Hearing From God by David Stine

Stine's book is one of those rare ones that not only gives great encouragement but also includes practical suggestions for following through. Stine reminds us that God wants to communicate with us and that we must put ourselves in position to hear Him. He gives us precise suggestions, examples of how it works from his own life, and forty days of journal pages where we can follow his method and record our responses.

This is by far the best book I have read on hearing from God. I was a bit apprehensive at first. Using the scientific method to hear from God? But I was greatly impressed with what Stine has written. He is clear that hearing from God could never be reduced to an exact science. Using the approach he advocates, however, does give us a means to hear from God more clearly and then apply it to our lives.

Stine has developed a five step method based on the scientific method. It includes determining a time and place to meet with God, being still and worshiping, reading and praying (making observations, asking application questions about growth, obedience, direction, sin, promises, accountability), then listening and writing, and finally sharing and obeying. He includes great examples from his own life how he has used this method and the results that have come from it.

Stine reminds us that it takes time to establish a new habit and it takes time to develop our ability to hear God's voice. He asks for a forty day commitment of thirty minutes a day. He provides the format in the last half of the book, giving forty days of worksheets with Scripture passages and space to journal our responses.

I highly recommend this book. Is there any more important skill for a believer to develop than hearing from God? Stine has done an excellent job of explaining the philosophy of his method, giving examples of how it works, and then providing us with the materials to do it ourselves.

Don't bother with this book, however, if you are not willing to make the commitment for which he asks. Stine reminds us that there is no promise that God will respond to those who seek Him half heartedly.

Food for thought: “God's Word has sustenance that provides exactly what we need at the right time and in the right way, but we have to set aside time to seek out His message in order to find it and receive it.” (876/3596)

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

David Stine is the lead pastor of DC Metro Church. He has a master's in practical theology and a doctoral degree in leadership from Regent University. He lives in the larger DC area with his wife and their four children.

Howard Books, 320 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.