Enjoy the Silence: A 30-Day Experiment in Listening to God

The Robbins family does a great job reintroducing a classical (i.e. tried and true) Christian way of engaging Scripture to listen for the voice of God. I know that there are some concerned fundamentalists running websites who hate anything remotely related to the word "contemplative," but they need to get over the 16th century. This is a wonderful introduction to lectio devina for young Christians. By "young," I mostly mean 12-18 year old Christians, but it would be great for a new Christian of any biological age.

Duffy and Maggie present a great book here that can be used individually or in a group context. Go through this book with your spouse, with your youth staff, or with your youth group. In a society that is too loud, we need to turn down the Ipod, turn off the TV, and turn up the voice of God. God wants to speak to us, but it's up to us to decide whether or not we'll listen for and to him. The beauty of this book is not in the powerful words of the authors, but in the instruction and guidance provided by the authors to experience God through the truth of his word. I've found this book to be especially beneficial in helping postmodern teens to experience God while being guided by the truth of his Word.

I found this book to be very helpful in my walk with God. It made me slow down to read familiar passages which led to new and real insights. The authors do a great job of explaining and guiding the reader into "lectio divina." This book has helped me feel one with God while revealing my own heart more than any other devotional book. A great introductory devotional style read for anyone seeking to emotionally draw close to and connect with the heart of God.

The ancient meditative practice called "lectio divina" (Latin for "divine reading") is very simple and very helpful in studying scripture. The practice requires that you read a passage of scripture slowly, preferrably out loud, and then consider the words thoughtfully. After some journaling and prayer, read the same passage again, this time considering what it felt like to be there, in the event. Use all your senses and your imagination and journal on the passage. Finally, a third reading where you listen for the words or phrase that really speak to you and journal prayerfully about that consise message. This message is most likely God speaking to you personally through scripture. Studying scripture doesn't get any better than this! Before I read this book, my prayer times had become pretty one-sided, with me listing out for God all the requests and concerns I had on my heart like a "honey-do" list for my patient husband. The practice of "lectio divina" renewed in me a love for the quiet, prayerful, listening posture that I had lost in my prayer time and reminded me Bible study and prayer is supposed to be a conversation, not a monolouge.

First off, I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding and appreciating the Bible, God's inspired message. While this book does not require you to engage in any impossible techniques of meditation or higher understanding, it does help to have a general understanding of the structure of the Bible. For anyone wondering what that is, understand that 1) The entire Bible is inspired by God (see 2 Timothy 3:16) 2) All of history, both within and outside of the Bible, focuses on God 3) The Bible records historical events, but the books are not in chronological order (Google "Bible study" for more info) I read day 9 today from this book. The book focuses on a practice with some funny latin name, but I still find it useful. You begin by reading a short passage of Scripture multiple times (slowly, not zooming through it to "feel good"). One or two sentences in the passage are in italics, and most of the focus is placed on them. The book has a few paragraphs about the passage, and it varies from day to day, but the discussion is always practical and concise. It has a small area for journaling, but most of the time is spent focusing on the meaning of the reading. I have been encouraged by the way it reveals characteristics of God; I see plainly how He desires to work in my life (and yours, don't get me wrong). This book mentions meditation somewhere (maybe on the cover, I can't remember). However, it is not referring to the process of "clearing your mind." Rather, it is referring to consciously focusing on just a little bit of the Bible in order to discern what it is talking about (if you've read the Bible, you know that some parts are easier to understand than others). Meditating also helps to demonstrate the depth of God's love for us in the many various books of the Bible. Again, if you are interested in actually getting something out of reading the Bible, I would recommend you spend the time (and the $10) to get this book.