2025 Book Review #21: He Speaks to Me

 

I lead a small group Bible study here in my home during the Autumn and Spring semesters.  This week we wrap up our Early Spring semester study by Priscilla Shirer. I started out with 10 women but due to work schedules, over commitments, and a nursing student whose hours changed,  it ended up being just 6 of us. We have become a tight knit group and I am thankful for that. Two of the women were in my Autumn study and one woman has been in my small group in past years and decided to join this one. 

We all loved this study by one of my absolute fave Christian authors and speakers. I have now done her Breathe study, Jonah study (A class at church one year) and Discerning the Voice of God study.  This book seems to be the precursor to Discerning the Voice of God which I led last year. 

I didn't require the ladies to purchase the supplemental study guide, but they all wanted one anyways so we did that on our own although I sometimes would pull a few questions from it to aid the discussion time. This review centers around the book. 

BOOK SUMMARY

The book is divided into 6 Parts with each part having 3 chapters. All of the intros to the different parts  center around the story of Samuel, Hannah and Eli.  

PART ONE: A Simple Relationship

1: A Childlike Simplicity

2. A Humble Approach

3. A Simple Trust

PART TWO: A Single-Minded Worship

4. Glory to God

5. The Real Deal

6. The Heart of the Matter

PART THREE: A Set Apart Holiness

7. When God is Silent

8. Perfecting Holiness

9. Running to Win

PART FOUR: A Still Attentiveness

10. Be Still

11. Strength in Surrender

12. A Mature Peace

PART FIVE: A Sold-Out Hunger

13.Within Reach

14.Hungry for His Presence

15. The Voice Behind You

PART SIX: A SERVANT SPIRIT

16.Gifted to Serve 

17. Sacrificial Offerings

18.  Modeled Servanthood

MY THOUGHTS

This is an excellent study for people who want to grow in intimacy with Christ and who want to learn how to "hear" from God. 

Each chapter includes Scriptures in both the Old and New Testament and with specific ways we grow closer to Christ so we can hear Him. I loved how she used Samuel as the example and the character he displayed as he learned to hear and respond to God. She also used other people in the Bible such as Moses, Abraham, Jesus. 

I love that it was easy to understand and each chapter was short enough that we could discuss 2 per week.  I also loved that each chapter had a key Scripture and that she shared her own personal anecdotes with the reader. 

Each chapter had 3-4 questions for reflection and sometimes we shared our answers and sometimes we kept them private. 

If you have never completed a Priscilla Shirer study, I highly recommend them. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.