This concept was revolutionary to me. More important, it
took hold of me. Convinced, I immediately began to imitate the
lives of these leaders by diligently spending time every day
listening to God talk to me. Surprised, encouraged, and excited
by my own conversational relationship with God, I wanted
more. With very little effort, I uncovered numerous other
historical, political, corporate, and religious leaders who spoke
of a conversational relationship with God as a nonnegotiable
component of their lives.
Peter Marshall, chaplain of the U.S. Senate in the 1940s, was
one of those humble leaders who regularly and warmly spoke
about his unique companionship with God. For example, he
considered God’s specific instructions for each day similar to a
soldier who receives “marching orders from the Captain.” As a
spiritual leader to politicians, an exciting communicator to
college students, and a preacher who spoke in filled-to-
capacity auditoriums, Marshall’s simple prayers and profound
sermons instilled confidence in the average person by assuring
him or her that God speaks—whether we listen to Him or not.
He consistently made a strong appeal to all men and women
to humbly posture themselves, especially leaders, by setting
aside time each day to listen to God talk. In fact, most of his
recorded sermons included vivid instruction, first and
foremost, detailing practical ways to communicate with God in
two-way conversations.
Peter Marshall enthusiastically encouraged people to know
God not by growing in intellectual knowledge, but by intimate
familiarity with Him. Just as contemporary philosopher Dallas
Willard contended decades later in his book Hearing God:
“Spiritual people are not those who engage in certain spiritual