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Hearing God: Eliminate Myths. Encounter Meaning.
Identify and deconstruct the most common myths about how God communicates--and then learn to utilize clear tools to accurately decipher and follow the voice of God in your life.
So many people wish that God would audibly weigh in on life's greatest questions of calling, meaning, and purpose. What's crazy is that God is weighing in on those questions. We just haven't learned to listen. Nathan Finochio believes that God is constantly communicating with this world he's created. We simply aren't following the right advice when it comes to hearing what he has to say. Through biblical teaching and true life stories, Hearing God empowers and enables readers to separate fact from fiction, myth from meaning, and truly understand what God is saying to them about big decisions and daily living.
So many people wish that God would audibly weigh in on life's greatest questions of calling, meaning, and purpose. What's crazy is that God is weighing in on those questions. We just haven't learned to listen. Nathan Finochio believes that God is constantly communicating with this world he's created. We simply aren't following the right advice when it comes to hearing what he has to say. Through biblical teaching and true life stories, Hearing God empowers and enables readers to separate fact from fiction, myth from meaning, and truly understand what God is saying to them about big decisions and daily living.
224 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2019
104 people are currently reading
619 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
January 7, 2025
This was an easy read, I quite enjoyed. Nathan has a humorous way of storytelling and takes out a lot of the hocus pocus regarding hearing the voice of God.
Would definitely recommend for anyone looking to build their first foundations in this topic, as it touches on a number of key topics, without getting lost in the fine details.
Would definitely recommend for anyone looking to build their first foundations in this topic, as it touches on a number of key topics, without getting lost in the fine details.
May 22, 2019
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Multnomah Waterbrook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]
When I was reading this book, I was admittedly not entirely sure what the author was getting after. Hearing God is a tricky matter, and a great deal can be considered as part of it. For example, one can think of hearing God as an issue of mystical experiences, and the author does talk about the mysticism of the supposed Toronto blessing. But this is not a book about mysticism or about climbing above the timberline to see God through the beauties of nature (although there is some discussion about the importance of creation). At its heart, this is a book about communication, namely the author's discussion of the ways that God attempts to communicate to mankind. There are a lot of ways that God can do this, and the author manages to cover quite a few of them with, as one would expect, lots of personal examples. Some of the examples, including the author's admission of some serious failings in college, certainly intrigued me, and will likely intrigue a great many other readers as well.
This book is about 200 pages long and is divided into ten chapters. The author, who is a teaching pastor at Hillsong NYC, begins with an introduction that discusses the fears people may have about not being as spiritual as others. After that the author discusses the myth of easy conversation (1) with examples from his own marriage, answers the question of why God communicates with us in the first place (2), and then discusses the desperation that people have for answers about the future (3). There is a discussion of the way God communicates through the Bible (4), the importance of fellowship for Christians (5), the vital importance of prophecy (6), as well as the importance of respecting Creation (7). There is a thoughtful discussion by the author of the way that God can communicate through the less than ideal circumstances we may be dealing with (8), as well as the importance of faith (9), and a recognition that God is far from boring (10). The author then gives his conclusion, after which there are response areas that deal with the material from each chapter as well as acknowledgements and notes. Each chapter includes a reminder about a particular way that God speaks to us.
Does this book actually help people hear God better? It very well could. If we can be sensitive enough to hear God in our frustrations and our longings, hear Him when we read His word and seek to live it, hear Him in reflections on His Creation, and through the encouragement and reproof we receive from others, then we will have gone a long way to hearing God enough to feel ourselves involved in a relationship with Him. Given the way that people deeply want to hear God, it is worthwhile to know what ways we can hear Him, whether it is through answered prayers, or the right Spirit-guided flashes of insight we may receive from time to time, or even in a peaceful night's sleep and friendly conversation with friends, family, and other loved ones. It is easy to wonder what it is that the author faced in his past--he seems a bit hard on those who would avoid keeping Halloween, viewing it as superstition rather than obedience, and the author appears not to well understand the relationship between the believer and the law, but on the narrow subject of listening to God, the author has some wise advice, that perhaps he can better learn to follow when it comes to reading the Bible with the aim of following its commandments, laws, and precepts.
When I was reading this book, I was admittedly not entirely sure what the author was getting after. Hearing God is a tricky matter, and a great deal can be considered as part of it. For example, one can think of hearing God as an issue of mystical experiences, and the author does talk about the mysticism of the supposed Toronto blessing. But this is not a book about mysticism or about climbing above the timberline to see God through the beauties of nature (although there is some discussion about the importance of creation). At its heart, this is a book about communication, namely the author's discussion of the ways that God attempts to communicate to mankind. There are a lot of ways that God can do this, and the author manages to cover quite a few of them with, as one would expect, lots of personal examples. Some of the examples, including the author's admission of some serious failings in college, certainly intrigued me, and will likely intrigue a great many other readers as well.
This book is about 200 pages long and is divided into ten chapters. The author, who is a teaching pastor at Hillsong NYC, begins with an introduction that discusses the fears people may have about not being as spiritual as others. After that the author discusses the myth of easy conversation (1) with examples from his own marriage, answers the question of why God communicates with us in the first place (2), and then discusses the desperation that people have for answers about the future (3). There is a discussion of the way God communicates through the Bible (4), the importance of fellowship for Christians (5), the vital importance of prophecy (6), as well as the importance of respecting Creation (7). There is a thoughtful discussion by the author of the way that God can communicate through the less than ideal circumstances we may be dealing with (8), as well as the importance of faith (9), and a recognition that God is far from boring (10). The author then gives his conclusion, after which there are response areas that deal with the material from each chapter as well as acknowledgements and notes. Each chapter includes a reminder about a particular way that God speaks to us.
Does this book actually help people hear God better? It very well could. If we can be sensitive enough to hear God in our frustrations and our longings, hear Him when we read His word and seek to live it, hear Him in reflections on His Creation, and through the encouragement and reproof we receive from others, then we will have gone a long way to hearing God enough to feel ourselves involved in a relationship with Him. Given the way that people deeply want to hear God, it is worthwhile to know what ways we can hear Him, whether it is through answered prayers, or the right Spirit-guided flashes of insight we may receive from time to time, or even in a peaceful night's sleep and friendly conversation with friends, family, and other loved ones. It is easy to wonder what it is that the author faced in his past--he seems a bit hard on those who would avoid keeping Halloween, viewing it as superstition rather than obedience, and the author appears not to well understand the relationship between the believer and the law, but on the narrow subject of listening to God, the author has some wise advice, that perhaps he can better learn to follow when it comes to reading the Bible with the aim of following its commandments, laws, and precepts.
June 3, 2019
Finochio had me at his opening sentence. “Have you ever felt like you're just not as 'spiritual' as everyone else?” (1) This is a book for people who hear others say, “God told me...” yet struggle with hearing from God themselves.
I really appreciate Finochio's comment, “God isn't the problem when it comes to hearing Him; we are.” (12) Ouch. It is our responsibility to get to that place where we hear God with confidence. That requires growth and this book helps us on that path.
I appreciate clarifying why God speaks to us. He wants to see us transformed into the image of Jesus, not find a convenient parking spot. I was really struck by Finochio's teaching on Matt. 16:22-23. Jesus said Peter's words were as those of the devil. “Why? Because they were a distraction.” (57) We must identify our distractions, keeping us from hearing God (email, entertainment, etc.) We must learn to be patient (and quiet) in a noisy world.
There is one area where I take issue with Finochio and many in the charismatic realm. That area is prophecy. He says prophecy in the New Testament era is different than that in the Old Testament time. (113) The serious consequences for those giving false prophecy in the OT no longer apply. Finochio gives no Scripture basis for this view of change in the biblical responsibility with respect to prophecy. I've seen too many false predictions based on blood moons or a tree planted by the twin towers in New York. Saying something like, “God is telling us...” should make us quake in our boots.
Except for that one area where I disagree with Finochio, I really liked this book. I like him placing the responsibility on us to grow to where we can hear God clearly. I like his sense of humor. I like his practical suggestions he has included at the end of the book.
Food for thought: “God speaks to us in ways we would never expect. Only humility lets us hear Him when He does.” (196)
I received an ARC from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review. The quotes in my review may have changed in the final edition of the book.
I really appreciate Finochio's comment, “God isn't the problem when it comes to hearing Him; we are.” (12) Ouch. It is our responsibility to get to that place where we hear God with confidence. That requires growth and this book helps us on that path.
I appreciate clarifying why God speaks to us. He wants to see us transformed into the image of Jesus, not find a convenient parking spot. I was really struck by Finochio's teaching on Matt. 16:22-23. Jesus said Peter's words were as those of the devil. “Why? Because they were a distraction.” (57) We must identify our distractions, keeping us from hearing God (email, entertainment, etc.) We must learn to be patient (and quiet) in a noisy world.
There is one area where I take issue with Finochio and many in the charismatic realm. That area is prophecy. He says prophecy in the New Testament era is different than that in the Old Testament time. (113) The serious consequences for those giving false prophecy in the OT no longer apply. Finochio gives no Scripture basis for this view of change in the biblical responsibility with respect to prophecy. I've seen too many false predictions based on blood moons or a tree planted by the twin towers in New York. Saying something like, “God is telling us...” should make us quake in our boots.
Except for that one area where I disagree with Finochio, I really liked this book. I like him placing the responsibility on us to grow to where we can hear God clearly. I like his sense of humor. I like his practical suggestions he has included at the end of the book.
Food for thought: “God speaks to us in ways we would never expect. Only humility lets us hear Him when He does.” (196)
I received an ARC from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review. The quotes in my review may have changed in the final edition of the book.
September 8, 2025
one time i was going on dates with a guy who after a few weeks told me “I’ve been praying about this relationship and I think God is telling me that you’re not the one for me” so I asked him “I’m just curious what that looked like for you? Like what was that prayer process like?” and he was quiet for an uncomfortable amount of time and then said “I just made that up, I’m just not attracted to you and I didn’t want you to feel bad about that” and I said “?????? so you were gonna blame that on God???”
anywho, grateful for finnochio’s pushback on postmodernism and his emphasis on hearing from God always being aligned with scripture! hearing from God isn’t weird, people are!
anywho, grateful for finnochio’s pushback on postmodernism and his emphasis on hearing from God always being aligned with scripture! hearing from God isn’t weird, people are!
January 25, 2022
Accessible and practical. A book I would return to again in the future.
July 9, 2021
Great Book
Nathan Finichio is refreshing yet deep, funny yet thoughtful. This book is like sitting down for a chat with him and picking his brain on hearing God. He admits he doesn’t have all the answers but wants to help point the reader to Jesus and His Word. If you have questions or doubts about hearing God’s voice… this is a great place to start.
Nathan Finichio is refreshing yet deep, funny yet thoughtful. This book is like sitting down for a chat with him and picking his brain on hearing God. He admits he doesn’t have all the answers but wants to help point the reader to Jesus and His Word. If you have questions or doubts about hearing God’s voice… this is a great place to start.
July 2, 2019
The application this book provides is awesome.
July 7, 2020
It's been a while since I read this book, but I realized that I never wrote the promised review for it..oops.
I recall that I fairly enjoyed Nathan Finochio's communication through this book, Hearing God. It was a simple yet direct way of breaking down popular myths about our Creator and discovering a more profound meaning to our existence. The way this book is written and the frankness that the author uses at times struck me as entertaining so I really enjoyed reading it.
I received this book from the author/publisher for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
I recall that I fairly enjoyed Nathan Finochio's communication through this book, Hearing God. It was a simple yet direct way of breaking down popular myths about our Creator and discovering a more profound meaning to our existence. The way this book is written and the frankness that the author uses at times struck me as entertaining so I really enjoyed reading it.
I received this book from the author/publisher for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
June 12, 2019
Awesome Premise. Flawed Execution. In this book, Finochio makes several excellent points, and it is a book genuinely worthy of reading. But yet again we get a book from a Christian pastor that decries the practice of "proof texting" - citing an out of context verse from the Bible in support of whatever claim the person is making at the time - ... while doing it in seemingly nearly every paragraph of the 200 pages of text of this book. We see, yet again, the modern Christian phenomenon of worshiping the Bible as God's Word, despite the very book itself (in John 1:1) declaring that *Jesus Christ* is God's Word. And indeed, Finochio uses some genuinely impressive mental gymnastics somewhat frequently to claim that both the Bible and Jesus Christ are God's Word at the same time. For the Christian mainstream in America, this book will probably go over quite well and hell, he does make good points throughout the book even in his flawed execution, so I'll recommend it to that crowd at least. It simply could have been so much more and so much stronger, and is disappointing in not being so.
March 16, 2021
The title of this book, Hearing God: Eliminate Myths, Encounter Meaning, sounded promising. I had difficulty from the beginning where he used a stereotypical example of listening to a spouse. Plus the writing was not the easiest to follow since there were items mentioned that did not see to fit the reading.
I had too many disagreements with the writing in this book to give it a very high rating. I do not enjoy giving medium to poor reviews but in this case, I cannot see giving it any more than 3 stars and that is generous.
I was given this book by Waterbrook Publishing in exchange for my honest review. The opinions stated are my own.
February 17, 2020
The last half of this book gripped me and was exactly what I needed to hear, and very biblically sound. I particularly recommend Chapter 9 to every believer, where he discusses what faith is and isn’t, and answers the question a lot of believers have about why faith isn’t “working” to literally move mountains or walk on water. Chapter 8 was also a huge eye opener for me in this season of life.
I give 4 stars only because there were a few times I felt there should have been more scripture to back up what Finochio was saying.
Overall, I found this to have very sound doctrine (even for someone with a Baptist background), yet still challenging to my faith. After reading Hearing God, I feel encouraged, affirmed, and grown in ways I did not expect.
I give 4 stars only because there were a few times I felt there should have been more scripture to back up what Finochio was saying.
Overall, I found this to have very sound doctrine (even for someone with a Baptist background), yet still challenging to my faith. After reading Hearing God, I feel encouraged, affirmed, and grown in ways I did not expect.
July 9, 2019
HEARING GOD is written by the teaching pastor at Hillsong in NYC and the book is conversationally written. We all long to hear from God, to have clear direction and leading, but how do we get it?
Pastor Finochio makes several good points and you might glean something from reading. Such as, God does speak from a variety of venues. He is the God of burning bushes and fiery clouds after all. But scripture is taken out of context and twisted to fit the point that Finochio is trying to make. As such, I cannot claim it is altogether biblically sound but it should appeal to mainstream believers are possibly are not as conservative in their beliefs. Whatever works, you know?
It is worth reading though and you will gleam some truths.
I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.
Pastor Finochio makes several good points and you might glean something from reading. Such as, God does speak from a variety of venues. He is the God of burning bushes and fiery clouds after all. But scripture is taken out of context and twisted to fit the point that Finochio is trying to make. As such, I cannot claim it is altogether biblically sound but it should appeal to mainstream believers are possibly are not as conservative in their beliefs. Whatever works, you know?
It is worth reading though and you will gleam some truths.
I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.
August 1, 2019
Hillsong New York Teaching Pastor Nathan Finochio helps you know that you heard God. Have you ever second guessed yourself when you heard God? How about all the wrong assumptions you have unknowingly learned about hearing God. Then this book is for you!! Nathan covers so much in this book it’s just that good.
Have you ever wanted God to answer all your questions? He can and does!
Have you ever wanted God to answer all your questions? He can and does!
September 13, 2019
Very accessible book with a lot of good points on how we can open ourselves up to guidance from God and some suggestions of how to apply this to our every day life in the end notes. Nathan especially caught my attention by elaborating on the difference between following the general will of God for our lives vs. following the specific will of God.
"Even if you never have a prophetic word in your life, just do what you know the Bible tell you to do, work hard, develop your skills, and stay in community, and you'll absolutely be doing God's specific will without ever having necessarily 'heard' it."
However, at the end of the day Nathan focuses more on how to hear God through circumstances and through other people than on actually hearing His voice. Which definitely serves a purpose as well, but wasn't what I was looking for. As a practical guide of how to start hearing God's voice, I'd recommend Mark Virkler's book 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice instead.
"Even if you never have a prophetic word in your life, just do what you know the Bible tell you to do, work hard, develop your skills, and stay in community, and you'll absolutely be doing God's specific will without ever having necessarily 'heard' it."
However, at the end of the day Nathan focuses more on how to hear God through circumstances and through other people than on actually hearing His voice. Which definitely serves a purpose as well, but wasn't what I was looking for. As a practical guide of how to start hearing God's voice, I'd recommend Mark Virkler's book 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice instead.
June 24, 2019
Highly recommend.
God wants to speak to me and through me.
God wants to speak to me and through me.
March 15, 2024
Great resource. Very balanced. Very practical. Very humorous. Love this guy.
July 9, 2019
Wonderful & inspiring read. Practical advice/suggestions along with numerous references to the Gospel. All told in a very entertaining & pragmatic fashion with a delightful sense of humour.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 12, 2025
Uno de los libros que más he disfrutado últimamente.
Finocchio expresa de manera clara y concisa muchas realidades espirituales que a veces sobre complicamos, desconocemos o quizá hemos malentendido, sin por ello quitar de lo precioso y milagroso que es el hecho de que tengamos un Dios que ha querido desde siempre tener contacto y comunicación con su creación, y que es capaz de hacerlo de muchas maneras diferentes, para que podamos entenderle y conocerle.
Me gustó muchísimo como están separados los capítulos, y personalmente, cada uno fue hablando a mi vida directamente a medida que los fui descubriendo y fueron retándome, alentándome y dándome una nueva visión sobre cómo escuchar a Dios.
Desde que leí el primer capítulo (o lo retomé después de una pequeña pausa) supe que quería volver a releerlo y, probablemente, leer algo más de Finocchio, ya que disfruté muchísimo su forma de escribir y como iba desgranando cada cosa poco a poco.
Finocchio expresa de manera clara y concisa muchas realidades espirituales que a veces sobre complicamos, desconocemos o quizá hemos malentendido, sin por ello quitar de lo precioso y milagroso que es el hecho de que tengamos un Dios que ha querido desde siempre tener contacto y comunicación con su creación, y que es capaz de hacerlo de muchas maneras diferentes, para que podamos entenderle y conocerle.
Me gustó muchísimo como están separados los capítulos, y personalmente, cada uno fue hablando a mi vida directamente a medida que los fui descubriendo y fueron retándome, alentándome y dándome una nueva visión sobre cómo escuchar a Dios.
Desde que leí el primer capítulo (o lo retomé después de una pequeña pausa) supe que quería volver a releerlo y, probablemente, leer algo más de Finocchio, ya que disfruté muchísimo su forma de escribir y como iba desgranando cada cosa poco a poco.
July 2, 2021
Nathan communicates in an engaging, relevant and simple way whilst also delivering simple yet powerful and important truths about hearing God. This is a good book for anyone wanting to 'calibrate' themselves when it comes to the questions 'how does God speak?' or 'how can i hear from God?'
I think this is a great resource for anyone wanting to form a solid basis of approach to the topic and would be almost essential reading for any new believer.
I think this is a great resource for anyone wanting to form a solid basis of approach to the topic and would be almost essential reading for any new believer.
January 21, 2024
helped me so much as a new believer. finochio is the goat.
November 9, 2019
I remember, as a young Christian, thinking often about how to hear God, how to know His will for me and for my life, and how to not only live with Him on a day-to-day basis but also in the big decisions of my life, like career changes and dating relationships (and later, marriage). I believe that, over time, I have learned better how God moves in our lives, and I think I understand Him better. But, I also know that I can always learn!
That's why I was so excited to read and review Nathan Finochio's Hearing God: Eliminate Myths. Encounter Meaning. I believe that everyone who is interested in God, at some level, wants to know how to hear His voice. To understand what He is saying. (And also what He is not saying!) Nathan Finochio is a Teaching Pastor at Hillsong NYC (as well as a worship pastor) and he has spent enough time thinking about and experiencing this to write a book about it. And he has organized these thoughts in an interesting way that turns our preconceived notions about God and His communication styles on their ear!
Each chapter is titled "The Myth of ....." and then, the ellipsis is filled in with some sort of wrong expectation we might hold about God communicating. For example: "...Easy Conversation." or "...Don't Worry! Nothing Weird Will Happen!" or "...the Boring God." So you know right away, Finochio is a writer with a fantastic sense of humor who is not going to be holier-than-thou, but who'll explain some us-to-God relationship issues in a plain but fun way. He did exactly that. And he starts with the most basic premise: if we're not hearing God, maybe we need to change the way we listen to Him. These myths that Finochio covers in each chapter might just be the things, or the ways of thinking, that are keeping us from truly hearing Him.
Hearing God: Eliminate Myths. Encounter Meaning. is a book that would be greatly effective used in a variety of ways: in a small group with weekly reading and discussion; personal devotional reading (or, by yourself on your own); or in a family devotional time. We used this book in my family as a read-aloud between myself and my teen son. The tone, and the important material covered, made it a perfect teen-mom devotional activity.
Here are some of our favorite ideas from the book: 1. We don't live alone, we live in an imperfect community, and those imperfect people (spoiler: just like us) will speak into our lives. 2. The Bible and the Holy Spirit are not exclusive of one another! 3. God's goal for us is maturity. He will use our gifts, His graces, and our own abilities/personalities as He leads us to and from places...growing us all the while. 4. Quieting my heart can help me hear Him better...especially in our loud, busy, full world. 5. And maybe my favorite: "God speaks. IF we listen, we grow. If we grow, we hear Him better next time. But...it's never too late to start listening for Him where we least expect to hear anything." (p. 194)
Whether you're a mature believer, a new believer, or someone who wouldn't classify yourself as religious or spiritual but would like to know how to hear God, Hearing God: Eliminate Myths. Encounter Meaning. will help you, open your eyes, and sharpen your senses so that you can and will hear Him. And, you'll have the opportunity to grow as well!
I received a free copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for my review. #sponsor #partner
That's why I was so excited to read and review Nathan Finochio's Hearing God: Eliminate Myths. Encounter Meaning. I believe that everyone who is interested in God, at some level, wants to know how to hear His voice. To understand what He is saying. (And also what He is not saying!) Nathan Finochio is a Teaching Pastor at Hillsong NYC (as well as a worship pastor) and he has spent enough time thinking about and experiencing this to write a book about it. And he has organized these thoughts in an interesting way that turns our preconceived notions about God and His communication styles on their ear!
Each chapter is titled "The Myth of ....." and then, the ellipsis is filled in with some sort of wrong expectation we might hold about God communicating. For example: "...Easy Conversation." or "...Don't Worry! Nothing Weird Will Happen!" or "...the Boring God." So you know right away, Finochio is a writer with a fantastic sense of humor who is not going to be holier-than-thou, but who'll explain some us-to-God relationship issues in a plain but fun way. He did exactly that. And he starts with the most basic premise: if we're not hearing God, maybe we need to change the way we listen to Him. These myths that Finochio covers in each chapter might just be the things, or the ways of thinking, that are keeping us from truly hearing Him.
Hearing God: Eliminate Myths. Encounter Meaning. is a book that would be greatly effective used in a variety of ways: in a small group with weekly reading and discussion; personal devotional reading (or, by yourself on your own); or in a family devotional time. We used this book in my family as a read-aloud between myself and my teen son. The tone, and the important material covered, made it a perfect teen-mom devotional activity.
Here are some of our favorite ideas from the book: 1. We don't live alone, we live in an imperfect community, and those imperfect people (spoiler: just like us) will speak into our lives. 2. The Bible and the Holy Spirit are not exclusive of one another! 3. God's goal for us is maturity. He will use our gifts, His graces, and our own abilities/personalities as He leads us to and from places...growing us all the while. 4. Quieting my heart can help me hear Him better...especially in our loud, busy, full world. 5. And maybe my favorite: "God speaks. IF we listen, we grow. If we grow, we hear Him better next time. But...it's never too late to start listening for Him where we least expect to hear anything." (p. 194)
Whether you're a mature believer, a new believer, or someone who wouldn't classify yourself as religious or spiritual but would like to know how to hear God, Hearing God: Eliminate Myths. Encounter Meaning. will help you, open your eyes, and sharpen your senses so that you can and will hear Him. And, you'll have the opportunity to grow as well!
I received a free copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for my review. #sponsor #partner
July 12, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book. I found myself underlining quite a bit as I read about the ten myths Nathan wants to eliminate associated with hearing God. Nathan starts the book by explaining that the difficulty in hearing God’s voice is in getting to a place where we are able to stop what holds us back, learn what can move us forward, and simply listen. Ultimately, since we can’t force God’s voice, we can learn to lean in, work to wait, be hungry for humility, and respond to what we have. Since God doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6) and is the same yesterday, today, and forever, it is us who need to mature. This doesn’t discount the fact that communication in general is hard. Conversation grows as we do. If we want to hear God, we are the ones who must change. And, there’s no shame and guilt in needing to grow.
Choose to wait for God, wait for his words and actively engage in the practical waiting-for-God process of church, community, devotion, Scripture reading, prayer, fasting, generosity, and faithfulness. One of the ways that we can listen for God is by practicing the discipline of rest and connecting to the goodness of what God speaks through His creation. When we look at something created, it speaks volumes about who made it and it invites a response. My favorite chapter (Chapter 7) talks about this in describing rest and nature. A Sabbath is the discipline of intentionally resting in God. It’s trusting that God can make up for our loss of working time while we withdraw into rest with him. God calls us into nature to remind us that He is the one in control of the whole world.
I absolutely love how Nathan talks about decision making and hearing God. He starts with talking about how the point of being a person is to grow up and be able to make decisions. “So many Christians are slamming their foreheads against the wall right now, crying out to God, Lord! Where should I live? And God is shouting back, Dude! Where do you want to live?” (p 29)
God leads us and guides us and his plan is to discover the amazing things he’s put in you to flourish. Ultimately, God’s will for every Christian is to become more like Jesus now, so that the entire world can experience God’s love.
Figuring out what God is telling us to do can be difficult, but we can discover this by understanding the talents, gifts, skills, abilities, and opportunities that God has given us. Do what God has already put inside your heart! And, to love your neighbor and quietly work with your hands is good enough! We are ultimately called to follow Jesus, not a job. “We must resist the temptation to put too much strain on our various jobs and vocations, as if they’re suppose to be these sacred, all-satisfying endeavors, rather than understanding that we have a multiplicity of callings. Things change. We grow.” (p 150)
One of my favorite points made about hearing God is this: Maybe you are desperately trying to find and hear God’s voice and you wonder if you are bad and doing it wrong. Hear this - God loves you. He’s pleased with who you are in your identity in him, he unconditionally loves you and delights in you. Ask the Holy Spirit to show your heart how you belong to the Father and how he’s working in you. This isn’t easy, because the world is noisy and full of distractions, but if we know the Scriptures, have the right godly relationships, it will be tough to not hear God.
I was given an advanced uncorrected proof of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own! - HBR
Choose to wait for God, wait for his words and actively engage in the practical waiting-for-God process of church, community, devotion, Scripture reading, prayer, fasting, generosity, and faithfulness. One of the ways that we can listen for God is by practicing the discipline of rest and connecting to the goodness of what God speaks through His creation. When we look at something created, it speaks volumes about who made it and it invites a response. My favorite chapter (Chapter 7) talks about this in describing rest and nature. A Sabbath is the discipline of intentionally resting in God. It’s trusting that God can make up for our loss of working time while we withdraw into rest with him. God calls us into nature to remind us that He is the one in control of the whole world.
I absolutely love how Nathan talks about decision making and hearing God. He starts with talking about how the point of being a person is to grow up and be able to make decisions. “So many Christians are slamming their foreheads against the wall right now, crying out to God, Lord! Where should I live? And God is shouting back, Dude! Where do you want to live?” (p 29)
God leads us and guides us and his plan is to discover the amazing things he’s put in you to flourish. Ultimately, God’s will for every Christian is to become more like Jesus now, so that the entire world can experience God’s love.
Figuring out what God is telling us to do can be difficult, but we can discover this by understanding the talents, gifts, skills, abilities, and opportunities that God has given us. Do what God has already put inside your heart! And, to love your neighbor and quietly work with your hands is good enough! We are ultimately called to follow Jesus, not a job. “We must resist the temptation to put too much strain on our various jobs and vocations, as if they’re suppose to be these sacred, all-satisfying endeavors, rather than understanding that we have a multiplicity of callings. Things change. We grow.” (p 150)
One of my favorite points made about hearing God is this: Maybe you are desperately trying to find and hear God’s voice and you wonder if you are bad and doing it wrong. Hear this - God loves you. He’s pleased with who you are in your identity in him, he unconditionally loves you and delights in you. Ask the Holy Spirit to show your heart how you belong to the Father and how he’s working in you. This isn’t easy, because the world is noisy and full of distractions, but if we know the Scriptures, have the right godly relationships, it will be tough to not hear God.
I was given an advanced uncorrected proof of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own! - HBR
June 25, 2019
Hearing God is one of my favorite books so far this year. It is a refreshing, witty, honest read from the teaching pastor at Hillsong in New York City. You will enjoy Nathan Finochio’s interesting perspectives on how we can hear God’s voice even in our fast-paced lives.
Many Christians want to hear God’s voice, but aren’t sure how to listen for it. In Hearing God, Nathan Finochio dispels 10 common myths about how we think we are hearing from God. He straightens out Christian viewpoints with warmth, enthusiasm, and joy. You will be encouraged by his perspective on how to listen for God’s voice. It’s not as hard as you think.
His fresh voice will appeal to a wide age range of readers. I’m a Gen X’er, and I loved his humor and honesty that appeals to readers in my age group. I think Baby Boomers will enjoy his wiser-than-his-years approach with a fidelity to biblical teaching. Millennials will love his personal stories and exuberant zeal.
The Holy Spirit spoke to me in several chapters of this book. I truly appreciated the insight about spiritual warfare and prophetic encouragement. Though I regularly hear God’s voice in my prayer life, I was excited to learn new, practical ways to listen for his still, small voice. I’m certain that no matter how long you have been a Christian, you will be inspired to listen to God in new ways through this book.
Favorite Quotes from Hearing God
I highlighted many interesting passages in Hearing God, and these are just a few of my favorite quotes.
“Scripture is your litmus test for all other sorts of hearing, and it creates the grid of meaning and language within you to hear and discern.”
“Somehow in our world today, the Holy Spirit and the Bible have been pitted against each other. That’s like pitting Ronald McDonald against cheeseburgers.”
“You don’t need to be the Lone Ranger Christian when you have the right people around you. It’s hearing God for dummies, it’s safe, it’s more objective, and it’s biblical.”
“When a prophetic word has been measured and people you trust have confirmed that it’s probably God speaking, treat that prophetic word like it’s God speaking! Write it down, memorize it, pray about it, thank God for it, and use it as a tool to wage war.”
“A negative attitude toward creation is exactly why many of us can’t hear God speaking through it.”
And I’m still meditating upon this gem:
“God put Adam into a deep sleep while He was creating the best possible gift for him–Eve. I tend to think God prefers this mode–when we’re settled and in a place of obedience, yielded to the processes of life, and then awake to incredible things He’s been weaving out of our very sides, undetected.”
This book has a built-in study guide for group discussion. I’m planning to use it in my small group, because it’s sure to inspire lively conversation. Whether you use it personally or with others, Hearing God will grow your faith.
I received a preview copy of this excellent book from WaterBrook.
Many Christians want to hear God’s voice, but aren’t sure how to listen for it. In Hearing God, Nathan Finochio dispels 10 common myths about how we think we are hearing from God. He straightens out Christian viewpoints with warmth, enthusiasm, and joy. You will be encouraged by his perspective on how to listen for God’s voice. It’s not as hard as you think.
His fresh voice will appeal to a wide age range of readers. I’m a Gen X’er, and I loved his humor and honesty that appeals to readers in my age group. I think Baby Boomers will enjoy his wiser-than-his-years approach with a fidelity to biblical teaching. Millennials will love his personal stories and exuberant zeal.
The Holy Spirit spoke to me in several chapters of this book. I truly appreciated the insight about spiritual warfare and prophetic encouragement. Though I regularly hear God’s voice in my prayer life, I was excited to learn new, practical ways to listen for his still, small voice. I’m certain that no matter how long you have been a Christian, you will be inspired to listen to God in new ways through this book.
Favorite Quotes from Hearing God
I highlighted many interesting passages in Hearing God, and these are just a few of my favorite quotes.
“Scripture is your litmus test for all other sorts of hearing, and it creates the grid of meaning and language within you to hear and discern.”
“Somehow in our world today, the Holy Spirit and the Bible have been pitted against each other. That’s like pitting Ronald McDonald against cheeseburgers.”
“You don’t need to be the Lone Ranger Christian when you have the right people around you. It’s hearing God for dummies, it’s safe, it’s more objective, and it’s biblical.”
“When a prophetic word has been measured and people you trust have confirmed that it’s probably God speaking, treat that prophetic word like it’s God speaking! Write it down, memorize it, pray about it, thank God for it, and use it as a tool to wage war.”
“A negative attitude toward creation is exactly why many of us can’t hear God speaking through it.”
And I’m still meditating upon this gem:
“God put Adam into a deep sleep while He was creating the best possible gift for him–Eve. I tend to think God prefers this mode–when we’re settled and in a place of obedience, yielded to the processes of life, and then awake to incredible things He’s been weaving out of our very sides, undetected.”
This book has a built-in study guide for group discussion. I’m planning to use it in my small group, because it’s sure to inspire lively conversation. Whether you use it personally or with others, Hearing God will grow your faith.
I received a preview copy of this excellent book from WaterBrook.
June 14, 2019
Hearing God, by Nathan Finochio, was a title that garnered some interest to me when I heard it was available to be reviewed. As a pastor for many decades, “how do I hear God’s voice?” or, “how do I know God’s will?” are the two most often asked questions received.
After reading the book, I was not disappointed in the author’s answering of those often-asked questions. I was not sure what to expect because both of those questions can produce some really strange answers in certain circles.
Nathan Finochio presented a well-written, balanced roadmap to hearing God’s voice covering most of the typical, expected answers. God is the God Who speaks, but the problem is we often fail to listen or reject the mouthpiece.
God has given us His Word and His other children and typically uses these tools to direct us into His will. Both are covered very well in the book and the author has a delightful writing style mixing in humor and humility.
I always like to add a few good pull-quotes to my reviews to give a flavor of the author’s style and to whet the appetite of potential readers:
• If I want to hear Him, I’m the one who must change, not Him.
• He’s in the business of abundantly giving what is truly good for us, not of satisfying our every whim.
• Our lens with which we see and effectively hear God is vital.
• We use the Scriptures to study our path, not our path to study the Scriptures.
• Knowing the Bible and having allowed the Bible to transform you are two very different things.
• Flawed and faithful go together. Always.
• Sometimes we ignore facts because the facts don’t validate our feelings.
• You don’t need to spiritualize or justify the redemptive value of your job.
As you can see by this sampling, the author is direct and insightful regarding the realities of our life and desire to hear from the Lord. Mr. Finochio does an excellent job of mixing in hard-hitting spiritual truth and abundant grace for growth throughout the book. A rare gift in our day.
I would recommend this book for anyone desiring to grow in their relationship with the Lord and in their seeking to both know and hear Him better.
The book was provided by Waterbrook Publishing in exchange for an honest review. A most satisfactory arrangement indeed.
Dr. Jeff Klick
After reading the book, I was not disappointed in the author’s answering of those often-asked questions. I was not sure what to expect because both of those questions can produce some really strange answers in certain circles.
Nathan Finochio presented a well-written, balanced roadmap to hearing God’s voice covering most of the typical, expected answers. God is the God Who speaks, but the problem is we often fail to listen or reject the mouthpiece.
God has given us His Word and His other children and typically uses these tools to direct us into His will. Both are covered very well in the book and the author has a delightful writing style mixing in humor and humility.
I always like to add a few good pull-quotes to my reviews to give a flavor of the author’s style and to whet the appetite of potential readers:
• If I want to hear Him, I’m the one who must change, not Him.
• He’s in the business of abundantly giving what is truly good for us, not of satisfying our every whim.
• Our lens with which we see and effectively hear God is vital.
• We use the Scriptures to study our path, not our path to study the Scriptures.
• Knowing the Bible and having allowed the Bible to transform you are two very different things.
• Flawed and faithful go together. Always.
• Sometimes we ignore facts because the facts don’t validate our feelings.
• You don’t need to spiritualize or justify the redemptive value of your job.
As you can see by this sampling, the author is direct and insightful regarding the realities of our life and desire to hear from the Lord. Mr. Finochio does an excellent job of mixing in hard-hitting spiritual truth and abundant grace for growth throughout the book. A rare gift in our day.
I would recommend this book for anyone desiring to grow in their relationship with the Lord and in their seeking to both know and hear Him better.
The book was provided by Waterbrook Publishing in exchange for an honest review. A most satisfactory arrangement indeed.
Dr. Jeff Klick
June 14, 2019
A practical approach to Christianity
My rating is 4.5 stars
Worship leader, pastor, and author Nathan Finochio uses a blend of everyday illustrations and Biblical teaching mixed with humor to speak to the question of how we can hear God. When I was offered the opportunity to review the book, I was curious about his approach and his theology. I am more familiar with the worship music of Hillsong than its teaching and didn't know if I should expect a more liberal or conservative viewpoint.
I really appreciated his approach. The illustrations were appropriate and enhanced the points he used to illuminate instead of overpowering them. They were practical everyday type examples that will resonate with many people. The writing style was engaging and the prose was neither too self-deprecating nor too boastful. I felt I could relate to the author, for the most part. (Not the self-centered generation stuff - of course that couldn't be me!)
While the author's worldview is a charismatic, there was little, if anything, here to make a more conservative believer uncomfortable. Yet I would challenge all believers to read the book with an attitude of learning and considering its message.
I loved the emphasis on the importance of comparing what you think the Lord is saying to you with what Scripture teaches. God never contradicts Himself.
Spiritually mature Christians could benefit from this book as a great reminder of the things we should know already and could also learn, like I did, some new things along the way. Newer Christians will find this to be very helpful in learning the basics of Christian living. Despite the title, I would consider this book much more about walking with God daily rather than simply teaching us to hear God's voice. Yet as you will discover in your reading, living a life of walking in the Spirit is a huge component of hearing God.
Read my full review at at Among the Reads
My rating is 4.5 stars
Worship leader, pastor, and author Nathan Finochio uses a blend of everyday illustrations and Biblical teaching mixed with humor to speak to the question of how we can hear God. When I was offered the opportunity to review the book, I was curious about his approach and his theology. I am more familiar with the worship music of Hillsong than its teaching and didn't know if I should expect a more liberal or conservative viewpoint.
I really appreciated his approach. The illustrations were appropriate and enhanced the points he used to illuminate instead of overpowering them. They were practical everyday type examples that will resonate with many people. The writing style was engaging and the prose was neither too self-deprecating nor too boastful. I felt I could relate to the author, for the most part. (Not the self-centered generation stuff - of course that couldn't be me!)
While the author's worldview is a charismatic, there was little, if anything, here to make a more conservative believer uncomfortable. Yet I would challenge all believers to read the book with an attitude of learning and considering its message.
I loved the emphasis on the importance of comparing what you think the Lord is saying to you with what Scripture teaches. God never contradicts Himself.
Spiritually mature Christians could benefit from this book as a great reminder of the things we should know already and could also learn, like I did, some new things along the way. Newer Christians will find this to be very helpful in learning the basics of Christian living. Despite the title, I would consider this book much more about walking with God daily rather than simply teaching us to hear God's voice. Yet as you will discover in your reading, living a life of walking in the Spirit is a huge component of hearing God.
Read my full review at at Among the Reads
June 21, 2019
Hearing God
By Nathan Finochio
A great read. One of my top 3 books on my 2019 reading list.
Hearing God will stretch your understanding of how God speaks and how you hear Him speak in your life.
Nathan states, “You’re responsible for how you hear God in your unique circumstances. And this is a gift”
If I had to pick a few statements as a standout statements, they would be these three:
“Understanding the Bible ends when you think you’re not a student anymore - when you’ve stopped asking questions of the text and others. You don’t need a seminary degree to find the right interpretation of Scripture; you just need a humble and hungry heart that’s willing to ask questions from anyone who knows more than you do.”
“We typically dishonor people because we think we’re smarter or better than the are. When we don’t value them, it leads to all kinds of dishonoring behaviors. But if we dishonor others, we’ll almost never hear God’s voice because we’ve put ourselves at the center of our universe.”
“The door that looks so good could be the worst opportunity ever, but because we’re so antsy in the ole pantsy, we bolt! We give no time to assessing why we’re where we are in the present, and we don’t engage in a process of submitting opportunities to others in our lives who aren’t emotionally drunk on the possibility of what’s next.”
Reading Hearing God will create a hunger in the reader to develop the discipline of Hearing God. This book will also stretch you as you become open to the idea of hearing God speak in often unusual or unexpected circumstances
Another of my personal highlights in Hearing God is when Nathan said, “God speaks through opportunities. But here’s the trick: not all opportunities are from God, even though He uses them as confirmation in our lives.”
I enjoyed the material presented. It is well written and obviously Nathan’s life message.
I highly recommend Hearing God. It is a book for seasoned believers as well as new believer’s just getting started in their journey of walking with God.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
By Nathan Finochio
A great read. One of my top 3 books on my 2019 reading list.
Hearing God will stretch your understanding of how God speaks and how you hear Him speak in your life.
Nathan states, “You’re responsible for how you hear God in your unique circumstances. And this is a gift”
If I had to pick a few statements as a standout statements, they would be these three:
“Understanding the Bible ends when you think you’re not a student anymore - when you’ve stopped asking questions of the text and others. You don’t need a seminary degree to find the right interpretation of Scripture; you just need a humble and hungry heart that’s willing to ask questions from anyone who knows more than you do.”
“We typically dishonor people because we think we’re smarter or better than the are. When we don’t value them, it leads to all kinds of dishonoring behaviors. But if we dishonor others, we’ll almost never hear God’s voice because we’ve put ourselves at the center of our universe.”
“The door that looks so good could be the worst opportunity ever, but because we’re so antsy in the ole pantsy, we bolt! We give no time to assessing why we’re where we are in the present, and we don’t engage in a process of submitting opportunities to others in our lives who aren’t emotionally drunk on the possibility of what’s next.”
Reading Hearing God will create a hunger in the reader to develop the discipline of Hearing God. This book will also stretch you as you become open to the idea of hearing God speak in often unusual or unexpected circumstances
Another of my personal highlights in Hearing God is when Nathan said, “God speaks through opportunities. But here’s the trick: not all opportunities are from God, even though He uses them as confirmation in our lives.”
I enjoyed the material presented. It is well written and obviously Nathan’s life message.
I highly recommend Hearing God. It is a book for seasoned believers as well as new believer’s just getting started in their journey of walking with God.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
July 10, 2019
Hearing God by author Nathan Finochio is a compelling Christian Living Book. Finochio is the teaching pastor at Hillsong in New York City. He has written a refreshing, relevant, easy to understand book that everyone would benefit from reading. Regardless if you are a new fledging Christian or seasoned older one, you will glean something from this exceptional book.
I was impressed with the author’s style of writing. It is witty, caring, helpful, and flows evenly. After reading the very first sentence, (“Have you ever felt like you're just not as 'spiritual' as everyone else?”) I knew I was going to read the entire book.
Hearing from God should be number one priority in our lives. Unfortunately many miss His voice completely or perhaps just do not know how to hear it. Finochio discusses ten of the common errors about how we think we hear God. In this book he navigates Christians with transparency, ease, and kindness. This book is uplifting and not berating at all. It is written from a standpoint of love and wanting to help. It will definitely strengthen every reader’s faith.
The author plainly states, “God isn't the problem when it comes to hearing Him; we are.” That is true. He gives suggestions on how to tune other things out and God in. Scripture is referenced, ideas are shared, and inspiration is abundant. This is a wonderful book to keep on hand and to share. There was one section that did not align with what I was taught and believe. Other than that, I loved everything about it.
I highly recommend this inspiring book. It would be nice to use as a group study because it has a guide for group discussion. It is perfect for the individual that wants to delve deeper into hearing from Abba. I rated it 5 out of 5 stars.
I received an copy from the publisher but was not required to write a review. These are my own honest thoughts.
I was impressed with the author’s style of writing. It is witty, caring, helpful, and flows evenly. After reading the very first sentence, (“Have you ever felt like you're just not as 'spiritual' as everyone else?”) I knew I was going to read the entire book.
Hearing from God should be number one priority in our lives. Unfortunately many miss His voice completely or perhaps just do not know how to hear it. Finochio discusses ten of the common errors about how we think we hear God. In this book he navigates Christians with transparency, ease, and kindness. This book is uplifting and not berating at all. It is written from a standpoint of love and wanting to help. It will definitely strengthen every reader’s faith.
The author plainly states, “God isn't the problem when it comes to hearing Him; we are.” That is true. He gives suggestions on how to tune other things out and God in. Scripture is referenced, ideas are shared, and inspiration is abundant. This is a wonderful book to keep on hand and to share. There was one section that did not align with what I was taught and believe. Other than that, I loved everything about it.
I highly recommend this inspiring book. It would be nice to use as a group study because it has a guide for group discussion. It is perfect for the individual that wants to delve deeper into hearing from Abba. I rated it 5 out of 5 stars.
I received an copy from the publisher but was not required to write a review. These are my own honest thoughts.
October 17, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Finochio has such an engaging way of writing and connecting with his audience. He breaks down myths and concepts so that readers can identify what exactly they believe and what parts are correct and what parts are wrong. He oftentimes tells engaging stories to illustrate his points, and makes complex theological concepts understandable even to those completely new to Christianity. I also loved his use of sarcasm - it made him so relatable and it made me laugh several times throughout the book. Overall, his way of writing calls readers out on the myths that they might believe about hearing God while humbly coming alongside the reader and acknowledging that it can sometimes be challenging to do everything that he is writing about. I'm not sure that I agree with Finochio's theology 100%, but all of his arguments were thoroughly explained and biblically based, so I can't complain. Between his writing style and message, this book just really resonated with me.
My one complaint about this book is that sometimes he would over-explain concepts and get so lost in the story he was telling that he would go on for a bit longer than was absolutely necessary. While it helped make the book enjoyable to read, there were a couple of times that I was just ready to move on to the theology behind the stories instead of continuing on with the stories themselves.
Overall, this book helped to clarify for me how I should approach listening to God. Finochio does a wonderful job summarizing his points into applicable actions, and I really appreciated the simplicity that he brings to the discussion on hearing God and listening to his will for your life.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
My one complaint about this book is that sometimes he would over-explain concepts and get so lost in the story he was telling that he would go on for a bit longer than was absolutely necessary. While it helped make the book enjoyable to read, there were a couple of times that I was just ready to move on to the theology behind the stories instead of continuing on with the stories themselves.
Overall, this book helped to clarify for me how I should approach listening to God. Finochio does a wonderful job summarizing his points into applicable actions, and I really appreciated the simplicity that he brings to the discussion on hearing God and listening to his will for your life.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
May 18, 2022
Many of us have confusing ideas regarding what it means to hear from God. We think of audible voices or outlandish experiences. We think we’ll hear Him as obviously as if fireworks had been set off and doubts will not exist when He speaks.
We all know what really happens though: We doubt, we hear subtle things we aren’t sure are God. Meanwhile, another Christian seems to have those fireworks encounters and we feel like something must be wrong with us. Perhaps we just aren't as spiritual as the people around us.
Hearing God is a book that will debunk these lies and more. This book helps combat the "myths" we have about hearing God and His movement in our lives. It will even mention those super spiritual friends whose relationship with God makes you feel like you must be a failure in yours.
Humorous and down-to-earth, this book reads like a conversation in a coffee shop as the author shares about hearing God’s voice. You’ll feel as if you’ve found a friend who cares enough to simplify what it means to have conversation with God. You’ll feel as if you’ve finally found someone who wants you to discover the real reason God wants you to grow in hearing His voice, without being so serious the topic becomes boring.
This book brings us back to the simple truth of God’s Word on the subject. If we'll begin the journey personally, the truths shared in this book will cut through the myths and lies we believe about experiencing the reality of what we most long for: To hear our very Father and Creator speaking to our hearts.
(A copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.)
We all know what really happens though: We doubt, we hear subtle things we aren’t sure are God. Meanwhile, another Christian seems to have those fireworks encounters and we feel like something must be wrong with us. Perhaps we just aren't as spiritual as the people around us.
Hearing God is a book that will debunk these lies and more. This book helps combat the "myths" we have about hearing God and His movement in our lives. It will even mention those super spiritual friends whose relationship with God makes you feel like you must be a failure in yours.
Humorous and down-to-earth, this book reads like a conversation in a coffee shop as the author shares about hearing God’s voice. You’ll feel as if you’ve found a friend who cares enough to simplify what it means to have conversation with God. You’ll feel as if you’ve finally found someone who wants you to discover the real reason God wants you to grow in hearing His voice, without being so serious the topic becomes boring.
This book brings us back to the simple truth of God’s Word on the subject. If we'll begin the journey personally, the truths shared in this book will cut through the myths and lies we believe about experiencing the reality of what we most long for: To hear our very Father and Creator speaking to our hearts.
(A copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.)
June 18, 2019
Finochio has a lot of awesome things to say in "Hearing God". I love his use of Scripture throughout - absolutely necessary for a book on hearing God!
I also caught myself laughing out loud at times while reading. Finochio's writing style is enjoyable, approachable, and just dang funny at times. I truly felt ... well, more normal after reading this -- you mean I'm not the only one that struggles and asks these questions?
Perhaps my favorite paragraph: "The paradox of Christian maturity is at once an increased dependence and an increased independence. But it's not a given that we understand this. So many Christians are slamming their foreheads against the wall right now, crying out to God, 'Lord! Where should I live?' And God is shouting back, 'Dude! Where do you *want* to live?'" (ARC p. 28) What a great reminder that we can have will and an opinion. The ultimate answer of salvation is in the Bible, but as the Bible doesn't specifically give each believer a blueprint of "Hey, live in this house and do this thing and don't invest in that stock" ... we can choose. We should choose. That is fabo. The key is ... will it honor God? If so - awesome.
Finochio did make some interesting comments in the book (i.e. "The Holy Spirit is Jesus' biological father", and as another reviewer noted, that Jesus and the Bible are both equally God's word at the same time) that I'm not sure I completely agree with, but that aside, a thumb's up from me. Just requires a bit of sifting at times.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I also caught myself laughing out loud at times while reading. Finochio's writing style is enjoyable, approachable, and just dang funny at times. I truly felt ... well, more normal after reading this -- you mean I'm not the only one that struggles and asks these questions?
Perhaps my favorite paragraph: "The paradox of Christian maturity is at once an increased dependence and an increased independence. But it's not a given that we understand this. So many Christians are slamming their foreheads against the wall right now, crying out to God, 'Lord! Where should I live?' And God is shouting back, 'Dude! Where do you *want* to live?'" (ARC p. 28) What a great reminder that we can have will and an opinion. The ultimate answer of salvation is in the Bible, but as the Bible doesn't specifically give each believer a blueprint of "Hey, live in this house and do this thing and don't invest in that stock" ... we can choose. We should choose. That is fabo. The key is ... will it honor God? If so - awesome.
Finochio did make some interesting comments in the book (i.e. "The Holy Spirit is Jesus' biological father", and as another reviewer noted, that Jesus and the Bible are both equally God's word at the same time) that I'm not sure I completely agree with, but that aside, a thumb's up from me. Just requires a bit of sifting at times.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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