Created to Hear God: Four Unique and Proven Ways to Confidently Discern His Voice

by Havilah Cunnington

God is always speaking--the key is discovering the unique way He speaks to each of us. Hearing God's voice is one of the greatest gifts we've been given, but it can also feel complex and frustrating. As a teenager Havilah Cunnington didn't think she could hear God's voice, thinking it was like trying to tune into a radio station and never finding the correct frequency. But one night at a conference, she had an encounter with God that changed everything. She realized He had been speaking to her the whole time--she just hadn't learned to recognize His voice. Now an author, speaker, pastor, and founder of the well-known ministry Truth to Table, Havilah teaches people around the world to recognize the unique way God is speaking to them. After more than twenty-five years studying and teaching on hearing from God, she has discovered four distinct ways we hear His voice. In this new book she will help you God is alive and well. It's not about Him speaking but us listening. Through biblical teaching and experience, this book offers guidance in hearing and connecting with God. If you love tools like the Enneagram, join the thousands who have already gained a deeper understanding of themselves and others through learning their unique prophetic personality.

Genres: Faith, Christian, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Christian Living, Religion, Christianity

224 pages, Hardcover

Published December 12, 2023

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

love languages meets enneagram, except it’s “prophetic personality” – how u hear from God (hear, see, feel, know) and how to develop it. fun to ask friends, but meant lightly.

unique frameworks for how people experience God, which I’ve def heard and said myself (eg. “I feel like I heard Him say…” “In my dream I saw…” ). related to Hearer and Seer. cheat sheet on Feeler (strength, weaknesses, maturity) was insightful and relevant.

concerns
- much emphasis on God empowering people to hear Him, as if God’s main purpose for our lives is to hear Him (vs. love Him)
- little emphasis on the Bible as the most obvious way God speaks
- potential for extrabiblical revelation “you may have heard ‘the Bible is complete’. yes, and no.“ —> safeguards could have been explained more
- explaining anger not as sin and that Jesus was angry, but selective verse picking and excluding James 1:20 “human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires”
- overall another jane hamon “discernment” style / prophetic personality, except hamon was more colorful with her experiences

read this with a grain of salt bc a lot felt more experientially founded vs. biblically founded, but appreciated havilah’s “contemporary” voice. felt new age-y at times, saying “supernatural” and “spiritual superpower” a lot, but perhaps that’s her intended audience.

[AG Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cool perspective on hearing God! I’m a “knower” and I’ve never felt more seen! Now I can take what I’ve learned and cultivate a better prayer life and streamline of communication with God.

[Meagan Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love Havilah and her heart to strengthen the body of Christ. This is a message I think most need to hear because so many people think I don’t hear from God which is not the truth. Thankful for this book which helped me understand ways I can mature and grow as a feeler 🙏

[Mary Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a fast read, and is written for ease of understanding. The author believes all people can be, and are prophets. She teaches people how to become prophets in this book. While I believe in prophets, this book takes the topic to another level. One example, someone set up a meeting for the author to minister prophetically to them. What I have read in the Bible, God schedules the prophets meetings, not man. While I believe that God indeed talks with us when we listen, this author stepped away from her own recommendation for identifying things that are from God, by comparing the information with the Bible. I do not believe the information in this book is consistent with Bible teachings, therefore, I do not recommend this book to others.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great book, that helps anyone who follows God, learn how to discern His voice. Clear, concise and to the point, this was a very interesting, inspirational and thought-provoking book!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing, the author, Havilah Cunnington and Goodreads for the opportunity to read this advanced reading copy, in exchange for my honest opinion. I would highly recommend this book, for anyone interested in growing more, in their spiritual journey in life.

[Annika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hearer, Feeler, Seer or Knower - what’s the primary way Gods speaking to you? This books answers many questions. In my opinion it could have gone even deeper

[Veronica Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was such an amazing book and tool for your Faith!! Thank you Havilah for your obedience in writing this book, highly recommend!!🤍

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Created to hear God is quite a guidebook to hearing God's voice. The author believes all of us are prophets, and according to her, there are four ways in which God communicates to us — fealer, seerer, knower, and hearer — we just gotta figure out which one works for us. I found the book to be very interesting and insigtful. However, it didn't really help me to figure out in which category I'd fall... but that might have a lot to do with the fact that I only recently returned to faith. I can't say that it surved its purpose. Even though I enjoyed it, I was left equally confused about hearing/talking to God.

Edit: lowered my rating from 4 to 3 stars, and thinking about lowering it even more. Why? Because it's very New Age-y to me (and this is saying someone that was into New Age). I haven't seen anyone complaining in the reviews, so I thought I was crazy. But I can't escape the fact that this book is very focused on self and our experience rather than God. I did find the book interesting when I read it. And I do believe God talks to us when we stop and take time to listen to Him. But why is there so much pressure on hearing Him? It's not us that set up the meetings. He comes to us. His will, not ours. His timing, not ours. Regarding hearing Him/talking to Him, as well as anything else in out lives.

The book was fun, but I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone if they asked me for recs on books about seeking/hearing/talking to God.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it but was a little weirded out by the categories she places people in and how they hear from God. It felt like those personality type books like Myers Briggs, Enneagram, etc. I’m sure people probably have usual ways they hear from God but I had a hard time pinpointing a main way I hear from him. Overall I still enjoyed the book and liked hearing the many ways we can hear from God. It encouraged my walk with Lord and inspired me to hear from him more.

[Vonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hearing God’s voice is my favorite topic to discuss. Created to Hear God by Havilah Cunnington is right up that particular alley. I have spent time learning and exploring how I hear God speak to me, and yet, I have found myself discouraged and adrift lately.

I struggle to make the choices I know will bring me closer to God just as Paul so eloquently put it in Romans 7:15-20. Lately I’ve been in a great big dry spell of my own making. “Our inability to hear doesn’t mean it’s not happening. It means something else is standing in the way.” And that something is usually my own self. “Could my discouragement be caused by disconnection, and is that what’s making me feel defeated?” My personal answer to that is, “Yes.”

Havilah breaks down how people hear from God into 4 categories: those who are hearers, those who are feelers, those who are seers and those who are knowers. Her website offers a test where you can determine your category. I had no trouble identifying my category just by reading the book.

I will end my review with this quote which resonated with me. “God is a communicator. He is the original Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). And He came to earth to communicate with us. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (v. 14). Wow! We are that important to Him! Also, think about it: Who would author a book containing thousands and thousands of words if He didn’t like to communicate? God is a talker. He’s an extrovert. He’s a people person. I cannot stress how important this core belief is. Why? Because if you think God is hiding from you or not speaking to you, you will miss His voice. Increase your confidence by tweaking one common word in your thoughts. Instead of wondering, Will God speak to me? start believing, God is speaking to me, right now.”

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Created to Hear God" by Havilah Cunnington delves into the profound yet sometimes perplexing journey of discerning God's voice. Drawing from her personal experiences and over twenty-five years of ministry, Cunnington offers readers a roadmap to recognizing how God communicates uniquely with each individual.

The book begins with Cunnington’s own story of struggling to hear God as a teenager, feeling like she was constantly missing the right frequency. This relatable struggle sets the stage for the central message of the book: God is always speaking, and the challenge lies in learning to listen. Through a transformative encounter at a conference, Cunnington discovered that God had been speaking to her all along, she just hadn't recognized His voice. This realization forms the cornerstone of her teachings.

Cunnington introduces the concept of "prophetic personalities," suggesting that just as people have different temperaments and ways of interacting with the world, they also have unique ways of hearing from God. The book outlines four distinct ways people can hear His voice, supported by biblical teaching and practical examples. This framework provides readers with tools to better understand their own spiritual communication style, akin to personality tools like the Enneagram.

This book offers a heartfelt and practical guide to understanding and embracing the unique ways God communicates with us. While it may not provide all the answers for every reader, it certainly encourages a deeper exploration of one's spiritual journey and fosters a greater awareness of God's presence in everyday life.

[Mhughessc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Havilah Cunnington is an author, speaker, and pastor. In her newest book, "Created to Hear God: 4 Unique and Proven Ways to Confidently Discern His Voice", Cunnington asserts that we are all spiritual beings. Because of this, God is always speaking to us and we can learn to hear His voice. The author states that, "hearing God speak to you at the deepest level gives your life meaning." She says that there are four prophetic personality types: the hearer, the seer, the feeler, and the knower. Cunnington gives a description of each type, as well as a Bible character who demonstrated each personality type.

While I agree that God speaks to us, I believe that He speaks to us now primarily through His Word, rather than through visions or thoughts. However, I can appreciate the transparency the author included in her book, as well as her assertion that God desires a relationship with each of His children. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Kami Mauldin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a Christian and would say that I’m fairly “in tune” with God. I’ve always felt comfortable and confident talking about what I know to be true of God. I’ve always felt a little different in the way I communicate with and talk about God. But that’s not a bad thing for me or the other Christians around me! This book has helped me understand that everyone hears from God, but differently. I loved learning about the types (I’m confident that I’m a Knower).

What I loved most was Havilah’s constant reminder that hearing from God only happens when you have a relationship with God. If you never talk to your friends, how would you expect to know what they want to tell you? It’s the same for God. We don’t spend time with God to get something out of it, but when we are close to Him it will naturally cause us to hear Him more clearly. Makes sense to me!

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will preface by saying that I was raised in church and majored in theology in college, and have spent many years in charismatic environments. I feel like this book is perhaps better suited for newer Christians? Nothing was particularly new or revelatory for me. I would have enjoyed reading this more in college/when I was first taking roles in ministry. Pros: Havilah writes with the voice of a motherly coach, very easy to read. Great stories and examples. Things that felt like a miss for me: some parts were a bit too casual, borderline cheesy, and felt rushed or shallow, like they needed more Biblical depth and explanation. I also disagree that you have to have one dominant way of hearing from God, and don’t see a Biblical foundation for that. Giving it 4 stars because I definitely believe this book can be a source of encouragement for the right audience at the right time.

[Lin G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Havilah's book is so real. As someone who has experienced similar struggles and frustrations,  and felt that she had a faulty spiritual wi-fi, it was comforting to know I wasn’t alone in my experience, and I wasn’t the problem. I learnt from her book that there was more than one way to hear from God (feeling, seeing, knowing, and hearing) and that there was no need to overcomplicate God – I am spiritual for I am already in Christ. The verses that she shared and expounded on further encouraged me that I am made to hear Him and that He is speaking to me all the time. As a feeler, Havilah’s teaching further equipped me to have ownership over my feelings and how to release emotions not from God.

- Lin Gabrielle, book launch

[Abi Soliman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exceptional!
“Created To Hear God” is not just a title; it is a Divine reality for all who will capture it! I firmly believe that from experiencing this book, everyone can learn to hear God. Havilah, in her gifted, courageous style, not only feeds the eternal hunger to hear from God, but she does so in a captivating, entertaining, and compelling way.
As a Pastor and teacher for over 45 years, with personally studying and teaching this subject for over 20 years, this fresh approach is the finest on the topic.
She answers our most obvious questions, then powerfully presents how we are designed to hear God, and proves that God can’t wait to speak … to US!
Havilah welcomes us to her journey, and says, "Come on in. The water's fine!"

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful read. It really helped me understand the basics of the different ways that we can hear God’s voice. I am actually reading this book with a (fairly large) Bible study group and each person seems to have found something they connect with within the pages of this book. I know that I personally feel that I know more about how I can now lean into hearing His voice better after reading it! She provides actual actionable steps to take too, which I love.
It’s an easy to follow read too, not a complicated at all. Havilah, the author, does a great job at breaking things down in her explanations. I highly recommend this book!

[Mimille · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just finishing the book and she lost me at quote :" We need pastors who hear directly from God and Preach from an intimate place of revelation rather than simply regurgirating information from a book"
I had a hard time going through the book, some passages were good and some felt really "new-edgy" to me, a lot of boasting about hearing God. Then there was Bethel church, so I am not too sure about it ... I would love to discuss it with other Christians and see if I was the only one uncomfortable about it.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be incredibly helpful in putting a name to the way I hear His voice. Have you ever wondered how you hear Him? It can be confusing, especially if you're newer to the faith. Are you a seer, a hearer, a feeler, or a knower? Or some combination of the four? This teaching is approached similarly to the love languages and the enneagram. In fact, it was fun to think about which numbers would likely hear God's voice in each of the four ways.

[Mary Pauline M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book read for 2024, and I know it will continue to make an impact for many years to come. Havilah has a fantastic writing style that is informative and engaging. Some writers have a tendency to come off as knowing it all, not Havilah. What she does know, she openly shares as if the readers are at the same table as she. This is a fantastic book to read either in a small group or solo.

[Arlene Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Created to Hear God

This was an excellent read. Mixed with great insights and humor that made it so rich with God’s touch on it. Very helpful. I highly recommend it for others who are searching to know what it’s like to hear God’s voice. I liked the four categories Havilah gives to bring awareness to how each of us hears. There was vulnerability on her part also, in her learning experience over the years.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book for Christians to start developing their gift of hearing God. When I started the book , I was sure of which way God spoke to me. (The author identifies four ways God can speak to one. ) As the book progresses, I became more confused. I was she would have given more details to how develop the skills.

I am a little confused on how I can hear God better.

I still think it is a great way to learn more about hearing God.

[Tim Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE best teaching I’ve heard on hearing God’s voice. It will literally change your life if you dig in. Pair it with the journal for sure. Top it off by doing the clarity challenge. Just search “Clarity challenge” and the author’s name. It’s 14 days of additional teaching and challenge. Your world will go from black and white to IMAX if you embrace and digest as much as you can from this resource.

[CarlyB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the clear and concise explanation of the different prophetic personalities and the reassurance that each of can hear God, if we know how to listen. I would have liked practical/well-known examples of people in the Christian faith who are gifted in each area to hear their experiences in real time, versus the sharing of stories from the author's life as examples. That aside, I did feel as though this book offers great insight.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting insights on different aspects and ways of hearing God. I’ve never thought about there being different PRIMARY and secondary ways for God to speak to us. She treats it almost like a personality test, which makes it easy to understand and break down the differences. Her writing style is also easy but still captivating. Overall I enjoyed the book.

**Thank you netgalley and the publishers for a review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

[Kathleen Ryder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book what not what I was expecting when I sat down to read it.

While I agree that God speaks to us, I believe He speaks to us through His Word, rather than through visions or thoughts.

I agree with the author that God desires a relationship with each of His children.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

[Rafael Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to pre-read this book before launch day, and I loved it. I thought Havilah did a very good job in being able to simplify how God speaks to us. I was able to find myself in some of the examples she wrote and have been able to notice how much God is actually speaking to me. I recommend this book to everyone who want to see and learn how God is speaking to them.

[GC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Created to Hear God is an insightful book that invites us into a deeper relationship with God. It theologically examines the ways of receiving and hearing from God, such as exploring different prophetic personalities in the Bible. The tools discussed in the book are very practical and inspiring, guiding readers to discern and be led by God. I highly recommend it!
- Grace C, book launch

[Michelle Wynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Havilah opened my eyes not only in that God speaks to each of us but also that He can and will speak to us in different ways. By understanding these four ways (seer, hearer, knower and feeler) and being able to identify which one I am has helped me to grow closer to Father God as a "knower." If you want to hear God on a more personal level, you need this book.

[Corina Prince · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enlightening book. I enjoyed how the author explained each personality and added humor to each section. It was descriptive and even explained the things that weakens the different types of personalities. In the end you can quiz yourself to see which one you are. The only thing I didn't care for was towards the middle of the book it was getting repetitive.