word of God that He hears us and Where two or three gather in My name, there am I in the midst. Matt. 18:20 2. We say, God s word assures us He will come. 3. We calm their fear by speaking truth. The sheep know His voice. 4. We pray to bind our own thoughts and thinking we are taking every thought captive. 2 Corn 10:4 5. Ask the Holy Spirit to give us ability to discern God s voice. 6. Assure the person God loves to give good gifts a. He will speak His love and security to them b. It will set them free and comfort them c. Humble people put their confidence in the Holy Spirit s ability to hear and in Christ s ability to lead, not in their ability to follow. Jack Deere, pastor and author 7. We approach the Lord by asking questions: a. What is it you want to ask the Lord? b. Help them formulate a short succinct sentence or two. Most people get too detailed describing their problems. c. Work on one thing at a time instead of a laundry list of complaints. d. Ask the Lord to choose which one He wishes to work on. 8. Help them to recognize their blocks to hearing a. Past pain, guilt and shame that is hidden in their locked closet. b. Unbelief: I ve prayed about this and nothing happened 6

7 c. What is the block, Lord?. I search the heart, I test the mind Jer 17:10 9. Emphasize Jesus is the Counselor and Healer a. When people ask questions of us, we turn that question over to Him b. Avoid referring to your self as a counselor. Okay to refer them to professional counselor. 10. Address God by one of the names used for Himself in the Word a. Lord, she is grieving over the loss of her son. Would you speak to her that you are the Comforter? b. This build confidence in His ability to minister to them at the heart level. 11. Written Record a. Written notes are helpful for person to take home to review and deepen their understanding. b. Avoids enemy stealing seed that was planted. Helps retain the Word in their heart. D. Summary of Listening Prayer Procedure 1. We address most of our questions to God, rather than to the counselee. 2. We try to get the bulk of our answers from God rather than from the counselee s thoughts. 3. Rather than relying on what the counselee remembers, we ask the Lord what He remembers about what happen. 4. We allow God to comfort our counselee more than we try to give our own comfort to them. 5. We allow God to defend Himself if the counselee has misconceptions about Him or His Word, or if they are angry about what they think about God. 6. Try to let God advise and counsel, more than we attempt to guide, give words and/or counsel. 7. Ask the Lord where He wants to begin the healing rather than assuming the problem is the one that the counselee wants to address first. 8. We are not afraid of silences; waiting on the Lord takes time. He is readying our hearts to hear Him. 9. If we get a word, scripture, impression or a picture from the Lord, we ask Him if it is time to share it. 10. Try to stay in the background and simply assist in the listening process. We want the counselee s focus to be on the Lord rather that on us. X Listening Prayer Questions: We continue to share our most intimate thoughts and feelings, worries and questions with Him, however we are more willing to wait to hear what He might say to us in return. A. Questions to Start Your Day 1. What would you like to say to me today? 2. What was that dream about? 3. Do you have any instructions for me?, I m tired today, what would you say to me? B. Questions About Personal Devotion Time 1. Do you want me to read a particular scripture? 2. I am having a hard time hearing are there any blocks?" 3. What did you mean in this passage?, What are your suggestions and my motive? C. Questions For Direction 1. What are you doing?, What have you called me to? 2. How can I be faithful in this circumstance?, What is your will in this situation? D. Questions For Loneliness or Pain 1. Lord, where are you? 2. How do you want to bring healing to this? 3. How can I keep my heart softened? E. Questions For A Counseling Session: Address Most Questions To The Lord 1. Starting a Session: For everyone who asks, receives Matt. 7:7-8 a. Has there been a recurring theme or issue that the Lord has been working on? b. Lord, (name) has this problem How do you want to fix it 2. Let God choose the issue a. Lord, which one of these issues do you want to start with? b. Lord, the last time we felt more work was needed is this where you want us to start? 7

8 3. Keep your eyes open: This gives clues to what He is doing a. When the Lord speaks to them, a visible countenance lights up their face b. A slight fluttering of the eyelids often indicates the Lord has begun to speak to them c. Hardness of heart produces darkness on the face. Shaking the head in disagreement d. Confusion registers on the face. What is the block or misunderstanding? 4. Wait for an answer: Let God have a chance a. Avoid rushing ahead. Wait until hearts are tenderized & ready for His answer. b. Much is happening even if it doesn t appear so. Be still and know that I am God. c. In our stillness we finally begin to discipline our wayward thoughts so that we can be sensitive to the still, small quiet voice. d. Okay to ask, What are you hearing? "Are you seeing or sensing anything? What s happening e. What are you feeling? What are you thinking?, What is God showing you? f. They begin to recognize the Lord s voice comes to them from a different arena of their emotions. 5. If a person has difficulty believing he is hearing from God: a. Simply ask Is that you Lord?, Jesus will confirm His voice if we ask Him. b. Remind that as Christians, we are all sheep and we can indeed hear the voice of the Shepard 6. Address most questions to the Lord 7. Goal is relational heart questions a. Versus, Yes or No response to questions b. He wants to dialogue and enjoys the time to converse 8. Let Holy Spirit Guide questions a. A good question cuts to the heart of the matter and is usually inspired by the Holy Spirit b. Natural curiosity questions are okay. How come, Lord? Why? c. Lord, what are you saying? Tell us more, Lord, Why did you show us this? 9. If the question is too personal or incorrect timing, He may quietly reply, You don t need to know. F. God Tests How Much We Really Want to Know 1. Lord will often give one word or picture at a time 2. This test will see if we want to pursue Him more 3. He reveals more if we say, Lord, I give you permission to show me what I need to know 4. Learning to listen to God is a kind of test to see if the counselee truly wants to be set free. 5. Communicate to the counselee, if the Lord reveals something. He is really inviting us to ask more questions to get more understanding. G. Stuck and Unable To Hear: Blocks to hearing are usually on the side of the listener. 1. What is the block, Lord usually reveals the problem 2. Sometimes block is self-confidence, sin or hidden resentment directed at God? 3. Person may fear if they listen, God will point out their sin 4. If I listen, He will make me give up my anger at my husband, and I need that to feel safe H. Memories: Healing of Past Hurts 1. Lord, what is the root issue? a. Why did you bring this up? b. What importance does this have? c. What happened back then which is still affecting (him or her name) today? 2. The person should be comforted that God welcomes their cries of hurt, pain and frustration 3. There is healing in acknowledging and expressing feelings to the Lord. Memories evoke emotions. 4. Lord, were you there and how did you feel about what was happening to (name)? When they discover His strong feelings about their pain, it brings significant healing. I. Stuck In Pain: Move Past Merely Reliving The Hurt 1. Lord, what do you want to do about the pain this memory is causing? 2. Jesus, how do you want to bear this pain? 3. Lord, how does (name) give this pain to you? 8

9 J. Inner Vows: I will never let this happen to me again. 1. Lord, were You there? Did (name) make any vow in this situation which is affecting her today? 2. Lord, what effect did this vow have on her life? K. Unforgiveness, Self-Hate or Blame 1. Lord, what is (name) unforgiveness doing to her? 2. What is blocking her ability to forgive? 3. Lord, why does (name) feel hate toward herself? Do you consider her bad? L. Inability to Trust and Bitter Root Judgments 1. God, why didn t you stop this? All men are terrible, you can t trust them. 2. Lord, how do you want to help her learn to trust again? 3. People with bitter-root judgments may say, I don t know why I keep ending up with men who abuse me? 4. Lord, did (name) make a judgment which is affecting his life today? 5. If the memory is producing good fruit, then sufficient healing has occurred. If negative fruit of bitterness, fear, rage, compulsive behavior; then more healing prayer sessions will be needed. M. Key Events: Most people have 5 or 6 painful life events 1. These result in deep level problems 2. Lord, where were you when this was happening & why didn t you stop it? 3. He will say He was there and describe He took blows of abuse as well. He will explain persons free will & voluntary love and therefore was prevented from intervening. 4. The Lord brings healing to the traumatic event N. Blocked Memories: Listening prayer model is not a struggle to reveal blocked memory 1. With counselee s permission, we can ask the Lord what happened 2. He was there, He knows about it, He remembers 3. What does (name) need to know about those things necessary for his healing? O. Question For Specific Counseling Issues 1. Ask about results of prayer session a. Results are not always possible to measure b. Results may be slow or instantaneous 2. Lord, what happened when we prayed? P. Recurring Negative Behavior or Inaccurate Thinking 1. Lord, what is at the root of this behavior problem? Is this a deeper issue? 2. Let s ask the Lord what is true is that true, Lord? Q. Poor Self-Esteem or Identity Problem 1. Lord, (name) is you son, what do you see when you look at him? 2. Lord, has (name) been believing lies about himself? R. Don t Assume, Keep Asking: Moving in small increments until picture unfolds XI Session Preparation A. Pre-Session Work And Prayer 1. Invite Lord s presence and pray throughout the meeting facility 2. Soften heart and attitude of faith upon counselee B. During The Session: Rely on the Holy Spirit to Reveal the Questions 1. Most people are not accustomed to God speaking to their spirit, merely thinking it is their thoughts. 2. Our job is to help them become aware of His many ways of communicating with them. 3. If person only believes He speaks thru scripture, then ask the following: a. What was on your mind when you woke up this morning? b. Did you have any thoughts about God? c. Have you had scripture occur to you over and over? d. Do you feel God is trying to communicate with you thru the Holy Spirit? 9

10 C. Ways of Hearing: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic learners 1. Some people are intuitive and have visions/dreams/revelations a. Natural born hearers of God b. What are you sensing, What are you feeling? 2. Those may be more analytical in their thinking have more difficulty listening a. They seem to trust their own comprehension b. Black and White. Move them from their head to their heart c. Listen from your gut, may help them get in touch d. What is going on in your mind? What popped up? 3. Those visually orientated a. What do you see? b. What pictures came to mind? 4. Those auditory orientated: What did you hear? 5. Those Kinesthetic orientated a. What are you feeling? D. Use Age Appropriate Questions: The Lord speaks more to the spirit that to the mind 1. Children and adults can both hear in their spirits 2. With children, speak as if they do hear the Lord a. This may test us to see if we take them seriously b. Better relate to Jesus than to Holy Spirit c. May not understand the term Lord 3. Remain in the speaking vernacular of the age level until Jesus heals the memory at that age. E. Determine Which Person of The Trinity to Address 1. Most are more comfortable addressing Jesus 2. Be sensitive that some may have had abusive fathers F. Address Lord By His Titles 1. Lord, you are Redeemer, how do you want to redeem this situation? 2. Lord, you call yourself Comforter 3. Lord, you are the great Physician, How do you want to bring healing? G. Get The Lords Perspective On An Event: Helps Eliminate Redundant and Lengthy Rehearsing by Person 1. What will help the person is what the Lord thinks about the event 2. I didn t ask you what happen, I asked the Lord. with gentleness. Lord, Thy Gentleness has made me great Ps He was there with them; He bore the pain with and for them. He now wants to complete the healing H. Questions To End A Session: Is there anything more you would like to do Lord? 1. Counselee may feel or sense we are done for the day. 2. He that has begun a good work will complete it 3. Holy Spirit makes it clear to both that counselee no longer needs weekly sessions I. Teach and Encourage Counselee to Ask their Own Questions 1. Goal is to work ourselves out of a job 2. It is awesome to see a person maturing in listening prayer; hearing His voice by the Holy Spirit. 3. Affirm their ability to hear the Lord. The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart. 4. Move to having counselee get into the habit of asking the Lord their own personal questions Reference Material: Listening Prayer by Dave and Linda Olsen, 1996 Rev May, 1997 Dave and Linda Olsen, Listening Prayer: My Sheep Hear My Voice (Required reading: Fuller School of World Mission: MO512: Deep Level Healing Practicum; Janice Strength, Assistant Professor of Marital and Family Therapy. Winter 2003 Pasadena) 10