Discerning The Voice Of God By Priscilla Shirer Book Review

Have you ever prayed and wondered if what you were hearing was really God’s voice or just your own thoughts? Maybe you’ve wrestled with questions like:

“How can I tell if this is God or me?”
“Does God still speak today?”
“If He does, how can I be sure I’m listening correctly?”

If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone and that’s exactly why Priscilla Shirer’s book Discerning the Voice of God has touched so many hearts around the world.

Priscilla has a gift for making big spiritual truths feel deeply personal and practical. Whether you’re a new believer or someone who’s walked with God for decades, her words speak directly to the heart, reminding us that hearing from God isn’t reserved for a select few it’s something He desires for all His children.

In this review we’ll dive deep into what this book teaches, how it helps believers grow in spiritual confidence, and why learning to discern God’s voice can truly transform your walk with Him.

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1. The Heart of the Book: God Speaks and He Wants You to Hear Him

At its core, Discerning the Voice of God is about relationship.

Priscilla doesn’t present hearing from God as some mysterious, mystical experience only available to the spiritually elite. Instead, she grounds it in the truth that God speaks because He loves us because He wants an intimate, ongoing relationship with each of His children.

She reminds readers that God’s desire to communicate didn’t stop with the prophets or the apostles. His voice didn’t fade when the last page of Scripture was written. He’s still speaking today through His Word, His Spirit, circumstances, and the people He places in our lives.

But the question is: are we listening?

Priscilla invites us to slow down, tune our hearts, and recognize the many ways God whispers to us often quietly, gently, and consistently. Her approach is honest, accessible, and deeply rooted in biblical truth.

2. Who Is Priscilla Shirer?

Before diving further, it’s worth knowing a bit about the author.

Priscilla Shirer is a well-known Bible teacher, speaker, and author the daughter of Dr. Tony Evans, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas. You might also recognize her from the Christian film War Room, where she played the role of Elizabeth, a wife who rediscovers the power of prayer.

But beyond her public roles, Priscilla’s heart for teaching is evident in everything she writes. She approaches Scripture with humility, humor, and a passion for helping people experience God personally.

Discerning the Voice of God grew out of her own journey her own seasons of uncertainty, prayer, and longing to hear clearly from the Lord. That vulnerability makes this book feel like a conversation with a trusted friend who understands your struggles.

3. The Structure: A Journey of Discovery and Surrender

The book is structured like a guided journey each chapter building on the last, walking readers through what it means to hear God’s voice and how to cultivate a heart that listens.

Priscilla’s approach isn’t complicated or overly theological. It’s practical, filled with Scripture, personal stories, and real-life examples that make spiritual discernment feel both attainable and inspiring.

She organizes her message around key truths such as:

• God speaks to reveal Himself not just to give directions.

• A surrendered heart is a hearing heart.

• Obedience opens the door to clearer communication.

• The Holy Spirit is the believer’s ultimate guide and interpreter.

Each truth is explained through relatable stories from Priscilla’s own experiences as a wife, mother, and ministry leader which makes the lessons feel grounded in everyday life rather than abstract spirituality.

By the end, you don’t just know more about hearing God; you feel encouraged and equipped to actually experience it.

4. The Core Message: Hearing God Begins with Relationship

One of the most freeing truths Priscilla emphasizes is that God’s voice flows from relationship, not ritual.

So often, we approach hearing from God like solving a puzzle or following a formula “If I pray enough, read enough, or wait long enough, then maybe He’ll speak.” But Priscilla flips that mindset on its head.

She reminds us that God’s voice is not a prize to be earned but a natural result of intimacy with Him.

“Hearing God’s voice is not a skill you master,” she writes. “It’s a relationship you cultivate.”

When we draw near to God through prayer, worship, Scripture, and obedience we begin to recognize His voice the way you recognize the voice of someone you love.

Just like a child knows their parent’s tone, we can learn to recognize God’s distinct, tender way of speaking to our hearts.

5. The Role of the Holy Spirit

One of the most powerful parts of this book is how clearly Priscilla explains the role of the Holy Spirit in helping believers discern God’s voice.

She describes the Holy Spirit as both the “translator” and the “teacher” of divine truth the One who illuminates Scripture, brings conviction, offers peace, and nudges us toward obedience.

Many Christians, she notes, underestimate the Spirit’s role in daily life. We often treat Him as a background presence rather than an active participant. But Priscilla gently reminds us that it’s through the Spirit that God speaks most personally and powerfully.

She writes,

“The Holy Spirit does not speak on His own. He speaks what He hears from the Father and the Son. So when you hear Him, you are hearing directly from the heart of God.”

That truth alone is enough to deepen anyone’s sense of awe and gratitude. It makes you realize that hearing from God isn’t about mystical experiences it’s about learning to be sensitive to the quiet, faithful presence of His Spirit in everyday life.

6. The Barriers to Hearing God

Priscilla doesn’t shy away from addressing the real challenges that often block us from hearing God’s voice.

She lists several “spiritual static” sources things like sin, pride, fear, and busyness. These aren’t always intentional, but they cloud our spiritual hearing.

For instance:

• When we’re too busy to pray or sit quietly before God, His voice gets drowned out by the noise of the world.

• When we cling to control, we close our hearts to His guidance.

• When we hold onto sin or unforgiveness, it dulls our spiritual sensitivity.

Her message is never condemning it’s compassionate and full of hope. She reminds us that clearing those barriers isn’t about guilt; it’s about freedom.

When we let go of distractions and surrender fully, we create the space for God’s whisper to be heard clearly again.

7. Obedience: The Key to Clarity

If there’s one recurring theme throughout Discerning the Voice of God, it’s this: obedience is the key to hearing clearly.

Priscilla emphasizes that God often speaks to those who are willing to respond even before they know what He’ll say. In other words, clarity comes after commitment, not before it.

It’s a powerful truth: if we only seek God’s voice to confirm our own plans, we’ll stay confused. But if we come with open hands and surrendered hearts, He delights to guide us.

“The more obedient you are,” Priscilla writes, “the more clearly you will hear.”

That kind of obedience doesn’t come from fear or duty; it flows from love the kind of love that trusts God’s heart even when you don’t understand His plan.

8. Practical Ways to Hear from God

One of the strengths of this book is how practical it is. Priscilla doesn’t just inspire readers; she equips them with tangible steps to grow spiritually.

Here are a few of the key ways she teaches believers to tune their hearts to God’s voice:

1. Spend consistent time in Scripture.
   God’s written Word is the foundation for recognizing His spoken Word. Priscilla reminds us that God will never contradict His Word so knowing Scripture helps us discern truth from deception.

2. Pray with expectancy.
   Approach prayer not as a monologue, but as a conversation. Ask God to speak and then actually pause long enough to listen.

3. Journal what you sense.
   Writing down thoughts, Scriptures, and impressions can help you trace God’s hand over time and recognize patterns in how He speaks to you.

4. Pay attention to peace.
   God’s voice often carries peace, not pressure. When something feels frantic or fearful, it’s often a sign to pause and seek clarity.

5. Seek wise counsel.
   God can use other mature believers to confirm or clarify what He’s already speaking to your heart.

Each of these steps feels doable not overly religious or intimidating. They’re practical habits anyone can adopt to grow in discernment and intimacy with God.

9. Real Life Stories and Relatable Moments

One of the things that makes this book so engaging is Priscilla’s authenticity.

She doesn’t write as someone who’s mastered the art of hearing God perfectly; she writes as someone who’s still learning, still growing, still humbled by the process.

She shares personal moments times when she misunderstood God’s leading or waited impatiently for His answer and how He gently guided her through those seasons.

These stories make the book feel deeply personal and relatable. You don’t feel like you’re being preached to; you feel like you’re sitting across from a friend who’s helping you see that God’s voice isn’t distant it’s right there, waiting for you to notice.

10. The Emotional and Spiritual Impact

By the time you finish Discerning the Voice of God, you don’t just feel inspired you feel invited.

Invited to slow down.
Invited to trust.
Invited to listen differently.

Many readers describe feeling a renewed sense of peace after reading this book not because all their questions were answered, but because they remembered that God truly cares about speaking to them.

It’s a refreshing reminder in a noisy world where so many voices compete for our attention. Priscilla helps quiet that noise so we can hear the one voice that matters most.

11. A Few Favorite Quotes

Priscilla’s writing is filled with memorable, quotable wisdom. Here are a few gems that capture the heart of her message:

• “When you’re walking in the Spirit, the voice of God will come naturally.”

• “God’s voice doesn’t compete with the noise of your life it waits for you to quiet down enough to hear it.”

• “If you don’t feel close to God, guess who moved?”

• “Hearing from God is not the goal; knowing Him is.”

Each of these quotes reminds us that hearing God’s voice isn’t a one-time event it’s a lifelong relationship.

12. Why This Book Matters Today

In a culture that’s louder and busier than ever, Discerning the Voice of God feels especially timely.

We live in an age of constant distraction endless scrolling, endless noise, endless opinions. Everyone seems to be talking, but few are truly listening.

Priscilla’s book is a quiet, powerful call to return to stillness to remember that God hasn’t stopped speaking, but we’ve often stopped listening.

Her message helps us reconnect with the foundation of faith that our Creator longs to communicate with us not just about what to do, but about who we are in Him.

Conclusion: A Book That Draws You Closer To The Father’s Heart

Reading Discerning the Voice of God feels like going on a spiritual retreat one where you’re reminded that God’s voice is not far away, not reserved for the “super spiritual,” but available to every believer who truly seeks Him.

It’s not a book of rules, but of relationship. Not a checklist, but a conversation starter between you and your Creator.

If you’ve ever longed to know what God wants for your life, or simply wanted to feel closer to Him in prayer, this book will meet you right where you are.

Priscilla’s words are gentle but powerful. She doesn’t pressure; she encourages. She doesn’t overcomplicate; she clarifies. And most importantly, she continually points you back to Scripture the surest, safest place to hear God’s voice.

By the end, you’ll walk away not just believing that God still speaks but confident that you can hear Him too.

This isn’t just a book to read it’s a book to live. Each page will challenge you to listen more carefully, trust more deeply, and follow more faithfully. And in doing so you’ll discover that the God who spoke the universe into existence still speaks tenderly into the hearts of those who love him.