Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God

Dallas Willard is a professor of philosophy at USC, but he's also one of Christianity's premiere authors when it comes to spiritual formation. Yet somehow, I managed to read not a single of his books all throughout seminary (purely unintentionally). I finally picked up and read Hearing God in the context of preparing to teach an adult Sunday school course, using the book as a basis. The thesis of the work, in Willard's own words, is as follows: "Hearing God's word will never make sense except when it is set within a larger life of a certain kind" (p. 211, italics original). Accordingly, the author discusses 1) what God's word actually is (hint: it's not limited to just the Bible) and 2) what kind of life we must live to hear and rightly show more discern God's voice in our life (viz., an active life of faith that submits itself to God). These two themes are further broken down by the various chapters, of which Willard gives a basic framework in the preface (p. 13). I highly recommend referring back to this framework at the beginning of each chapter--things will make much more sense this way. Similarly, the book ends with "a formula for living with God's voice" that ties up the book's contents into a neat and tidy three-page bow. (Note: Even though he ends with a "formula," the book itself is in no way formulaic.)

I appreciated much about this book. Willard's manner of writing is clear and concise, not sacrificing anything intellectually, yet at the same conversational and easy-to-read. In addition, like a good speech, the book tells you what it's going to talk about, it talks about it, and then it tells you what it talked about . This layout makes understanding such a potentially nebulous concept much easier. Willard's theology is also well-informed, well within the evangelical framework, and, of course, biblically based. And as I sit here, I can honestly say that I can't find anything wrong with the book. There were so many good nuggets that the only problem I can see with this work is trying to narrow down the material for teaching it in class!

In sum, if you're looking for a solid, well-written book on understanding divine guidance, stop looking--just get Hearing God. show less

Having been a Christian for almost 30 years, I can tell you that the one thing all Christians want most, and yet struggle with the most, is hearing God. As our world grows increasingly loud and we are bombarded with messages, lies mostly, it is nearly impossible to find the inner stillness and clarity of mind and heart required to know God’s will.
Willard’s work tells us how. And it is both easier and harder than one thinks. Easier, because it is open to all who want it. Harder, but it requires dedication, patience, and above all, an absolute sacrifice of all we are and want and have. In short, it requires a radical shift, a stepping out of the world and into the Kingdom of God.
Being that Willard is a professor of philosophy, his show more writing is more complex and verbose that your average Christian prose. But it is well worth any effort put forth for the truth and understanding, the life-changing knowledge that one can learn. His book is not for the faint of heart. It requires careful and thoughtful study.
Willard’s general premise is this: Hearing God comes from Knowing God. We know God the way we know anyone – through daily interactions, mostly, through study of the Bible. The more we know God, the more we will recognize His voice, however it reaches us – through the Bible, through preachers, teachers, authors, and friends, and through the still, small, voice of the Holy Spirit. This of course is something all Christians know intellectual, but most never put into daily practice.
I highly recommend Willard’s book for any Christian who wishes to have their life and relationship with God challenge. If you read this with an open heart and mind, you cannot fail to grow.
“Spiritual People are not those who engage in Spiritual Practices; they are those who draw their life from a conversational relationship with God.” (pg. 288) show less

Among the books I've read about Christianity, this was one of the most challenging. None of it really went down easily, and it prompted some serious introspection. This one will be on my mind for a long time.

In "Hearing God", Dallas Willard does a careful and detailed examination of the doctrine of hearing God's voice in every day life. First he examines whether this is a right and natural thing for a Christian to expect. He reviews various Biblical examples of listening to and hearing God. Dr. Willard documents why this is a right and natural experience for every Christian. He closes his book with practical steps to hearing God and what to do when God doesn't answer. He also explains that hearing God is NOT the most important thing for Christians and shows that faith, hope, and love are more important.

listened to this on audio but had to occasionally refer to a copy or table of contents to orient myself. Lots of great stuff here, justly a classic. Parts of this felt overlong, but that may have been partly the audio format.

A little too esoteric in his writing style... good subject matter but not very accessible for the typical layperson.

This book along with John Eldridge's "Walking with God" have become the focus of my spiritual growth at this time in my life. Talking with and Hearing God have become core parts of my daily walk.