Listening to God: Using Scripture As a Path to God's Presence

by Jan Johnson

HAS IT BEEN A WHILE SINCE GOD SPOKE TO YOU? We know that one of the primary ways God speaks to us is through His Word. But sometimes we approach Scripture with so many questions to be answered that we have difficulty hearing God above the confusion. In Listening to God, Jan Johnson introduces us to lectio divina or sacred reading-a way of reading that makes space for God to speak through the text. Lectio divina helps us move beyond asking questions about the text to listening for God's voice as we savor His Word. By arranging passages of Scripture into topics, Listening to God allows you to zero in on issues that are personally relevant. You may choose to spend anywhere from a day to a week on any given passage as you learn to listen to God. Some topics included are finding intimacy with God, having the heart of Christ, making progress in the spiritual life, and building relationships. Ideal for personal or group use, Listening to God will help you learn to hear God speak through His Word.

220 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Jan Johnson is an author (20 books), speaker, college prof and spiritual director. She lives in Simi Valley, CA.

Reviews

[Paul Dubuc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent introduction to the spiritual discipline of lectio divina (divine reading) of Scripture. The book is divided into six parts of five sessions each. Each part has a common, well chosen, theme from Scripture. The book can easily be used in groups or individually. This is a spiritual discipline that every Christian should have some experience with. Many Bible study guides encourage you to dissect Scripture to understand its meaning, intent, background, context, etc. This is important and has its place. But lectio divina helps us let God's Word study us. It lets God form our character through reading, meditation, listening, and prayer. The steps outlined for each session may seem repetitive, but this is important for practice. By the end of the book the process comes naturally.