The Power of a Whisper
I had to buy this book for two reasons. One, I've always liked Hybels. Two, I grew up in churches where "hearing from God" was kind of taboo. Honestly, it's often used as an excuse to do what we wanted to do anyway. From "God told me we should get married" to "God told me we need to break up," God is an easy one to blame. Maybe that's what it means to "take the Lord's name in vain." Anyhow, I got a copy and read on through it.
The subtitle is Hearing God. Having the Guts to Respond. I like that.
One of the quotes I like was: "Ps 46:10 'Be still and know that I am God. . . ' Reduce your speed. Stop multitasking. Lower the ambient noise of your life--and then listen for God to speak . . . Jesus wove into the fabric of his everyday life the disciplines of prayer, solitude, reflection, fasting and worship. . . . There is a God who loves you and who would gladly whisper to you words of encouragement or direction, wisdom or well-timed warning if only you would carve out the space to hear from heaven throughout the course of your day.
Hybels lists five filters to know if the voice is from God or not. Here the old Experiencing God workbook was superior I think. Anyway his filters are . . .
1. Is the prompting truly from God? This seems more like and introduction than a true filter to me.
2. Is it Scriptural?
3. Is it wise?
4. Is it in tune with your own character? This one I had some difficulty with. It seems to me that a number of Biblical characters were asked by God to do things specifically outside their character, in order to prove it was God in charge. Moses and his speaking, Gideon the weak going to war, Paul the Jew going to the gentiles, etc.
5. What do the people you most trust think about it?
As a pastor it was interesting to hear Hybels stories about how God's whispers had helped to set the direction of Willow Creek Church. He has written much about leadership, it was helpful to hear about his surrender in listening.
It got a bit long for this ADD reader, but I liked it enough to plan a future sermon series using the video set for our home bible studies later in the year. It's not an awesome 5-star Hybels book, but I liked it enough for four. Hope you like it too.
