Listening to God - Joyce Huggett
About a month ago I was putting together one of our night services, and felt that the topic for the night should be 'Listening to God.' With this title in mind I started looking on my bookshelves to see if any book might be a helpful resource - this book jumped out by having that exact title. I have inherited a lot of my theological books from various places over the years, and don't always get to read them (or any specific books I own) when I first receive them. This book is one such book. I never have heard of the author, I have never read any of her writings until now, and honestly, I didn't even know I had this book.
It was definitely a case of the right book for the right moment, though.
Listening to God is part theological work, part biographical work, and part practical guide-book for someone seeking to hear from God more clearly. Joyce Huggett tells of her own journey into the spiritual disciplines of prayer and (Christian) meditation, highlighting the ways God has taken her outside of her own comfort zone at times, as well as exposing her to other Christian traditions that her own more charismatic branch of Christianity has not so readily embraced. As the book progresses, Huggett talks about her own struggles and breakthroughs, quoting readily from books that have aided her exploration of the faith as well as appropriate Scriptural passages, while also admitting times where she has not 'had all the answers' in a given moment.
As a resource for a 'Listening to God' night, this book was immensely helpful.
As an aid for the Christian seeking a greater connection with God, this book is also helpful. Huggett isn't afraid to give a hard answer where needed - something that is based upon her own experiences - including the insight (similar to that discovered by Bilquis Sheikh in I Dared to Call Him Father) that we should “Invite God to [point out] specific situations, sins or attitudes which would block our ability to listen to God.” (page 58). She also points out that accountability to others can also be an aid: “If I am really serious about listening to God, I must fix my prayer time first and fit other things round it. If I am bold enough to make my plan public, others will support and encourage me in keeping my commitment.” (page 44).
One challenge that I need to keep reminding myself about, and which is somewhat ironic to quote, is that avid readers, such as myself, can face "the temptation...to substitute reading about prayer for the discipline itself of listening to God." (page 175). With a number of practical aids and reminders, this book is a great resource and I will be returning to it from times to time.
However, I also will keep working on my actual listening to God as well.
Completed 29 July 2022.
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