Prophets don’t speak their own opinions, preferences, or agendas. They speak God’s Word. This means listening to God must come before speaking for God.
Consider Elijah, the great Carmelite prophet. After his dramatic confrontation with the prophets of Baal, he fled to a cave, exhausted and afraid. God came to him, not in earthquake, wind, or fire, but in “a still small voice,” a whisper (c.f. 1 Kings 19:12). Elijah had to be completely silent to hear it.
Teresa of Ávila spent hours — sometimes entire days — in contemplative prayer before picking up her pen to write. John of the Cross practiced years of silent prayer before composing his mystical poetry. Thérèse listened deeply to the movements of her heart before discerning her “little way.”
You can’t speak God’s truth if you haven’t first heard it. Prophetic speech flows from prophetic listening.
5-Minute Daily Practice
This simple practice trains you to recognise God’s voice. Do it daily, ideally at the same time each day, to build the habit of attentive listening.
1. Silence (1 minute)
Sit comfortably but alert. Take three deep breaths. Let your body settle. Centre your attention. Pray simply: “Holy Spirit, I’m listening.” That is your only purpose in this minute — to become present and attentive. You are opening the door of your heart to God.
2. Scripture (2 minutes)
Read a short passage of Scripture slowly and attentively. Don’t study it or analyse it. Just receive it. Read it once slowly. Then read it again even more slowly. Let the words land. Don’t rush.
3. Listen (2 minutes)
After reading, return to silence. This is the heart of the practice. Ask one simple question: “Lord, what are You saying to me?” Then listen. Don’t force an answer. Don’t manufacture insights. Don’t try to figure out the “right” interpretation. Just listen with your whole being.
Notice what arises:
- A word or phrase that stands out or repeats
- An image that appears in your imagination
- A feeling that surfaces unexpectedly
- A sense of invitation or challenge
- Even confusion, or nothing at all
God’s voice is often subtle. It rarely shouts. It whispers, nudges, suggests. Pay attention to what gently attracts your attention rather than what you’re forcing yourself to notice.
4. Respond (1 minute)
Don’t leave the practice without responding. Write down what you heard, even if it’s unclear or seems insignificant. Complete this sentence in your journal: “I sense God saying…”
Examples:
- “I sense God saying: ‘Be still.’”
- “I sense God saying: ‘You are more loved than you know.’”
- “I sense God saying: ‘It is time to forgive her.’”
- “I sense God saying: ‘Trust me with this decision.’”
- “I sense God saying nothing clearly today, but I notice peace.”
Over days and weeks, patterns emerge. Words repeat. Themes clarify. God’s voice becomes more recognisable, more familiar.
Weekly Review
At the end of each week, read through your seven daily entries and ask:
- What themes appear? Is God saying something consistently?
- What words repeat? Repetition signals importance.
- What invitation do I notice? Is God calling me toward something specific?
- What resistance do I feel? Sometimes what we avoid most is what we most need to hear.
Then, share your observations with your spiritual director or a trusted spiritual friend.
This is how prophets discern their calling — through patient, daily, attentive listening that gradually clarifies what God is asking of us.