Book Review: Whisper

I've been thinking a bit this last week about what it means to hear God. The topic has been bantered about on various social media sites because of negative comments about VP Pence "hearing voices from Jesus" which were made on the tv show The View. Apologies were made and the Vice President didn't' seem to mind. I'm only interested in the drama because it seems there is quite a bit of confusion outside the faith community about what it means to hear from God.

​Frankly, there is quite a bit of confusion inside the church too about the ways God speaks. I've talked with plenty of worried kids and concerned adults asking if their faith was invalid because they haven't heard God speak audibly. Typically our conversations talk about how God speaks through the Bible, or through our circumstances, or silently in our consciences. Sometimes people share miraculous stories of God's intervention in their lives. 

​From now on - when this topic comes up - I'm going to tell people to read Mark Batterson's new book Whisper.  This is an easy to read, uplifting explanation of how and why to slow down to listen to God.The book is full of examples, stories and encouragement.  I listened to the audio version and as a side bar here - if I'm ever in Washington DC on a Sunday I'm going to Batterson's church to hear him preach. He's an engaging speaker. If audio books are in your arsenal of book reading options this is a great one to add to your list. 

​Our society is loud. Frenetic. Too busy. Batterson argues effectively that this may well be one of the reasons so much confusion is around hearing God speak. We don't shut up long enough to listen. Try it. God's whispers are worth the quiet.