Summary
In "Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God," Dallas Willard, with updates from Jan Johnson, addresses the common yet often perplexing experience of Christians seeking to understand and discern God's voice. The book acknowledges the paradox that many believers feel confident God speaks to leaders but struggle to understand how it works in their own lives, leading to confusion and a sense of inadequacy. Willard aims to bridge this gap by providing a clear, practical orientation towards recognizing God's guidance, emphasizing that hearing God is integral to a vibrant, interactive relationship with the Divine.
Willard stresses that true understanding of God's voice comes through a life of loving fellowship with the King and his kingdom. It's not about seeking specific directions for every decision, but about cultivating a mature, cooperative relationship grounded in genuine love and mutual understanding. The book challenges the notion of God as a taskmaster, advocating instead for a vision of God as a friend and fellow worker, one who delights in our understanding and acting upon his will.
The book explores various forms of God's presence and communication, from blind faith to sensing God's presence, experiencing extraordinary events, and engaging in conversational prayer. Willard emphasizes the importance of personal experience, balanced with the contents of the Bible and the wisdom of the Christian tradition. He cautions against misguided approaches such as "Bible roulette" or assuming that whatever happens is God's will, advocating instead for a discerning approach that recognizes God's individualized guidance.
"Hearing God" delves into the nature of our communicating cosmos, asserting that God can and does communicate with human beings. It addresses common objections to this idea, such as the notion that science makes communication with God impossible. Willard argues that the material world permits God to be nearer than we often realize and that our understanding of God's intent for us creates a framework for understanding divine communication. He also stresses that to live in an ongoing conversation with God frees us from the leprosy of the modern world which is loneliness.
The book offers practical guidelines for recognizing God's voice, emphasizing the importance of humility and the understanding that hearing God doesn't automatically make us righteous. Willard also presents ways to test if you are hearing from God, including checking to see that the communication matches the word of God, and also listening for those people who are not trying to sell something. By following these guidelines, believers can move toward a richer, more intimate partnership with God in the work of his kingdom, a journey marked by constant, clear, and loving dialogue.