First Listen

Photo by Barbara Olsen at Pexels.

Children often learn to pray under the tender guidance of a loving parent who speaks short phrases that the child then echoes as their own.

So-called antiphonal prayer is also practiced by adults when trusted spiritual leaders utter phrases that are repeated aloud (or sung) in unison by participants, leveraging the wisdom of benevolent leaders while unifying the faith of participants.

Some antiphonal prayers are formal, such as Hallel (Hebrew: הַלֵּל, meaning “Praise”), the verbatim recitation of Psalms 113–118 on Jewish holidays. Others are inspired and unscripted.

The Apostle Paul suggested a personal form of antiphonal prayer when he said we don’t know what to pray for unless Spirit intercedes to teach us the will of the Divine (Rom. 8:26-27). In other words, perfect prayers flow when souls connect with Source, listen, and repeat what they hear, thus praying in accordance with divine will.

Like a child, when we humbly listen, we can be guided. First listen, then speak.