Someone I respect once counseled me, "If you want to know how to live the Christian life, you need to study God's book of directions and guidelines. However, if you are unwilling to be faithful to APPLY what you learn, don't waste your time studying them. If you are serious though about Christ moving through you, things MUST change. You must die that He might live as the 'Christ in you, the Hope of glory.' There must be a transformation." Since that conversation, I have come to understand that this transformation begins with listening for the Voice of the Living God-with the heart and spirit, not the ears. Although the Spirit of Christ welcomes and encourages our petitioning prayer, conversation with us is what He desires most. Understand, therefore, that conversation, by its definition, involves listening and talking, by both parties. For me, "easily hearing" His Voice was a struggle. The more I spoke with others, including those who claimed to be longtime Christians, the more individuals I discovered who did NOT regularly hear His voice. Dissatisfied, I prayed even more. One day, I burst forth speaking fluently in a new language that I had never before heard or spoken and felt indescribable joy surging through my being. At the same time, I clearly "heard" His Voice speaking CONVERSATIONALLY to my heart for the first time, and wept with joy. I began journaling my conversations with the Holy Spirit. I wrote out each of my questions and was pleasantly surprised to "hear" an immediate answer or explanation from Him, spoken to my heart, which I recorded. Over the years, our conversations grew more detailed and exciting as He covered a multitude of subjects in-depth, teaching me many valuable lessons. Finally, the day came when He told me to compose this book-with His guidance. Writing, rewriting, and editing took more than five years. At times, the Spirit instructed me to delete large segments of previous chapters. When I asked, in frustration, the reason for His request, He explained. "These were points at which you took it upon yourself to expound on what I had already stated with clarity. Remember, son, that your thoughts are not My thoughts, and your words will never surpass the truthful simplicity of Mine." After I fulfilled His exact instructions, the Spirit said, "Son, My Word declares: '...they overcame him Satan] by the blood of theLamb and by the word of their testimony.' You have come to believe that much of what you experienced in your more distant past is of little value to others today. The worth of My shed blood has not changed since the day I presented it as a full atonement to the Father. Remember this Your testimony only loses its significance when you stop proclaiming it for all to hear. Never forget It's the two-COMBINED-that voids the fallen one's actions against you and your household." As I discovered many times through my resistance, stubbornness or outright disobedience, failure to follow what He asks often becomes an obstruction to any future conversation. The Lord impressed this upon my mind one day, when He explained, "The vine that strangles one's ability to hear My Spirit roots itself deep in the soil of a disobedient heart." I offer this work for God to use to your benefit. I do so, with no excuses or apologies. I pray that by laying bare my life, I encourage you to invite the Lord God Almighty to help you do likewise. Ask Him to open up your spiritual ears to HEAR His Voice, and to free you as He did me. He is longing to heal and release each of us from the hurt, pain, suffering, hindrances, and distractions that He alone knows have shackled our bodies and souls. As you read, I pray that He will also lead you to an ever-deepening intimacy with Him during which you participate in endless conversations with the Holy Spirit of the Living God, Who longs to communicate freely with ALL of His children.