A Guide for Listening and Inner-Healing Prayer: Meeting God in the Broken Places

by Rusty Rustenbach, The Navigators

Inner healing is an important part of the Gospel message. You can supernaturally experience healing by exposing the hidden lies that keep you in bondage. This workbook study presents a framework within which you can learn to pray, listen, and receive God’s healing in a progressive step-by-step process. Its practical instruction, examples, and personal stories can empower you to deliberately listen to God in ways that bring deep nurture, assurance, and inner healing. Jesus said, “The truth will set you free.” Take Him at His word and experience inner healing. Includes questions for discussion and personal reflection.

Genres: Christian, Prayer, Spirituality, Faith, Nonfiction, Personal Development

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2011

Reviews

[Claudia Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in the midst of reading LOTS of material on inner-healing and listening prayer. Each takes the same basic principles and suggests similar ways of approaching inner-healing prayer. Mr Rustenbach does a good job of sharing his own experience with inner healing and then of detailing the 'how' of this experience. There is solid scriptural ground presented as well as practical guidance for how to lean into the Lord for healing and how to help another through a prayer based healing process. A very worthwhile read.

[Beth Peninger · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I confess. I started this book and groaned - out loud. It was feeling very "christianese" to me and I can barely stomach that kind of believing any longer. But my groans were soon abated with a pleasant surprise. I mined the gold out of the "christianese" and ended up appreciating the main goal of the book. In fact, it has given me a lot to think on and discuss with my counselor. The part that stood out to me the most was that of false vows and strategies. I recognize that those are the two issues in which I probably operate out of the most when it comes to woundings of my heart. I'm taking steps toward being able to finally kick that crap to the curb. I also really appreciated Rustenbach's reminder of Ecclesiastes 3 - there's a time for everything, including healing.

[Dawn Dishman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many things come against us and some of the hardest are the lies believed and vows made.

This manual for addressing deeply rooted wounds is part of the powerful ways God can release us and restore us.

We are also so complex, and while I find great and significant biblical truth within these pages, I also recognize that it may need to be used alongside and with help from people trained in helping others.

I have personally benefited from this ministry, but also seek help from counselors and spiritual directors in the process.

Healing comes from God, and I believe He uses lots of ways to do that. This book offers one of those ways toward healing and wholeness.

[Josh]

I began this book skeptical, but what God did in my soul as I worked through it completely transformed me.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just not sure about this! I am probably going to go back and read it again, but taking a break for now.

[Bruce Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the plus side, the book encourages getting quiet and listening to God for answers to questions, with emotional healing as the goal. I have regularly gotten quiet and listened to God for years - I think of it as meditation. And God has spoken to me many times while I was meditating. The new part for me was asking questions specifically to facilitate emotional healing, especially healing from destructive messages or wounds from childhood.
Although I read the whole book, I did not answer all the questions or do all the exercises; it was more of a workbook than I had anticipated. I did a few and I plan to do a few more before it finds its way to the shelf.
On the downside, I really didn't like the Bible translations he used; they were very modern and he seemed to twist them to make the points he wanted. Prayer and meditation are encouraged in the Bible plenty of obvious places - I'm not sure why he felt the need to reach as he did or use the translations he did.
Lastly, although he talks about how important humility is, he did not seem very humble in his writing. He wrote as if he had all the answers and unless you believed as he did and followed his rules exactly, you would not be able to connect with God in a productive manner.
From my perspective, this book/process is a useful tool. However, it is not a good process for every situation. Hammers are great for putting in nails, but not so good for digging holes. It seemed like he saw listening prayer, especially his version of listening prayer, as the answer for everything and I don't see things quite that way.
Again, I'm glad I read it and I think it will prove a useful tool.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thorough and readable guide to listening to God and receiving His healing regarding areas of deep brokenness. It provides practical tools for inviting God to reveal the lies that are so often hidden within dysfunctional living. When initial prayer doesn’t result in freedom and healing, there is biblically grounded direction regarding identifying and grappling with triggering thought patterns or unforgiveness that may be holding one back. It also provides thorough but not impossible guidance for how or facilitate inner healing prayer in others’ lives. Reads more as a guide than a theological survey. An excellent resource to keep handy as I learn to implement these principles.

[Dotti Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful Spiritual Healing resource

What a powerful ministry! I will definitely keep this book for use in the future, with my other biblical counseling / discipleship resources.
This is a resource that can be used personally and with others to lead them to God's powerful healing of a variety of strongholds in their past. I love how everything is grounded in the practice of listening for God's guidance.

[Kathi Roach · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ This book changed me. I learned how to listen. It’s a workbook. It guides the reader through their own inner healing & instructs how to hear from God. It’s a lot of information. The last 3rd of the book teaches how to facilitate listening and inner healing prayer. This portion could have been its own follow up book.

[Judith Kimsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Since the Holy Spirit comes to reside inside us at conversion it's as though He can simply think His thoughts within us when we quiet ourselves down and take time to listen." (pg. 54)

This is a very practical book for hearing from God. It's a new approach to Christian spirituality for me, but much of it resonates.

[Dean Wood · Rating 2 out of 5]

70% hokey and poor hermeneutics. 30% really helpful.

[Jeannie Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE, love, love this book. It's so practical and really guides the reader how to do listening and inner healing prayer. I give this one away and recommend it often.

[Ashley Coberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read as part of our Novo study. Such great stuff. I’m sure the book would be great alone but has really added to everything the study has been teaching.

[Shasta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful, practical, encouraging. Recommend.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. I had some major breakthroughs both emotionally, and physically. Such a wonderful resource.

[Princess Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person who was new to the concept of listening and inner healing prayer, this was the perfect guide! This book will stay in my back pocket!

[Jordan Shirkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of to listening to God in prayer and helping yourself and others heal and experience freedom from strongholds and sin.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

S1V1L1

[Allie Slocum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book for learning to listen

[Lillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know I need to "be still and know that [He] is God," but I don't do it well. So I was particularly interested in listening prayer. I found the book interesting though it was focused on using listening prayer for inner healing regarding specific issues Christians have that have resulted from hurts or problems earlier in life, especially in their childhood. The point is to pray and ask God why the individual has this issue, then wait for an answer. Then there are a series of questions to dig deeper into the problem--asking God and waiting for His response. The author indicates that there is not always a response to every question, but often people don't think God is answering because they have a thought they've had before or what comes to their mind doesn't seem to be relevant to the problem. The author recommends paying attention to any thoughts or feelings that come while listening to God, and if something doesn't seem relevant asking God to help understand whether or not it is relevant, and if it is, how it is relevant.

The book was interesting, and I think a ministry of inner healing through listening prayer could be a valuable addition to a church's prayer ministry.

Although not exactly what I was expecting or looking for, the book was worthwhile to read. I still want to learn more about how to be still and listen to God through prayer.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title indicates, this is a comprehensive guide. It includes personal stories from the authors life and examples from other people's lives as well. I recommend it to anyone desiring to remove barriers to intimacy with God and to be free of negative emotions that have plagued you for years, to experience release, freedom, and healing of emotional wounds. This book can lead individuals step-by-step in that healing process, and it can equip groups like the one I’m in, to facilitate a listening and inner-healing prayer ministry for the wounded people the Lord brings to us.

[Warrenandsue Jantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be incredibly helpful ,full of Scripture and practical illustrations. It also leads the reader step by step through listening prayer times with God. God can do incredibly precise surgery and healing on our lives if we are willing to bring him those " persistent painful emotions, over reactions to recent events, or areas of bondage." This is a book for every believer who believes God can " restore the soul" .

[Marmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most incredible book I've read on inner healing. I am a belief therapist, christian counselor, and I have read many, many great books on this subject. This is by far the best.

[Carol Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my review on my blog: http://carolhomeschool2.blogspot.com/...

[Jessica Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

See the stars.