Can You Hear God Now addresses the specific question of whether or not Christians believe God speaks to them individually.
Many people pray, but few listen to God. Susan Roberts surveyed hundreds of people from various backgrounds, religious affiliations, genders, and ages, from twenty-four states and three foreign countries, to determine if and how they communicate with God. The survey reveals interesting trends in today’s thinking about hearing God and how God speaks in a variety of fascinating ways. Many of those surveyed even share stories about their personal interaction with God. Can You Hear God Now combines these stories with Biblical principles to encourage readers to develop their own two-way communication with God, making their spiritual lives come alive.
Susan Roberts grew up in Massachusetts, one of four children. She attended Wheaton College in Illinois, where she received a BA in English and secondary education, and later an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies including Christian Education and Communication and retired after twenty years with the Jefferson County School District as an administrative assistant. As a military wife, Sue was active in the Post Chapel programs as a board member of PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel). Susan and her husband live in Arvada, CO and attend Arvada Covenant Church.
The world is full of noise, but Susan Roberts's prayerful Can You Hear God Now? cuts through it all to find some needed holy clarity.Learning how to listen to the still small voice of God takes a helpful and faithful guide, Roberts knows. Her book draws from a survey that asked participants to describe how they heard God's voice. From the responses she draws anecdotes, combining them to showcase themes and ideas about discerning holiness amid the chaos.First focusing on preparing oneself for hearing from God, the book explores topics like finding the right relationship with God, how to spend time with the Bible, and being spiritually ready to connect to the divine. Next the text considers prayer, including handling an answer of "no" and what to do when God's voice is unclear. Everything works toward a specific consideration of discernment, including tips about what to listen for, how to listen actively, and how to connect to the Holy Spirit as a guide.The book's theories are tied to poignant personal stories that highlight what this looks like in practice, in the lives of everyday Christians who seek God's help. They are people wondering about what house to buy, how to find a lost diamond, or how to listen when God doesn't respond as expected. Reflection questions follow each chapter with reminders that human beings need to "stop and refresh."Practical and engaging, Can You Hear God Now? knows that, while God is infallible, our discernment is not. It imparts confidence that hearing God's voice is a result of preparedness and openness to hearing what God has to say.
- Jeremiah Rood, Foreword Reviews (July/August 2019)