Oh boy...
However, this goofiness interests me for some reason so I did a quick google and this subject and it is almost a genre unto itself. Of course, all these books are expressions reaffirming the self-delusion of having a personal relationship with Jesus. This fantasy is nothing more than an euphemism of going through the motions of duping yourself into believing that a non-stop circle jerk of self-affirming sanctimonious ego-stroking is somehow direct contact with God, piece-mailing advice at every trivial decision. (Who'd want to be God lording infinitely over that?)
Well, I found this site. The site not only features a lecture you can download, but four main keys to hearing Gods voice, all based upon the book of Habakkuk - one of the later prophets. Not one of the more sexier books of the OT, but it does seem to satisfy the requirements of the capricious blood thirsty God we all know so well though. The Wiki entry states that this books "as the starting point of the concept of faith" which NT writers used in their appeals to faith over reason-based empiricism.
Here's a helpful diagram that compares the decibel level of God's voice, Satan's voice, and my voice inside my head. You'll notice some similarities, I'm sure.
Anyway, back to the site.
Apparently there are 4 Main Keys to hearing God's voice. The author states at the opening that after praying, fasting, studying the Bible for year, his previous roadblock of not hearing gods voice had been removed. He claims that "God set me aside" on this year long exercise, which, if your paying attention was before this intense year of study when he could not hear Gods voice, yet somehow he received this directive to do so?
His keys are ridiculous to say the least. Unfortunately, the author gives no concrete way to confirm that in fact the voices in your head are not yourself, but God. The details of each step seem more like self-brainwashing. In Key #4 you are to journal, but to "write in faith for long periods of time" and before you do you're supposed to be adequately "submitted to solid, spiritual leadership." Meaning, make sure you've suckered yourself first before you begin this masturbatory exercise in self-delusion.
In my deconversion, hearing God's voice was an issue for me. I never heard God, but only the familier reflection of my own inner-voice. I never wanted to pretend and lie and say that I was hearing God speak to me within the confines of my own skull. In talking with Christian friends, they tell me they do, in fact, hear God's voice. (Almost like Jason Gastrich who stated that God tells him jokes in a debate against Dan Barker of the FrFF.) I really have to wonder at the sanity of some of my friends from time to time, but can I blame them? We have a whole society with a history of these flim-flammers speaking from alleged authority that this self-induced schizophrenia is real and not imaginary.
