When you fast, it is a time of giving things up to focus on God. But fasting is also a time of adding things in. Fasting is a necessary disruption in our normal routine that allows us to recalibrate and realign ourselves with the Lord. Sometimes this means breaking old habits and starting new ones. Last week we focused on getting rid of things that hindered us. As a result, you may be working on breaking some old habits and thought patterns. This week, you can begin to focus on new ways to act and think. We start these practices by learning to listen for God’s voice and discern what he is sharing with us. At the very core of every relationship is communication. Communication is a two way street where sometimes we talk and sometimes we listen. In prayer, many times we present our laundry list of requests to the Lord, conclude in Jesus’ name, and move on without waiting for a response. Listening in prayer is vital. This skill requires focus and intentionality. It is impossible to receive wisdom and discernment if we are not tuned into the ways God speaks. We have the Bible, our main resource for knowing what God sounds like and as a guide for how we should live. But it is one of the many ways God communicates to his children. To name a few, God can communicate through worship, through other people, through art, through nature, in dreams, and the still small voice in our minds. Having a spirit of wisdom and discernment allows us to know when he is speaking and how to respond to what he is sharing with us. Just as we learn how to effectively communicate differently with different people, so also we learn to hear and discern God’s voice. This is particularly important if you want to pray effectively and minister to others. We want to move in tandem and in partnership with God to help bring people to freedom in Christ. As we learn to hear from God, we can pray his prayer and do and say what he is sharing with us. This week you will be spending time with the Holy Spirit, asking him to fill you in different ways. Let’s start off by asking for wisdom and discernment.
Listening Prayer:
Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind a specific area in your life where you need some direction. Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and revelation regarding that situation. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to scripture to go along with that wisdom.
Write down what He shows you.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, I thank you that you are my teacher and my guide. I ask for a fresh filling from you today. Specifically, I ask that you would fill me with a spirit of wisdom and revelation. Help me to recognize your voice and tune my ear to you. In the name and by the blood of Jesus, I silence the noise of the enemy, the world, and my flesh. Holy Spirit, open my ears to hear your direction, your leading. Teach me to pray. Teach me when to speak and when to be silent. Help me to discern what you will is for my life and give me the courage, grace, and strength to obey when you direct. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses on Wisdom and Discernment
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” (John 5:19)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:16-21)
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6)
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” (Jeremiah 33:3)
Worship Song:
“Touch of Heaven” by Hillsong Worship
“Be Thou My Vision” hymn