Customer Reviews

Hearing God Through the Year (Through the Year Devotionals)

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

 

 

Last year I was given a copy of this devotional guide as a gift by some very good friends who seem to know me very well and I have been using it regularly since then. Dallas Willard's writings are a tremendous inspiration and encouragement to me. They are best read in small bites and chewed thoroughly. Jan Johnson has done a fine job of compiling the main points of Willard's book Hearing God into a devotional format that encourages just this type of reading on a very essential matter for every Christian. Reading a book about how to interact with God is not enough, no matter how good the book. The opportunity to practice is a crucial part of the learning process. Many devotional reading books jump from one one topic to another. This has much more continuity and focus. This format is ideal for the way one ought to approach such a foundational spiritual subject. Of course, it's no substitute for the original book but it's a great help in soaking in that book's ideas. It should be easy for anyone to find the time to do the short readings and exercises in this book. There is a short introduction that is helpful in getting the reader started in doing the kind of prayerful meditation and reflection that is encouraged by the book but people who aren't familiar with these practices might want to read one of Jan Johnson's other books on prayer and meditation as well. For example: When the Soul Listens: Finding Rest and Direction in Contemplative Prayer. I highly recommend this book and all of Dallas Willard's books.

This is a fantastic devotional and I would recommend it to any Christian. My only "complaint" is that they only have one passage for the weekend (Saturday/Sunday). Since I do my devotional every morning I would have liked to have a new passage to read every day. But that's not a big deal. I feel like I have learned about myself as a Christian and about my relationship with God from this book. I will definitely purchase other titles from this series in the future.

This devotional is wonderful, particularly for those who are looking for a short message for the day that is engaging enough to exercise yourself spiritually for both heart and mind.

Not only do we need to be willing to hear God in times of distress, but also in times of great joy. Dallas Willard has a great challenge for us not to be satisfied with a life which allows us to receive the "good things" of life. Willard wants us also to receive the "God things" of life. Discernment is a practice we all could work at and this call is not just for those who are attuned all the time to God (not ever going to happen), but to everyone who truly beleives.

It's just okay. It isn't deep devotionally, it is in no way anything more or less than small snippets of the book spread out on the pages and as such is less sweeping and effective than reading the book.