Customer Reviews

Dialogue with God

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I did what Mark Virkler told me to do in this book, such as journaling and visioning and it worked! Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that I hear the audible voice of God. I do however hear an internal voice that is gentle and kind. This is not a book just for holy hermits or fasting monks on the path enlightenment. It is also for regular people in search of God and meaning of life. I am person who has trouble with reading the Bible on a daily basis and praying for more than 10 minuets, yet God speaks to me! Read and do the exercises in this book and get ready for deep conversations with God.

I have read many "how to hear the voice of God" books,
and this is the first one that actually helped me.
And it helped a lot. This book goes through all the
ways God communicates, dreams, visions, and conversation
in prayer. I have read better stuff in the dreams/visions
category and Mark himself recommends other authors in this
category also. But in the dialog part this book beats them all,
and is the only one I have read to date that really helps.
There is a lot more out there than we realize, daily dialog
with a loving God who is your best friend is not just possible,
but is desired by all (God and us), so step into a new dimension
in your walk and read this book!

This book is one of the best books on prayer I have read. He gives 4 keys on how to hear God's voice and open a dialogue with Him involving 2-way communication. Too often we prayer at God and do not talk to God like a friend or family member. Overall this should be recommended reading for any Christian.

If followed this book will definately spur you onto a closer relationship with God. You will unquestionably start to hear His voice. The simple/straight forward pointers and lessons Mark Virkler shares with you in this publication will put you on a road you never thought possible. Enjoy!

I'd recommend any book by the Virklers! But this is my favorite. I've read many books on hearing God's voice but this was the only one that truly made sense and truly worked. The concepts taught in this book revolutionized my relationship with God. I'm sure God has always wanted to talk to me through His still small voice. Reading this book pointed me in the right direction.

As a personal conviction, my main reading material is the Word of God.

Using the Word of God as a plumbline to measure the "straightness" of the teachings in Dialogue With God, I have found it to be an excellent resource filled with UNCOMPROMISED biblical truths.

In addition, Mark Virkler outlines many points with easy to understand graphics/diagrams and helpful appendixes.

In my personal estimation, it is a book every born-again believer should read.

This book has truly been a blessing sent by God himself. Step by step the author helps the reader to achieve the close intimate contact with our Heavenly Father by teaching on hearing Him and then journalling. Very good,and scripturally sound in its teaching.

Like many others, I had read books or listened to tapes on how to hear God's voice. Mark Virkler's book, however, is the only one I found that gave practical how-to steps. It is not a book for just reading. I believe if you don't take the time to do the things the author suggests (setting aside time, journaling, listening to see what you hear, etc.) then it will probably end up being just another nice book that you've read. Practicing is essential. If you do, I sincerely believe you will hear the voice of God. For those individuals who have an analytical type mind, this book could be very helpful as well. I have done lay counseling with individuals for several years now using a method called "listening prayer". I am only a facilitator who helps people learn how to hear God for themselves. I can honestly say I have never had anyone who did not hear God's voice during a prayer session. This is not because of my counseling abilities, but because God loves to talk to His children. It has deepened my faith and made me aware of the incredible love God has for each of us.

The book is more than just a reading book--it's an applications book. There are exercises that goad your faith and urge you to hear the voice of your Creator. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and most of all, I enjoyed putting those simple steps into practice.

Mark and Patti Virkler's book, Dialogue with God: Opening the door to two-way prayer, explores the place of intuition, imagination, and journaling in the process of one's spiritual development. The Virklers, writing from a conservative and charismatic perspective, argue that Christians should be able to discern God's voice in their own hearts.

After an introductory chapter, the authors explore four keys to discerning the leadings of the Holy Spirit in the midst of daily life, giving a chapter to each key concept. First, one should become aware of spontaneous thoughts and feelings, especially when one is in times of prayer and meditation. Second, one should learn to quiet the mind through exercises such as deep breathing and meditative music. Third, one should make use of visualization techniques by imagining a scene from the Bible or making an effort to remember one's dreams. Fourth, one should keep a journal in order to keep track of these efforts and chart one's spiritual growth over time.

After these chapters, the authors offer an allegorical interpretation of the Tabernacle furniture in the Hebrew Scriptures for the purpose of focusing one's meditations. Next are two chapters on the nature of prayer and how one can be sure that she or he is hearing God's voice clearly. Chapter 9 presents excerpts from the journals of several students who have made use of the Virklers' teachings on this subject. The final chapter summarizes the contents of the previous ones and brings them together under the overarching goal of deepening one's personal relationship with God. The book has several useful appendices giving biblical references and excerpts from Christian mystics and saints throughout history who have had experience with seeing visions during prayer.

I found this book to be highly useful and instructive in the process of learning to keep myself open to the movement of the Spirit in my own spiritual life. Their advice via the four key concepts is practical and simple, which I appreciated. However, the book is not without its faults.

Ironically, my primary criticism of the book is that it does not treat Scripture seriously enough. The exegetical technique used by the authors is haphazard at best. The authors tend to make use of Scripture in quips and verses, rather than in terms of the Canon as a whole, individual books, paragraphs, or pericopes. They completely ignore questions of genre, socio-historical context, and narrative structure. Their use of the Bible seems to treat it more like a book of magic spells rather than a collection of inspired texts.

That being said, I would still recommend this book to readers as a text on personal spiritual development. I have implemented their four key concepts in my own life and have found them to be useful. I have had more success in discerning the voice of the Spirit and I plan to continue to follow some of the Virklers' advice. If one is able to bear in mind that this book is not intended as a work of exegesis, but is rather a resource for spiritual growth, then one can easily excuse some of the liberties the authors take with the biblical text itself. Sections such as the authors' treatments of the prophet Habakkuk or the allegorical interpretation of the Tabernacle furniture bear a resemblance to various monastic texts such as John Cassian's Conferences or the Philokalia of Eastern Orthodoxy. As a devotional text on Christian spirituality, I highly recommend it.