Hearing with the Heart - Book Review

Spiritual discernment, or the ability to hear the voice of God and understand His will in a particular situation, can be quite challenging, even for mature Christians. Much of modern Christian teaching focuses on prescriptive doctrine, which is absolutely necessary, but the subjective idea of seeking to know God's will for an individual, an organization, or a situation is often under-emphasized. Debra K. Farrington offers a thoughtful and informative addition to the body of literature written to address this fascinating issue with "Hearing With the Heart".

Spiritual Discernment

Farrington shares a wealth of information and insight ,through experience and anecdotal expression, concerning the process of spiritual discernment as it pertains to discovering and following God's will in the life of the reader. Farrington explores the many signs in daily life that lead an individual towards God's call. An individual's deepest, longest recurring hopes and dreams can point toward the Lord's true calling, and the unique natural gifts of each person can serve as a guide to discerning the best direction for their effort. The author relates the importance of spiritual community and mentorship in distinguishing the voice of God from an individual's own, inner voice, which is a ever-present challenge in discernment. The body can serve as a source of guidance as well; Farrington urges readers to pay attention to their surroundings in times of physical stress or distinct physical relaxation to find clues to the kinds of activities that they are best suited for.

Practical Exercises

Farrington intersperses instructional content within her narrative, introducing readers to practical exercises, guided meditations, and prayers designed to focus the heart, mind, and soul on becoming attuned to God's voice and His true calling.

One such exercise aims to teach the reader how to utilize silence prayer, which the author claims is vital to being open and receptive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The reader is invited to envision a brilliant light, representing God's love, surrounding themselves, others, or a particular situation in which God's will is unknown, and focusing on the image in silence, rather than thinking of a solution themselves and petitioning God for specific action.

Mixed Influences

Although "Hearing With the Heart" reads as a book for Christians, Farrington draws upon a variety of influences in addition to Scripture and biblical doctrine, including excerpts from Christian writers, elements of Buddhism and secular spirituality, and secular novels as she explores the process of spiritual discernment. She advises readers to delve into her book with a mature heart, gaining insight from the elements that resonate with the reader's individual beliefs and simply browsing or skipping elements derived from possibly contradictory sources. This book is best suited to readers with a mature faith who can quickly sense the influence of a doctrine contradictory to their own.