Forever Ruined for the Ordinary: The Adventure of Hearing and Obeying God's Voice

by Joy Dawson

Do you want to:
Know how to hear God's voice?
Discover 24 ways He communicates?
Discern between God's voice and other voices?
Know why God delays answers to prayer?
Guard against all presumptions?
Have explanations and insights into difficult questions?
Recognize the pitfalls of deception and learn how to avoid them?
Understand God's character and ways more fully?
Get God's perspective on obedience?
Know the ramifications of disobedience?
Experience the greatest challenge and adventure?
Fulfill your destiny and be forever ruined for the ordinary?

These desires are guaranteed when the truths in this unique an fascinating book are applied to your life. May God bless you as you embark on the adventure of a lifetime - hearing and obeying His voice!

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Spirituality

195 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Harrison Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I would give it 3.5-3.75 stars if possible. This was my first time reading a book from this kind of perspective. The idea of “hearing from God” like this is new to me. I think I’m maybe cautious of the author just because of her proclaimed involvement with Jim Bakker and Benny Hinn, but I think there were still good ideas in here.

The book was a little repetitive. It had scripture in there, but it was mostly stories of “listen to this one time I heard God say ABC and I was obedient so then XYZ happened” the whole time.

I think there could be a danger of legalism when the author mentions obedience and disobedience - for me (and for most people, including the author I would suspect) hearing God isn’t as plain and simple as the author makes it out to be. As someone with religious OCD, I recognize the author’s simplification of hearing God and magnification of consequences of disobedience may have the capacity to be harmful to some.

Aside from these critiques, I thought it was good because it challenged me to a different way of living and has been an entry point into what it might look like to listen for God as a regular way of life.

[Ghostofgracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️3.5⭐️ I usually don’t like these types of books! But through reading them for DTS I’ve come to like them more! Joys books are very enjoyable, and hold a lot of information

[D.V. Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. If you desire a closer, intimate relationship with God, this is the book for you.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible book! Joy really put things in perspective. If you don’t want to grow or be challenged this is not the book for you. However, if growth is what you seek and your aim is to meet the Father through your obedience then dive in and prepare yourself to be challenged and maybe answer some tough questions. Dive in, the Lord is calling you home.

[Ken Berger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding book on the many ways God speaks to us today with lots of examples from the authors own life. It also has many warnings and reasons why God is or seems silent.

[Brian Stratton · Rating 5 out of 5]

use this process for my personal life and my families life...it's been very helpful! Must Read!

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book really should be in the memoir category as it contains more of the author's personal life reflections than anything else.   The author frequently uses the prosperity gospel method to get her point across,  but without using money as the end goal,  but instead, hearing from God.  'If you do all these things,  then you'll get the answer from the Lord.'  God is not a genie waiting to give answers once we've checked all the boxes.   Often, examples began or ended with "simply do this..." or "all that's needed is this...".  

In section 4, under the part titled "When the Next Move is God's," Psalm 37:5 is quoted but referenced as 35:5.  While I didn't look up every scripture (there were many), I lose faith in this kind of "typo" because using God's word as an example is serious and an error in a cite reference is egregious.

After a lengthy instruction on pride impeding hearing for the Lord,  the book ends with a letter from the author asking for less requests for help as she already inundated with them and needs less,  not more; that this book should be helpful enough to help yourself hear from the Lord. If she meant it graciously,  it fell flat.

While there were plenty of things the author stated correctly referring to God's Word, there were many more times when it was used as a checklist and burdensome. 

[Brianna Smith Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I don’t line up with Joy Dawson’s theology on all points, her book was helpful in giving me a perspective of prayer and relationship with the Lord that challenged my own tendency towards passivity. I am grateful for how God used a critical reading of her book to help shape my own views of Him!

[Juanita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would give it 2.5 stars I have loved another of her books that I read but this one has so much in it that you had to do (but was all biblically based) that I felt overwhelmed. I think this was a good verse from Peter to remember as I read “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

[David Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for a Church book study. Transforming the culture of a Church is hard. This book is one tool that helps transform people from praying for all the latest and greatest things to be given to them, to stepping out into a world of relationship with God.

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this an incredibly encouraging book! If you want to give God first place in your everyday life and hear Him more clearly, Joy Dawson gives you the biblical tools to do so. Chapters 6 and 7 were particularly helpful. Highly recommended!

[Rob Markley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much out of her time and place at the cutting edge of the charismatic renewal, YWAM etc. Too narrow, too one eyed

[Donna Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more and go deeper.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dawson's collections of personal stories and methodology- some helpful others not as much (for me personally). More questions than answers

[Englandjennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really about obedience. I really was expecting something different from the description of the book. There were many passages; however, I didn't appreciate many of the personal stories from the author. There were a few good chapters, mainly towards the end of the book. I just struggled reading it especially when she said an individual does not love God if you do not read the bible. I nearly put the book down after that sentence.

[Shiloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book for practicing hearing the voice of God. The author lives a radical and very intimate relationship with the Lord, and it challenges you to the same. Would love to read more of her stuff.

[Kathie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book and really opens your eyes to the spiritual world.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawson clearly stresses the importance of keeping God involved in every aspect of life. She gives lots of life experiences that illustrate this concept and makes it easy to read.

[Frida · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

an easy but well-grounded read. it will be interesting to see what sticks with me in the coming months.

[Cristine Amorim · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites on hearing God!