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