From One-way to Two-way Prayer- My Journey to Hearing God’s Voice

For a long time, my prayer life was what I now call "one-way prayer." I spent my time talking to God and asking for things, but I never truly stopped to listen for a response. While this approach was traditional—I experienced several moments where I felt God had heard and answered me—it lacked a personal connection. My relationship with God felt loving, yet somewhat distant.

Early Answers to Prayer

My experience with answered prayer began during my early days of faith as a new mother. Each year, my church hosted a getaway festival that we attended. One year, my husband stayed behind because of work. While away, he called with the news that our senior dog’s health had severely deteriorated. Heartbroken and not yet home, I prayed for a specific window of time: "Lord, please don't let her pass while I'm away. Give me just one week after I return to settle in and prepare emotionally." Remarkably, her health stabilized following a vet visit with new medication. However, a few days after I returned home, her medication stopped working. I was able to share a final week with her. She passed away exactly seven days after I walked through the door. This tangible answer to such a specific request was a profound early reminder of God's attentiveness and love.

Years later, I experienced another deeply moving answer to prayer during a family trip to visit my daughter and her boyfriend in Calgary. Seven of us were relying on their two vehicles for sightseeing, but we worried the older car wouldn't survive the long distances. With a limited budget, we tried to rent a single seven-passenger van, but every agency was sold out. As my husband and daughter headed to the rental counter to settle for another medium-sized car, I prayed: "Lord, please provide us with a comfortable, safe vehicle”. To our surprise, they returned driving a brand-new, oversized extended SUV that fitted us all with room to spare, with every "bell and whistle" imaginable. Due to a booking oversight, the rental counter had no medium cars left and upgraded us to the SUV at no extra cost! I felt like a princess—as if my Father wanted nothing but the very best for His daughter. God had gone far beyond what I dared to ask. To this day, I keep a photo of that SUV as a reminder of what I felt was His extravagant goodness.

Discovering the "Two-Way" Connection

Although I was praying the best I knew how with my one-way prayers, I still longed to know God and His love in a deeper way. Everything changed when I discovered that prayer is intended to be a two-way connection. I came across Mark Virkler’s course "4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice," which taught me that hearing from God isn’t reserved for a select few—it is a skill that can be practiced and developed. Jesus promised this connection in John 10:27, saying, 'My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.' This wasn’t just a metaphor, but a personal invitation to a two-way relationship where hearing His voice is a natural part of being one of His followers.

The Four Keys to Communication

Through the course, I learned that moving beyond one-way prayer requires a shift in how we approach Him. I began setting aside time to practice four essential habits:

• Step 1: Stillness: Silencing my own busy thoughts to become open to what He wants to say.

• Step 2: Visualization: Using my imagination to connect with Him personally.

• Step 3: Spontaneous Thoughts: Recognizing that God often speaks through a spontaneous flow of thoughts, "light-bulb" moments, or sudden revelations that "pop" into our minds. These feel different from something thought up by you. This can also manifest as a sudden knowing, feeling, vision, or dream. While less common, some have even heard an audible voice.

• Step 4: Journaling: Writing down these thoughts to reflect on and ensure our thoughts align with Scripture. I now have years of journals that serve as a record of His faithfulness to look back on.

Distinguishing the Voices

Initially, I struggled with doubt: Is this God, the enemy (Satan and evil spirits), or just my own imagination? I learned that thoughts generally come from one of these three sources. The ultimate safeguard is knowing the Bible well, and sharing with trusted, spiritually mature friends who can help us discern the truth. God will never say anything that contradicts His written Word. As we are taught in 2 Corinthians 10:5, we must "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Early in my journey, as I was looking for answers and searching for God’s truth, a thought came to me—not audible, but clear: God wanted me to write a course to encourage people like me to better understand the Bible and the Christian faith. I knew it wasn’t my own thought because I didn’t feel capable of doing that; I was a regular, average Christian and did not have a Bible studies degree. However, I also knew that God can use anyone because He gives us the wisdom, gifts, and strength needed to accomplish His purpose.

I didn’t want to say “no” to God, so after meditating on it, I assumed I needed to enroll in a formal Bible college first. I researched two online schools and asked God which was best. His response was unexpected: “Neither one. I will guide you and direct you in your studies.” Despite some lingering doubts, I decided to move forward anyway, figuring that if this wasn’t from God, it would go nowhere—but if it was, He would bless it and make it grow. I then relied on the prompting of the Holy Spirit to lead me to various resources throughout an initial six years of deep study.

After those six years God led me, in His perfect timing, to transition a small group I was a part of into my home. As the group entered a new season, a situation presented itself where, even though I did not feel ready, I felt God nudging me: 'This is your opportunity to start the course.' Although I hadn't formally prepared for the lessons yet, I stepped out in faith and asked the group if they were willing to do this course. They said yes, and I began building and testing the lessons as we went along. As I stepped into this new role, the members were so supportive; I was deeply moved by their encouragement about the course and how they embraced me as I began to lead. Over the following five years, the group grew from 6 to 10 people, and that guidance and experience developed into the 'Candid Conversations about Christianity' course that I am grateful to share today.

An Unexpected Tangible Confirmation

One of my most cherished habits was visualizing myself embracing Jesus in a long hug, and telling Him I loved Him, at the start of my prayer time. One day, during a worship service at the church I was attending, a church member’s visiting friend leaned over and said, "I heard God say to give you a hug and tell you He loves you." She then hugged me and we sat for a long moment in an embrace.

I was going through a difficult emotional season, and that simple act moved me to tears. She told me afterwards that at first when she got that thought from God, she resisted, thinking, “I am not doing that!” But the thought persisted and she finally decided to obey the nudge. She had no idea what that meant to me. It was a powerful confirmation that God was hearing my prayers; He was hugging me back and saying he loved me too. When I explained how her actions mirrored what I had been doing in my private prayer time, we were both moved. I was so grateful she fought through the doubt and the potential embarrassment of "doing something weird." She gave me a gift I will always carry with me. God spoke through someone I briefly knew to validate a private moment only He knew about. That moment transformed my prayer life from a one-way routine into a deep, mutual, two-way bond.

Our 2021 Housing Miracle

Beyond just getting answers, learning to hear God's voice turned my prayer life into a relationship, deepening my connection. During the stressful 2021 housing market, the pressure was immense; we had already sold our home to downsize and were frantically searching for our next home. With high competition and inflated prices, my husband, Pierre, and I felt forced by the lack of options to bid on a home that didn't truly fit our needs or what we had asked God for. When I sat down to pray and visualize, I clearly heard in my thoughts: "It is not what you like, it is not what you asked for, and you are getting in my way to give you what you want." Hearing that shook me and removed the pressure; I felt at peace and decided to wait on God.

Choosing to "wait on God" resulted in what we considered our housing miracle. A few months later, we found a home that met every single requirement, stayed within our price range, and we were able to avoid a bidding war with other buyers, something unheard of at that time!

The way God orchestrated this was a masterclass in divine timing. We were on our way to scout a different property that Pierre liked. I had reservations because of the many indoor stairs and somber colors, but Pierre insisted, so we went. Along the way on the same street, we spotted a "For Sale" sign on a house that hadn't appeared in any of Pierre's online searches. When I asked why it hadn't shown up, he assumed the price was likely above our budget. Still, I felt a nudge and asked him to call anyway; from the outside, it was exactly what we were looking for. As it turned out, we called the very day the owners had received a bank denial for a previous offer. We scheduled viewings for both homes on the same day. At that time, competition was so severe that buyers were strictly limited to 15-minute visit windows. When we visited the house Pierre liked, the time limit felt rushed and only confirmed my initial feeling that it wasn't right for us. However, at the home I had spotted, we discovered we were the only people scheduled! Instead of a frantic 15 minutes, we were able to take our time and walk through the house thoroughly with no time limit.

When we decided to make an offer, I turned back to prayer, asking God for a specific number. At that time, it was common for buyers to offer tens of thousands of dollars above the asking price just to be considered. Pierre was prepared to offer more to ensure we didn’t lose the house, but I felt a clear, quiet guidance to offer slightly under the asking price. Though it defied the logic of the 2021 market, Pierre agreed to the number I felt prompted to give. As it turned out, the sellers were so eager to move forward with their own next property that our offer was accepted with only a slight readjustment in price, leaving the final price still under the original asking price. It was a 'Godsend' for them as much as it was for us, because we were cash buyers, they didn't have to worry about another bank denial. We found out they hadn't even planned on moving until their son recently convinced them to go in together on a farm property in a distant town. Because they had recently made significant improvements to their home, the owner later told me unexpectedly, “You must be deserving of this.” That moved me, it truly felt as if God had hidden this home from other buyers and even from our own initial searches, despite it being well within our budget, holding it in reserve for the perfect moment for both families.

God’s faithfulness didn't stop there. I prayed for the right buyers for our previous home, specifically that they would be blessed by the house. He brought us compassionate buyers who were extremely accommodating beyond the norm with our needs and move-out timeline. They also happened to be Christians. Because they were moving from another country and were unfamiliar with certain local processes, we were so grateful and happy to provide extra help and guidance. We even became friends afterward. This experience allowed us to see the power of two-way prayer: when we listen, God orchestrates details far beyond what we could imagine.

While some might dismiss these moments as mere 'coincidences,' the deep sense of internal peace and the precise timing of the results were too consistent for us to ignore. I like to call these “God-incidences”. I recognize that some people are uniquely gifted to see and hear prophetically, but for most of us, God speaks in a more subtle way. I’ve learned that God is just as present in the quiet, small details as He is in the big, obvious and dramatic answers.

Overcoming Blockages

While two-way prayer has become my norm, it is a continuous journey, and I know many, including my husband, Pierre, struggle to hear clearly. Truthfully, I also have days where I struggle to hear from God; that’s when I look back to the following blockages to help me get back on track. Through my research, I noted several "blockages" that can keep us stuck in one-way prayer:

• Guilt and Shame: Feeling unworthy of being heard. Involvement in sin.

• Trusting Emotions over Truth: Relying on how we feel rather than what the Bible says.

• Fear: Fearing God as a harsh judge rather than a loving Father. Fear of what he will say.

• Negative Emotions: Letting anger, anxiety, unforgiveness and bitterness cloud our spiritual ears. These are burdens we carry from present and past hurts that can hinder our hearing His voice.

• Doubting you can Hear: believing you can’t hear or visualize.

Identifying these hurdles is the first step; once we recognize them, we can bring them to God and work on removing them one by one.

Don't Give Up

If you feel frustrated, or unsure of what to believe, remember that developing a personal relationship with God is a journey of continuous growth. Persistence is key. As Matthew 7:7 promises: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find." If you sincerely ask God to reveal why you cannot hear Him, He will answer. It may take time, but the reward of a personal, close relationship with your Creator is worth every effort. While I have shared these personal stories in this blog as examples, moving beyond one-way prayer was a gamechanger for me, and I pray it will be for you too.

If you’re ready to move from one-way to two-way prayer today, I recommend this 30-minute guided visualization link that is very helpful. It helps quiet the noise so you can begin to see and hear what God is placing on your heart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UJkwmbhDbU

★ Key Takeaways: Transitioning to Two-Way Prayer

• Move from Monologue to Dialogue: Prayer isn't just about our traditional approach of presenting requests; it’s about creating a space to listen for God’s response.

• The "4 Keys" to Hearing God: 1. Stillness: Quiet your own thoughts. 2. Visualization: Focus your eyes on Jesus. 3. Spontaneity: Look for thoughts or sudden revelation that flow into your mind. 4. Journaling: Write down what you receive to track God's faithfulness over time.

• Divine Orchestration: God is in the "small stuff." Whether it’s a specific rental car, a one-week extension with a pet, guiding a ministry calling, or a hidden real estate listing, He uses timing and "God-incidences" to show His love.

• Discernment is Safety: To ensure you are hearing God (and not your own ego or the enemy), always test thoughts against the Bible and the counsel of spiritually mature friends. God will never contradict His written Word.

• Identify Your Blockages: Because two-way prayer is a continuous journey, you may have days where you feel stuck. Use the list of blockages—like guilt, fear, or negative emotions—as a "diagnostic tool" to help you clear the spiritual static and get back on track.

• The Goal is Relationship: The ultimate purpose of two-way prayer isn't just to get answers or miracles—it’s to build and grow a deep, personal, and loving mutual bond with your Creator.

If you would like to take a deeper look into the biblical foundations and practical ways God speaks to us every day, I invite you to explore the Candid Conversations about Christianity course.

I’d love to hear about your own journey. Have you ever experienced a "God-incidence" that felt like a direct answer to prayer? Whether you have a comment, a question, or a story you’d like to share, please feel free to reach out through our Contact Us page.

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