And so I bought the book

When I began writing this blog back in ’07, I said that I would sometimes write about any interesting books that I was reading. I have in fact, read several good books since that time, but I have never felt led to write about any of them until now.

In my posting of September 5, '08, I told about how I had been blessed by the September-October edition of Pray! Magazine. A large part of what spoke to me in that issue was the interview with John Eldredge regarding his book, Walking with God. The subject matter in this book was so close to my heart that before the day was over, I had ordered a copy of the book for myself.

The article made me believe that Mr. Eldredge had some unique insights into something that I have always held close to my heart; that we can, and should have two-way conversation with God as a normal and regular dimension of our Christian life. So I waited with great anticipation for the book to arrive. And when it did arrive, I was not disappointed!

I read it through over the next several weeks, trying not to read too much at once, but savoring each idea and concept as I went. I finished it just before my annual “work marathon” began, which led me to read it again, beginning recently.

I am now on my second “trip” through this book, and I think that it is one of the best and most timely books I have ever read.

I don’t want to spoil it for you but I want to quote two portions of the book, Walking with God that I think will capture the essence of what you will find inside.

First, he says on page 49:

“Because we do have a relationship with God secured for us by Jesus Christ and all He has done, we can now grow in developing that relationship. We can . . . move into an experience of God in our lives that deepens over time. And that includes learning to hear His voice. Prayer, not as making speeches to God, in a one-sided conversation, but as the act of talking to, and hearing from God. A two-sided conversation. It is a rich inheritance we have.”

I believe that this paragraph captures the essence of what this work is all about.

Second, in a statement that captured for me three of the main recurring themes that are found in this book:

“[there are] three issues—that the heart is central to the Christian life, that we are invited into a conversational intimacy with God, and that spiritual warfare is real. Rather core categories. . . . What you believe about these issues will profoundly shape the rest of your Christian experience.” (P. 165)

He speaks a lot about that last item, spiritual warfare, in this book. John Eldredge is not a man who underestimates his enemy. I found this particular theme to be helpful, as I, like many of us, often forget the truth expressed by the Apostle, Paul:

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12, NLT)

So let me encourage you to get a copy of Walking With God. It will be of great help to you in learning to walk with God, and to carry on that two-way conversation that He want each of us to have with Him. It is available through all the major Christian book retailers, and the online bookstores. I also presume that it can be purchased direct through it’s publisher, Thomas Nelson. I know that you will be both challenged and blessed by reading it.

Thanks for sharing this moment with me today.