Hearing God

Developing a Conversational Relationship with God

By: Dallas Willard

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

Being close to God means communicating with Him-telling Him what is on our hearts in prayer and hearing and understanding what he is saying to us. It is this second half of our conversation with God that is so important but that also can be so difficult. How do we hear his voice? How can we be sure that what we think we hear is not our own subconscious? What role does the Bible play? What if what God says to us is not clear?

The key, says best-selling author Dallas Willard, is to focus not so much on individual actions and decisions as on building our personal relationship with our creator. In this updated classic, originally published as In Search of Guidance, the author provides a rich, spiritual insight into how we can hear God's voice clearly and develop an intimate partnership with Him in the work of His kingdom.

©1999 Dallas Willard (P)1999 christianaudio.com

The learning is in the repetition - SIX STARS

I came across this book about five years ago and it was a treasure, a feather in my cap, it introduced me to a whole new way to understand how to commune with God. Recently I downloaded the audio and gave it a listen and found it to be even more valuable the second time around. Upon its conclusion, "Audio has hoped you've enjoyed this program...." I restarted the book all over again. A must and most important read for any serious person who wishes to deepen their conversational relationship with the Lord. SIX STARS no joke

A Classic

Finding God’s will is a common desire. Often people can be paralized because they are afraid of not finding God’s will. Hearing God is a classic. This is the third copy of the book I have owned (one given and two purchased) over the years but the first time I am actually reading it.

I like that Willard starts by moving the pressure down a notch. He has a good illustration of the fact that no parent wants to tell their children everything that they should do. Parents want to teach their children how to do something, and expect that they will do it. If they are supposed to make their bed in the morning, they should make it every morning. Children complaining that the parent did not tell them this morning to make their bed will only incur the parent’s wrath. So Willard starts telling us we should listen to what scripture says and do that.

Another good point that I have never really thought of, is that we should always read scripture assuming that the people of scripture were much like us. They were not particularly special people, they were sinful, afraid, made bad decisions, etc. If we see them as much like us, then we can assume that we to should be hearing from God and seeking to follow God’s will in relatively similar ways as the biblical characters. Since reading that section, I have been more aware of the large number of Christians that actively resist thinking of biblical characters as ‘like us’. I think it shows one area that we have far to go to move Evangelicals into historical Christian Orthodoxy.

Overall what I am most impressed by, is the biblical balance that Willard attempts to strike. When you discuss hearing from God there are lots of places to veer into shaky ground. And I know that some are of the opinion that even discussing hearing from God goes too far. But Willard attempts to keep the desire to hear from God, the ways we hear from God, the reality of the power of God, and the limitations of our own understanding.

Great Read!

If you could sum up Hearing God in three words, what would they be?

Much needed howto for serious christians who want a 24/7/365 relationship with our GOD!

What did you like best about this story?

Spiritual Disciplines

Have you listened to any of Grover Gardner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Great listen but needed a group study to understand

We did this book as a men's group study and this was probably the only way I could have gotten through it. There is so much depth in the book it needed others to help discuss the highlights and fine points. I'm not sure I would have made it alone. I did have a paper copy of the book also to highlight and make notes. It was an easier listen than read. Excellent message and content. I went from someone who said I have never heard Gods voice to someone who can pick out Gods messages to me.

Need to read it. Slowly.

This is one of those books that, for me, just doesn't work as an audiobook. Too many concepts, too many questions for self examination. The recording is high quality, but plods along,monotone. This is exciting stuff! But the reader doesn't seem to be moved. Time for an update.

formatting is incorrect

the story is great but the formating is incorrect. when you click on chapter 2, you get chapter 3 approximately and so forth. chapter 2 is located somewhere in chapter 1.

Chapter breaks

Excellent book! But the way its chapters are broken up in the audio version is frustrating. Why lump the introduction, chapter 1 and 2 together in one audio? It makes it difficult to go back and listen to specific part os the book. Also I do not see a reason for this, since Audible continues playing the audio files in succession. Please correct this.

To know and to do all AtOneWithGod.

Great instruction here and references to many other sources of blessed instructions if you would be AtOneWithGod.

Good book! Very helpful

The content is outstanding.
The recording was lacking. It seemed to have a strong echo throughout the whole reading. If that could be removed the audio version would be a home run.

Slow but valuable

A little hard to follow at times personally. Great to clarify your relationship with God.

Life changing

Out of all the Christian books I have read over 28 years in the Ministry it is no exaggeration to say that this is the most important. It is a book I have read, and now heard, several times, and which I will read and hear again and again. The text is beautifully, meaningfully and flawlessly read. I cannot recommend it too strongly.

Thought provoking

I appreciate the time taken to break down this subject which is certainly mysterious to many.

I didn't care much for the narration but it was manageable.

This book has opened my eyes to the possible when it comes to an interactive life with God and as you read I'm sure like me you will find yourself making many bookmarks and notes.

One aspect to highlight is the accessibility of this book. It really does make the subject intelligible and so for the Christian reader, many gems await.

Great read

This book opens the eyes on hearing from God which .osteoporosis Christians do but don't realise that God speaks to us in various ways. A must read for Christians

So clear and deep read at the same time

Absolutely loved this book. Its the best book on hearing God I ever read. Very highly recommended.