A Personal Retreat Guide

Personal retreats are essential for uncluttering one’s brain and refocusing on the preeminence of God in all. Jan Johnson’s Living in the Companionship of God provides an excellent format for such retreats through seven lessons that focus on living life both with and for God. All of this, as well as Johnson’s obvious repetition of numerous Scripture passages, makes for a very neat, very usable personal retreat guide.

Beyond these assets to the book, however, I sensed some dangers in the basic premise of “companionship with God.” Throughout her guide, Johnson uses such language as having a “conversation with God,” a dialogue with God, journaling to “see what comes to you,” “experiencing God,” and hearing God “speak.”

While she doesn’t say it outright, it seems like Johnson considers the audible voice of God, either booming or whispering, to be an actual participant in this retreat. I strongly disagree with this foundational premise. While I fully acknowledge the supernaturality of the Holy Spirit’s dwelling in my heart, and while I believe that God speaks regularly and often through his Word, I do not believe that I should ever expect to hear His voice.

A danger also lurks in discussions on “hearing God’s voice” and journaling to let God direct my pen. God does not play ouija, and He does not “speak” to his people as He once did before his written Word was made available to his people. He has already spoken, and His Word is sufficient above all else (both Matthew 24:35 and Hebrews 1:1-2 attest to this fact).

I enjoyed the format and concept behind this book, as well as Johnson’s focus on meditating on these selected passages from God’s Word. Were she able to alter slightly her discussions on hearing God speak, she could provide an even more powerful guide for a getaway with God.

©2011 E.T.