Can a College Course Completely Transform Your Life?

Mark Virkler's picture

I went to college and was transformed because I met and married Patti, who has brought 45 years of joy and blessing to my life. On the other hand, one student who graduated from a leading charismatic university told me, with tears in his eyes, that he went for his master’s degree because he hungered to get closer to God, and instead his spiritual life dried up!!! Wow! The opposite of what he was hoping for.

Below is a testimony from Wendy Kay Domena concerning the impact her first course at Christian Leadership University had on her life. Let it take your breath away...


How could I have possibly known that taking this course would completely transform my life?  When I first began this course a few months ago, I thought that it would be similar to most of the introductory courses that I have taken in my college career.  I assumed that I would learn a little bit more about the Bible, possibly some theology and historical accounts, as well as confirming knowledge that I already had about the Bible.  I could not have been more wrong. This course was anything but typical. This was not a “book and notes” kind of class. This was an experience. From the very first lesson, I realized that I was in for a real adventure with God. 

This adventure began with learning about the four keys to hearing God’s voice.  In the first chapter of Four Keys to Hearing God’s Voice, Mark Virkler introduced me to a process of quieting myself down, fixing my eyes on Jesus, tuning to spontaneity, and two-way journaling.  This process absolutely transformed my relationship with God! I could now hear God speaking to my heart, which had been my desire for a very long time.  I also now had a system to help me connect my spirit to the Spirit of God. What an awesome gift -- to be able to hear the voice of God and commune with Him in such an intimate way!  I am so grateful for this course and life changes that have resulted because of it.

These life changes are many and range from how I view God to how I view my husband and children to how I view my church and to how I view the world.  I am learning how to be much more sensitive to the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit. I used to “save” my prayers for a specific devotional time or prayer time, but now I am led to pray right in the moment.  I am not waiting for some specific prayer time. Rather, I am using each moment throughout my day as an opportunity for a prayer time. I am also realizing that when spontaneous thoughts to pray or text someone to encourage them come to me, that is the voice of God bubbling up on the inside of me.  I am more aware and quicker to respond to this prompting now, and I -- and the recipient of the prayer or text -- am blessed because of it. Additionally, I find myself taking more quiet moments throughout my day, rather than hurrying through my lists of tasks. I am finding that when I slow down and take quiet times to hear from God, I am not only more productive, but I am in a better place spiritually, physically, and emotionally.  God has become my ever-present help, counselor, and sustainer -- my “right now” God --, and I no longer have to wait until “later” to reach out to Him.

Additionally, I now have a deeper desire for the things of God.  My hunger and thirst for His presence has increased exponentially.  I am able to to tune to flow and hear from God, and so because I now have freer access to Him, I want to connect with Him more often.  I have learned to become still and rest in His presence, which has given me a peace and a joy that passes all understanding. Two-way journaling has also been revolutionary for my life.  I have always found writing - specifically journaling - to be helpful throughout my life. However, the journaling that I was used to involved me writing down everything that I was thinking, feeling, and going through at the time.  It was more of a release of everything that I had stored up inside. When I finished writing, though, there was no change. It was just writing on a page -- more like documenting my journey, rather than bringing about any kind of transformation. 

Amazingly, two-way journaling has been nothing short of a miracle for me. Now, rather than just writing down everything that I am thinking or feeling, I ask God specific questions about my thoughts or feelings and wait for Him to speak to me -- AND HE DOES!!!  EVERY TIME!!! With two-way journaling. God does most of the talking, and I do most of the listening. He is able to speak into my situation and bring hope, comfort, encouragement, healing, or whatever else I might need at the time. It is so awesome to be so intimately connected to the One who knows me and loves me and gives me exactly what I need. 

Not only has journaling helped me to hear the voice of God and connect to Him in a deeper way, but it has also encouraged me to begin recording some of my dreams.  This is an area that I am just beginning to explore, but I see how God can use this type of journaling to counsel and reveal things to me from my dreams. I want to learn more about this area, and  I am hoping to take another course in helping me to interpret the dreams that God is giving to me.

Throughout this course, God has brought about many changes in my understanding, attitudes, and behavior.  I now truly believe that He wants to speak to me. I have always wanted to hear from God, but I harbored some doubts about whether or not He actually wanted to speak to me.  Now I know wholeheartedly that yes, indeed, He does want to speak to me. I now understand that He created me to have this kind of relationship with me, to commune with me, to share love with me.  I am so grateful that He chose me before the foundations of the world. I believe more firmly that I belong to Him and that nothing and no one can snatch me from His hand.

I have also realized that I need to spend more time with God.  I used to have designated times to pray or read my Bible, but those times were always “separate” from all the other things going on in my life.  Now, I see that God wants to be a part of everything that is going on in my life - not just be relegated to a certain part of my day. I am more God-conscious throughout my day and am doing less of my own striving and relying more on God.  I am realizing that most of what I do is not my doing anyway, but rather Him working through me. It is so freeing to know that my works flow from and because of my relationship with God, rather than me trying to do works to gain a relationship with Him.  I see that He desires my heart first, and then my works can come from the overflow that He pours out to me. What an awesome God!!

My attitude has also shifted to one of gratitude and submission.  Having strong left-brain tendencies, I often find myself getting upset when things do not go as planned or when people do not behave in a way that I want them to act. This course has helped me to stay centered in God and to be grateful for the relationship that I have with Him first and then the relationships that I have with others. I am more patient and loving with my spouse and my children, seeing them through God’s eyes, rather than through the lens of my own expectations.  I am also submitting my will and my desires to God before acting on my own initiative. This has helped tremendously in my decision-making and in keeping my emotions more leveled. Being under the direction of the Holy Spirit helps me to remain calm and settled in my spirit, mind, will and emotions.

As part of my spiritual accountability and attitude of submission, I have asked one of my pastors, one of my close friends and sister in Christ, and my husband, to be spiritual advisors/counselors in my life.  I have been submitting journal entries to them throughout this course, so that they can give me feedback as to whether or not I am hearing from God. I thank God for them and their guidance and counsel as I learn to hear the voice of God more clearly,

Stillness has always been difficult for me.  This course has given me some tools to bring myself to that quiet place with God.  Some of the most effective methods for me are listening to calming music, separating myself from others in a non-distracting space, and picturing myself in a scene with Jesus.  Using these three tools helps me to focus in on what God is speaking to me. I am able to quiet my mind and body and concentrate on Him, not on myself or my circumstances. When I am particularly upset or unsettled, going straight to picturing myself with Jesus always brings me to a place of stillness.  He is always ready with open arms to gather me to Himself and give me exactly what I need in that moment. He is always waiting for me and encourages me to stay with Him for a while -- and I do -- and I am better because of it!

Using vision has been a new experience for me.  I have always thought of vision as something that prophets/prophetesses and seers have, but it was not really for me.  This course has taught me that vision is for everyone. God uses pictures, visions, and dreams to speak to all of His people, if we look for it.  I have now become better at looking for vision as I pray, expecting and believing God to show me something during my prayer and meditation time. I look for pictures while I pray.  I use vision to picture myself with Jesus. I am starting to record my dreams, as God gives them to me. I am seeing the power of pictures and how God uses them to speak to my heart and give me more revelation of who He is, in a deeper way than words can allow.  He is showing me myself, and He is helping to mold me and shape me through the use of vision. I now see it as a very powerful tool in my faith walk, and I am intentional in looking for vision during my quiet times with God.

I thank God for this course and the way that it has deepened my relationship with Him.  I can now more clearly hear His voice, and I desire to spend more time being with Him. Prayer is now a way of life.  No more waiting for a “special prayer time,” but now anytime something lights upon my heart can be an intercession moment with my God.  I now talk with God throughout my day, and I find that it really is less of me talking and more of Him. I am learning how to be quiet, to be still in His presence, and to stay present in the moment with Him, rather than trying to get ahead or dwell on the past.  And lastly, this course has reminded me on the deepest level that my relationship with God is truly the most important thing of all. No matter what may come, I am certain that God is on my side. He is my All in All, and He is the One who will keep me, guide me, and protect me.  I have learned to have true communion with God -- hallelujah!!

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4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 305 Pages | Retail: $16.99

Have you ever wished you could just sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? Wouldn't it be wonderful to move beyond having a theology that states that God loves you to actually hearing Him whisper words of love into your heart? When you're worried or confused, wouldn't you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond?


Price: $14.95

Dialogue with God

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 296 Pages

This top seller for 30 years from Bridge Logos provides a narrative, right-brain presentation of the principles of how to hear God's voice. Especially enjoyable for personal use, it makes a great gift for introducing a loved one to the voice of God. This book teaches the four keys to hearing God's voice in readable style, and also devotes two entire chapters to moving samples of people's journaling (i.e. their two-way dialogue with God).

Price: $17.95
Hear God's Voice Guaranteed Package

Hear God's Voice Guaranteed Package

9 Books | 10 CDs | 10 DVDs | Save Over 20%

Have you ever wished you could just sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? Wouldn't it be wonderful to move beyond having a theology that states that God loves you to actually hearing Him whisper words of love into your heart? When you're worried or confused, wouldn't you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond? When things don't seem to be going your way and your prayers aren't answered the way you had hoped, wouldn't it be great to hear Him tell you where He is in the midst of it, and what He is working out in your life? Are you ever just a little bit jealous of others who say with such confidence, "The Lord said...."?

Price: $175.00

How to Hear God's Voice

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 317 Pages

We recommend that you order the newest revision of this book titled 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice. It includes 95% of the content of How to Hear God's Voice but is reorganized so it fits perfectly with the 10 DVDs on this subject by Mark Virkler. In addition, it gets you started using the four keys earlier in the book and gives you more journaling samples and exercises. Since we have removed the large margins, it is a smaller and less expensive book.

Price: $24.95

Prayers That Heal the Heart - Revised & Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 320 Pages

Prayer counseling that breaks every yoke! Everything you need to experience deep healing of your soul and spirit.

Did you know that you don’t need to be continually plagued by negative thoughts, feelings, pictures or memories?

It is not part of the "human condition" to feel the constant nagging of doubt, insecurity, or anger. No matter what sin you are trying to overcome, what lie you think you’ll always believe, or what traumas your heart has suffered in the past, you will receive total freedom and restoration by praying these prayers in faith. 

Price: $19.95

Twelve Weeks to Spiritual Mastery - Group Coaching

A group coaching experience with Mark Virkler

Because I could not find a Spirit-anointed teacher/coach, I spent ten extremely frustrating years seeking to hear God’s voice!!! Suggestions offered did not help me, things like: “You just know that you know. It is a still small voice. He speaks from your heart.” No one could give me the answer I needed which was: Hearing God’s voice is as simple as quieting yourself down, fixing your eyes on Jesus, recognizing His voice as spontaneous, flowing thoughts and writing down His flow as it is coming. Test what you have written after the flow is done, NOT while it is occurring.

Price: $1,200.00

Counseled by God

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 146 Pages

Have you ever been defeated by negative emotions such as anger, fear, guilt, inferiority, condemnation or depression? Have you tried to fight them off unsuccessfully? Is there an answer that is deeper than simply trying to mentally reason yourself out of these emotions? Is there a way that Jesus can speak a word of life into the depths of your emotional despair and bring healing on a deep level? Is there a form of Christian counseling that begins and ends with the movement of Christ within your heart, rather than simply with the words of man?

Price: $10.95
Hear God Through Your Dreams Workbook Cover

Hear God Through Your Dreams Workbook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 92 Pages

A newer book has been released that accompanies this workbook: Click here for Hearing God Through Your Dreams by Charity Kayembe and Mark Virkler (featured on Sid Roth's "It's Supernatural", with almost a million views just on YouTube).


Do you often wake up feeling there was a significant message in your dream, but you’re just not sure what it is? Like Daniel and Joseph, do you long to be able to help others understand their own dreams and win them to Christ as you explain His night messages to them? Wouldn't it be nice if you could receive mid-course corrections from the Lord while you sleep? Do you wish you could be receiving divine inspiration, creative solutions to problems, and direction from the Lord during that third of your life that you’re “just” sleeping?

Price: $11.95

Hearing God Through Your Dreams

by Mark Virkler and Charity Virkler Kayembe | 292 Pages

Learn How to Hear God’s Voice, Even When You Are Sleeping

It is always fun to be on the winning team. Well look what God has done with Charity's new dreams teaching. It has taken off like a rocket with a live TV interview on Cornerstone Network and her Sid Roth interview which has almost a million views on YouTube!

Price: $16.99

Everyday Angels

by Charity Virkler Kayembe and Joe Brock 289 Pages

You can partner with Heaven’s angelic hosts!

Do you have guardian angels? Does God want you to know them? Find out what Scripture reveals and how YOU can interact with the company of Heaven!

The supernatural realm permeates our natural world! Therefore, experiencing angels should be an everyday occurrence–we simply need to open our spiritual eyes to their reality and role in our lives.

Price: $16.99

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