Translating God: Hearing God's Voice for Yourself and the World Around You

by Shawn Bolz, Shawn Bolz

Translating God serves as an inspirational guide book that puts God’s great love back into prophetic ministry as a primary goal full of real life stories that articulate the culture of love behind God's heart for the prophetic.So much of the prophetic ministry is esoteric and a free for all in which people throw down the God card on anything they "feel," but this book brings balance without taking away the desire to see the powerful nature of God displayed. On top of that, it's biblically based and is supported by scripture throughout each story, driving home the book's message of activating the ability to hear God's voice for each reader.Through a thought-provoking prophetic ministry philosophy and Shawn's glorious successes and very real failures, you will be inspired and equipped •learn how to hear God for yourself and others,•grow through simple focused steps, •take great risks,•stay accountable,•love people well,•grow in intimacy with the Lord.As an internationally known prophetic voice who has ministered to thousands—from political leaders to those on the streets—Shawn shares everything he has learned about the prophetic in a way that is totally unique and refreshing. Shawn aims for the higher goal of loving people relationally, not just pursuing the gift or information, and he activates you to do the same. Start to reshape the world around you with God’s love today.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Christianity, Faith, Prayer, Christian Non Fiction

179 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2015

About the author

Shawn is an author, a TV host, spiritual adviser, producer, and minister. He is passionate about seeing individuals and groups learn how to be the most connected, best version of themselves through their relationship with God.

Shawn has been a pioneer in ministry, including the prophetic movement, since he was in his teens. His focus on having a genuine relationship with God, creativity through entertainment & social justice have brought him around the world to meet with churches, CEO's, entertainers, and world leaders.
Shawn's style of speaking & coaching, accompanied with his unique expert perspective on the issues of love, creativity and justice, have kept his calendar full. Shawn lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Cherie and daughters, Harper and Hartley.

Reviews

[Sally Hanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing I love most about Shawn's books is his sense of humor, and a close second is his practical teaching style. This book is full of his stories of prophetic encounters, giving proof that he doesn't just talk about things, he does them.

As a disclaimer, I edited the book too, but he wrote it all - no ghostwriters involved.

[Tania Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful and thought provoking book for those with a good understanding of the prophetic gift wanting to grow in their application of their gift in everyday life. I highly respect Shawn Boltz's down-to-earth and practical application of the gift in his own life and how he communicates his approach to readers. The book contains many personal examples of how he used his prophetic gift to minister to those of whom God is not yet revealed. Translating God errs on being more of a story telling narrative rather than a prophetic manual and this should be kept in mind when choosing to read it.

[Brandon H. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Updated review as of 1/20/26 Shawn Bolz is a con artist and needs to be avoided. I wouldn't trust a word he utters. May God have mercy on his soul. See Mike Winger's YouTube episode, "The Skeletons in Bethel's Closet Are Now Going to Speak" for more information. So sad! So very, very sad!

[Jonathan Brenneman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Translating God" was an inspiring and encouraging read that motivated me to keep "striving to excel" in spiritual gifts. The teaching on how to test and treat prophecy gives a healthy perspective that helps the church to avoid so much abuse. As a missionary encouraging the church to grow in spiritual gifts, this book is inspiring my teaching about prophecy and words of knowledge. Prophecy is about seeing people through God's eyes of love, we're growing in it, and it's OK to miss it with our information as we grow!

I've been focusing a lot on always seeing what God is doing and honoring it. Whatever God is doing is greater and worthy of more attention than what the devil is doing, so that's what deserves my attention. "Translating God" inspires the reader to participate in God's heart of love even for people who are wicked and whom we might have a hard time seeing good in from a natural perspective. This goes right along with the truths God has been emphasizing to me in the past year. Highly recommended!

[Hannah Yu · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very easy read with quite a lot of information - though the point is CLEAR. it is LOVE that makes prophecy important and useful. it for LOVE that God talks to us and let us bring the word to lift others up!

[Ragne Ülevain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories, this book is full of examples how the author has had opportunities to speak prophetic words in people’s lives. That should inspire us all to be open to hear and speak as well!

[Tora Damian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 🌟

[Diana Jamerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have an interest at all in the prophetic, you will want to read this book. Shawn brings the Father heart of God in prophecy to light and shows what Christian prophecy should look like. I recommend it to anyone who is just starting out in prophecy or anyone who has been in the prophetic for years.

[Cassidee Shoemaker · Rating 1 out of 5]

I fully believe in the spiritual gift of prophecy, I just don’t believe (as Shawn said throughout the book) that it is for everyone. There were many things I could definitely glean from this book but the majority was either not based in scripture, or twisting scripture to fit his agenda.

I could write an entire book report about my thoughts, but I’ll leave it at this- one star ⭐️😅

[Matthew Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. What a challenging and encouraging book. I have to say that my favorite parts of the book were the stories throughout and the more practical chapters towards the end. I also picked up some solid language that is so simple and loving.

[Brad Kittle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just briefly, I love the encouragement to take risks and step out in the prophetic. I was encouraged by his non-elitist attitude. And the chapters on accountability and responsibility were tremendous.

[Trevor Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a massive fan any longer of popular charismatic books, but this is a good one on the prophetic just from the point of a view of a leader sharing honestly from his experiences and observations. I love his emphasis on the use of the prophetic for the purpose of revealing the love of God; he sees it and the word of knowledge as a way of making quick connections with people, accelerating connection, in order to show them how much God loves them. Fair enough, as long as this does not replace genuine and lasting connection which probably can't be accelerated!

Challenged by what he says about if we are always complaining and criticising we can not have an authority into that situation (e.g. in politics and in pop culture); we only have authority over that which we love. However, that should not stop us speaking truth to power and pointing out the hypocrisy of Christian leaders when it is damaging people.

He uses the story of Agabus to show how the role of the prophet has changed: it's not just about completely accurate information or revelation from one person that all must follow - actually Paul had already heard from God and Agabus was slightly wrong but still a good respected prophet; it was about discerning the will of God together and about connection and relationship. 'Love covers even when we are wrong…'

Think that what he teaches about discernment being a conversation starter and not the message is excellent (Chp.6) - we start talking to God about what we are feeling (discernment especially of the bad is not hard as God has given us natural intuition) but we then need to seek the mind of the Spirit about what we have discerned. And I like him coming out so strongly about judgement prophecies. Also love his emphasis on partnership with God rather than being directed by God - he works like a Father loving to see his sons grow rather than a commander who doesn’t trust you to make decisions yourself. Love what he says about revelation being progressive and a wandering journey; and so it is important to journal and remember what God has said or shown you (Chp.7).

The weakness is the same as in many of these books - so personal and experienced based and lacks awareness of the theological and historical contexts in which to place his own personal experience of the Spirit. But a good version of this kind of book.

[C.A. Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at the recommendation of someone I trust, who said it was the best book she had ever read on the subject of hearing God's voice. I certainly loved some parts of it, and teared up at some of the stories he told about seeing and valuing those whom society had neglected. Bolz has a gift for allowing the reader to see both the highest and the lowest of society, as God sees them. My favorite two quotes: "You will never have authority over what you do not love," meaning you cannot influence for God's kingdom those whom you do not love as He does. The other is a Bill Johnson quote: "Gifts are free, but maturity is expensive." Such insight!! Spiritual gifts are not earned, but one of the main points of the book is how to *grow* in the prophetic. Maturity requires growth. Like anything else, Bolz portrays prophecy as a skill that needs to be cultivated.

And this is the reason why I knocked off the last star, though I suppose it isn't necessarily his fault. I'm perplexed by why prophecy isn't more of an exact science under the New Covenant, which is supposed to be better than the Old Covenant. Under the Old Covenant, if the prophets misrepresented God, they were stoned to death! Of course I'm glad we're under a better covenant now (!), but if they could hear THAT clearly back then, why do prophets today have such a hard time, when we have the Holy Spirit both in and upon us? Something isn't adding up here. Bolz definitely has some incredible stories of words of wisdom and knowledge for people, and yet he tells of a few misses and failures too, both of his and of other prophets. That's relatable and encouraging in that sense, but it still leaves me wondering--if Jonah heard God so clearly that he literally ran away and boarded a ship to try to flee from it, why are we all struggling so hard on this side of the cross? Shouldn't it be easier now, not harder, than it was for Old Testament prophets? That's a question I'd love to hear someone address.

[Zoey · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Translating God” provides a fresh and healthy perspective on the gift of prophecy in the modern community we live in. From the outset, it lays out clearly the main goal of moving in the prophetic - to reveal the love of the Father.

In the author’s words, it says, “See what God sees, hear what God hears, and speak what God speaks so we can all love the way God loves. Revelation is given to us so we can carry a piece of God’s heart from eternity into the world.”

I’m also encouraged and challenged by chapter four and six which reminded me that moving in the prophetic is first developing a culture of love in our hearts. The ultimate starting point and end goal is love - to encourage and build up. Even in the case that we may discern a bad report, how do we navigate it with wisdom and love to build up and reveal the heart of the Father.

This quote succinctly sums this point up, “True prophetic ministry looks for the gold in the midst of the dirt of people’s lives.” - Kris Vallotton

I also appreciate the practical aspects that the author added in towards the last two chapters on how to steward the gift of prophecy responsibly through accountability.

One of the greatest strengths in the book is the personal stories and experiences the author brings in to illustrate and help us relate to the points he made. However, herein also lies its weakness, as it is with writings that are experience-based, that is, the shallow depth in theology. I’d have loved if the author added more pages to help readers understand the topic on the prophetic more biblically.

Nonetheless, I still think that the author brought forth an important aspect of the prophetic - the culture of love. It is a great starting point for those interested in moving in the prophetic as it sets us in the direction to go. My heart is full, edified and encouraged after reading this book!

[Barb Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new take on the prophetic. The book goes into the differences between kinds of discernment (positive and negative) and how positive discernment is a door opener to conversation that can lead to revelation which comes through intimacy with our Heavenly Father, as we see and walk into the love He has for the person we are relating with. He explains that the prophetic without God's love motivating and flowing through it is not at all what He intends.

Shawn also speaks of how we can be open to the prophetic--both giving and receiving--without turning off our brains or our personal discernment. We do this by being accountable both in our giving and receiving of words. He illustrates how through some real life examples. In fact, the whole book is filled with examples that encourage and inspire.

There is only one warning I would give if you are thinking of reading this. If you are only wanting to cling to the past and non-relational prophetic patterns, read about "The Prophet George" on page 157 at the end of the chapter on Responsibility in Revelation, and pray to have an open heart before making a decision about reading the book. --Blessed is the man who allows his religious framework to be challenged and changed into more "God think!"

[Matthew C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not so much a "how-to" book on the New Testament gift of prophecy as much as a big picture look at the perspective in which we should hold the gift. Bolz is a firm believer that all are able to hear from God and that this is not a gift limited to an elite few. He emphasizes the necessity of being grounded in a firm relationship with the Father from which to draw prophetic words. I appreciated him pushing back against some unhealthy practices that he has observed in the prophetic movements of the 80's and 90's, and he has helpful information for those looking to grow in the gift.

His understanding of the gift of prophecy is predicated on the idea of "fallible prophecy" (not that God speaks error, but that the Christian is fallible in understanding His voice) that has been explored by authors such as Wayne Grudem (though Bolz never references Grudem or any academic works for that matter). I do disagree with some of the statements made by Bolz which tend to undermine the idea that God can judge sin in any way besides the Final Judgement. That said, this book was very helpful and provided much data to meditate on.

[Michelle Swallow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blew me away; it went beyond anything I expected.

My biggest takeaway by far was:
1. Relationship:
God speaks to each one of us out of relationship and when He gives us a word for someone it comes out of that place of relationship. He wants us to be:
(i) first and foremost in relationship with Him;
(ii) in relationship with one another to see each other with the created value that God see;
(iii) to draw all people into a relationship with Him.

2. Timing:
Sometimes God gives us a word but we need to check with Him about when/how to release it in His timing.
Sometimes it’s:
(i) a word to share straightaway;
(ii) a word to store and just use it as a prayer point for that person;
(iii) important to be sensitive to God’s leading as to the appropriate timing of when/how to share.

There’s probably more but these were my biggest takeaways.

[Deeps George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Understanding and hearing God is an important aspect of our growth as a Christian. The gift of prophecy is one of those attributes that contribute to the growth. Shawn Bolz through this book gives us a deeper perspective of this gift. In a world where prophecy is being used as a tool of self glorification and fan building , Shawn brings in the true nature of prophecy.
Prophecy arises out of a personal relationship with God , it is a gift available to all and grows when we love God, spend time with Him and understand His purpose for the world. The book provides a strong foundation in developing the right skills and attitude towards this gift. The author has been honest in his failures in this field which makes it relatable and possible for all who read to try and develop this gift.
A good read to understand what talking to God really means and how our hearing of God’s voice can grow.

[Aria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I grew up in church and I have always been familiar with prophecy. As I got older many people in ministry started to prophecy that the Lord had given me prophetic gifts.

I wasn't sure of this or even if I wanted to grow in those gifts but I began to feel that I was hearing the Lord about my own life rather than others and that intrigued me to learn more about prophecy in general.

This book was such an easy read. It reads like a conversation, you can tell the writer is very relational. The book is so practical even for people that are not sure if they really believe that God can speak to us. This is a must read if you are interested in learning more about prophecy.

[Sotonye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far one of the most important books i've read this year. The beautiful thing about it is seeing how emotionally intelligent and self aware Shawn Bolz is. I wasn't expecting this level of organization and guidance into the prophetic, but Shawn has achieved that in this easy to read and fun book.

I came out of this experience knowing that the prophetic does not have to be weird, that we are all created to hear from God, and that the process of hearing and translating God is very relational. The whole point is a loving relationship with God and with others.

Thank you Shawn for this book. I am deeply encouraged!

[Kim Willemburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Culture

This book gave me such a different and clear perspective on the prophetic. It’s more about cultivating that love relationship with God and wanting to hear His heart concerning people.

I love how Words of knowledge connect people to the heart of God and help them realize how close and intricately God is involved in their lives and how interested He is to speak to them.

It’s such a privilege that God would speak through us as we avail ourselves so people can encounter HIS LOVE!

[Karin Rosner · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's enough packed into this book that I've marked it for a re-reading at some point. I'm currently taking a class based on this book as well as work by Kris Valloton. These prophets come from outside of my tradition, and I'm swimming in unfamiliar waters here. There's lots of what he's talking about that I'm very unfamiliar with, totally different from my Christian world.

Does he give you practical examples of moving in the prophetic? No. Advice for growing in the prophetic and some grounded wisdom in using these gifts? Yes.

[Chelsea Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book is amazing. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find Christian books that aren't just an exercise in listening to someone preach and force their opinions on you. Bolz does none of that. He offers his opinion and advice but it is friendly and gentle and backed up by his experiences and scripture. This was eye opening and made the gift of prophecy seem within reach of all of us (provided of course, that we follow God's will) rather than some big mysterious thing that only the elite can access. This book is a keeper.

[Vicki Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shown Boltz is a very good author. I enjoyed the book much more than I thought I would. I don’t know a lot about modern day prophets, so I was interested in what he wrote. He did address the issue that not everyone that thinks they are using prophetic gifts actually are. There is a responsibility that comes with telling others that you have a message from God. He gives many examples, positive and negative, about people giving what they think are prophetic messages. Translating God is worth a read.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not read this. I had a physical copy but threw it away. Months ago, I found out that Shawn was data mining when he gave "prophetic words" to people.

Sadly, yesterday, I learned that there were very serious, credible allegations against him of clergy sexual abuse. The allegations are from at least a dozen men (his employees and interns) over a period of more than ten years.

Shawn wrote this book during that time. As such, Shawn has completely lost all credibility as a Christian, let alone a prophet. Run fast, run far. 1/5 stars.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very practical and easy to follow guide for growing in the prophetic. It demystifies the gift and the people that operate in it. The Lord is speaking and He invites all of humanity to hear Him. This book helps build your faith that you can hear from Him and invite others to hear from Him too. It encourages you to take risks and provides a script for stepping out. I'm so grateful for this book and recommending it to everyone who expresses the desire to hear well.

[Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best and most helpful book on prophecy and words of knowledge I have ever read. Shawn is disarming and accessible in his approach and writing style. He teaches in such a way that you come away knowing what the main focus is and how to move forward in it. Every believer who desires to know more of God's heart for them and for others needs to read this book. Let this work redefine what hearing God means and how it works itself out in every day life.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unusual and essential reading

Shawn Bolz writes in a clear and enjoyable style, and his insights into prophetic ministry for today are excellent - from individual accountability and the need to 'track' your prophetic words and learn from your accuracy (or not) in various areas, to the many personal anecdotes he shares that demonstrate his points... really sound, really exciting! Recommended.

[Chris Helmkay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book on prophecy that focusses on the importance of loving people and sharing God‘s love to them. It emphasizes learning how to hear God for yourself and others and helping the reader to grow through simple and focussed steps. It is really a book about loving people well and growing in intimacy with the Lord. The reader is encouraged to start to reshape the world around you with God‘s love today.

[Weixuan Zhu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave a lot of basic idea of Prophtic power, I started to explore more on this direction.
Most of his example are quite powerful, also blessed. I am impressed about how God use the prophtic words to build people and connect nonbeliever to HIM. If you just newly started to speak tongues, and willing to get much intimacy relationship with God, wanting to hear him speak to you this would be a great book for you.