Opening to God by David Benner

 

Here is the book summary:

Most Christians want to experience spiritual transformation. But many are frustrated by the limited progress of our spiritual self-improvement efforts. We find our praying burdened by a sense of obligation and failure.
But prayer is not merely something we do; prayer is what God does in us. Prayer is not just communication with God―it is communion with God. As we open ourselves to him, God does the spiritual work of transformation in us.
Spiritual director and psychologist David Benner invites us to discover openness to God as the essence of prayer, spirituality, and the Christian life. Prayer is far more than saying words to God; all of life can be prayer when offered to God in faith and with openness. Using the four movements of lectio divina, Benner explores prayer as attending, pondering, responding, and being. Along the way he opens us to a world of possibilities for communion with God: praying with our senses, with imagination, with music and creativity, in contemplation, in service, and much more.
Learn how prayer can be a way of living. Move beyond words to become not merely someone who prays, but someone whose entire life is prayer in union with God.
This expanded edition includes a new afterword and an experiential guide with questions for individual reflection or group discussion.

And now, my review:

Despite our differences in some parts of what we believe, when I saw Opening to God by David G Benner come out, I was really looking forward to reading it because of the topic and how it might lend well into spiritual direction.  I love Lectio Divina and looked forward to seeing what he included in this read.  I enjoyed his invitations to take a moment to note… or take a pause to pray… things serve as a call to pause…  He also includes information on the examen, which he calls an exercise of God-spotting, and the labyrinth.  He includes quotes from other people in his books. 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Opening-God-Lectio-Divina-Prayer-ebook/dp/B08LMX4NM4/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=opening+to+God&qid=1628194021&sr=8-4

https://www.christianbook.com/opening-lectio-divina-and-life-prayer/david-benner/9780830846863/pd/846863?event=ESRCG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/opening-to-god-david-g-benner/1111417266?ean=9780830835508

The 40-Day Sugar Fast by Wendy Speake

Here is the book summary:

What would you be willing to give up to experience the presence of God in your life again?

Many of us sign up for a physical detox program, thinking that if our bodies are healthier, then we're healthier. But a healthy body doesn't do us a lot of good if we are spiritually malnourished.

Welcome to the 40-Day Sugar Fast, a fast that begins with us giving Jesus our sugar and ends with Jesus giving us more of himself--the only thing that can ever truly satisfy our soul's deep hunger. On this 40-day journey you'll learn how to stop fixating on food and other things you use to fill the voids in life and instead fix your eyes on Christ.

Anyone who runs to sugar for comfort or a reward, who eats mindlessly or out of boredom, who feels physically and spiritually lethargic, or who struggles with self-control will discover here not only freedom from their cravings but an entirely new appetite for the good things God has for us.

And now, my review:

The 40-Day Sugar Fast by Wendy Speake was a down to earth, let’s get serious about discovering what is holding us back from experiencing a closeness with the Father.  She goes way beyond sugar and really encourages personalizing your journey in these 40 days.  I was so blessed to be part of a community working through this for 40 days and it has set a course for me to be more mindful of this all year long.  I just finished and I’m already planning for my next 40 days of fasting.  I love this author's transparency and her personality.  I look forward to future works by this author for the glory of the Lord.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/40-Day-Sugar-Fast-Spiritual-Transformation/dp/0801094577/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2T3ALG1M6JHRZ&keywords=the+40+day+sugar+fast+book&qid=1582849770&sprefix=the+40+dAY%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-2

https://www.christianbook.com/where-physical-detox-meets-spiritual-transformation/wendy-speake/9780801094576/pd/094576?event=ESRCG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-40-day-sugar-fast-wendy-speake/1130543117?ean=9780801094576#/

Awaken by Priscilla Shirer

Here is the book summary:
The choice of a devotional book is more personal than most. This kind of reading is not merely for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. No, with this kind of resource you’re expecting and praying for something more. You want to hear from God, receive His direction, and be refreshed in the depths of your soul. Only God’s Word can do that.

So you need to choose wisely.

With her first devotional book, Priscilla Shirer makes your choice easy. For even though she’s written multiple best-selling books and Bible studies, including the 2016 ECPA “Christian Book of the Year” (Fervent), even though she regularly speaks to thousands at conference venues and churches around the world, even though she was the lead actress in a #1 box-office feature film (War Room) . . . It all starts for Priscilla where it all starts for you.

Alone with God. Alone with His Word. Eager to hear His voice. Prepared to humbly and obediently respond. She hopes, more than anything else, that the daily insights you receive in these pages will challenge, encourage, and strengthen you in every way.

These ninety devotions from the heart of a mom, wife, encourager, and friend will Awaken you each day with fresh insights gleaned from the Spirit of God. Ready to help you mine the treasures of Scripture and fortify you for the day ahead.
This devotional is . . . a good choice.

And now, my review:
Wow, another amazing book by an amazing woman of God, in humility and grace that God uses to speak to us His truths.  This book is set up in 90 different days with different subjects that you will find yourself resonating with.  At least that’s what happened to me.  One day I had read the reading for that day and then was in a conversation with a friend who mentioned the struggle of that day and I just handed her my kindle to read that days reading and she was SO blessed!  Praise the Lord!  One of my favorites that hit home for me and was such a visual that I just loved was day 8.  It has to do with circus animals and the circles that train them and being set free only to find themselves struggling to break away from the circles of habits.  I highly recommend this book and this author to you.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Awaken-Days-God-Who-Speaks-ebook/dp/B076MMRVXZ/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1509025535&sr=1-3&keywords=awaken+priscilla+shirer

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/awaken-priscilla-shirer/1126171086?ean=9781462776344#/

https://www.christianbook.com/awaken-days-with-who-speaks-ebook/priscilla-shirer/9781462776375/pd/93140EB?product_redirect=1&Ntt=93140EB&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Numbers - Learning Contentment in a Culture of More by Melissa Spoelstra

Here is the book summary:

Something in us aches for more—more hope, more joy, more freedom. All around us people are dancing to the steps of bigger, better, and faster, and we can easily join in without even realizing it. Before long complaining and comparing accompany our desire for more, yet we’re not any closer to filling the ache inside. God offers us another way.

In this study of the Book of Numbers, we’ll find a group of people that wandered in the desert for forty years, unable to enter the Promised Land because of their complaining, grumbling, and lack of faith. The New Testament tells us that their story was written to warn us (1 Corinthians 10:6) so that we would not make the same mistakes and suffer the same consequences. God sent his only Son to die to buy our freedom from the sin that leads to discontentment, and we find our own promised land of peace and contentment in the life he gives us.

By exploring Numbers we can come to identify the reasons for our complaining, learn contentment while being authentic about the difficulties of life, accept short-term hardship in light of the greater good of God’s ultimate deliverance, recognize the relationship between complaining and worry, and discover how to realign with God’s character and promises.

Together we will learn contentment as we discover more of our incredible God who truly is more than enough. Only God can fill that ache inside and help us focus on his provision and purpose in the midst of life’s joys and pains.

The participant workbook includes five days of lessons for each week, combining study of Scripture with personal reflection, application, and prayer.

And now, my review:

Contentment, Paul speaks of it in Philippians 4 and here this author walks us through what we can learn through the book of Numbers regarding it.  In a world of more and more it’s important to learn to be content with what God has allotted you.  This Bible Study is set up where you’re studying it 5 days a week for 6 weeks.  I like how the author leads us to see contentment in different areas in our lives.  There is Scripture Memory and loads of Scripture reading involved in this which is great!  May He wash us by the water of His Word.  May you turn your attention to what God Almighty wants to teach through this study!  Enjoy.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Numbers-Participant-Workbook-Learning-Contentment/dp/1501801740/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508704289&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=numbers+womens+bible+study+participation+book

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/numbers-womens-bible-study-participant-workbook-melissa-spoelstra/1125466410?ean=9781501801747

https://www.christianbook.com/numbers-learning-contentment-culture-participant-workbook/melissa-spoelstra/9781501801747/pd/801740?event=ESRCG

Choosing REAL by Bekah Jane Pogue

Here is the book summary:

Are you ready to release your control of needing to be everything for everyone? . . . The invitation is yours. In Choosing REAL, author Bekah Pogue walks with you into life’s unplanned circumstances--specifically frantic schedules, pain and transition, feelings of unworthiness, loneliness, and tension. . .  And she'll remind you that it is in these very moments that God invites you to notice, respond, and even celebrate how He shows up in every little detail.


And now, my review:

Choosing Real in life is a wonderful thing!  This book had great parts to it and I really liked her experiences that she shared.  She went into details of life happenings that framed how God is using her now.  Comforting others with the ways she has been comforted.  I thought she had great challenges and addressed things like living in a Facebook/Instagram world and remaining REAL.  Also, the importance of putting that away to embrace what God has placed right in front of you.  This is relatable material in the world that we live in.  And true!!  Life flies by and those things should NOT be number 1, or even have a high place in our days full of people and relationships in our mission for the Lord.

Like every book, every person has a opinion of what being real is.  I have an idea of REAL that at times is different than this author. I've seen her REAL before, but it's not all that REAL to me.  Check it out and see what you think. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Real-Invitation-Celebrate-Planned-ebook/dp/B01HHJIKBW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483726777&sr=1-1&keywords=choosing+real+by+bekah+pogue

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/choosing-real-bekah-jane-pogue/1123611041?ean=9781634099646

https://www.christianbook.com/choosing-invitation-celebrate-life-doesnt-planned/9781634099646/pd/099646?event=ESRCG