Did you know that Valentine’s Day is also Library Lover’s Day? I didn’t or I might have celebrated with a trip to my local branch. There are so many digital options that are cheap, easy and convenient for reading these days. But I still love a library (and a librarian – Hi, Mom!). I don’t know if it is the sheer volume of potentially impactful books or the memories I have with libraries, but they hold a certain romance for me.
Someone asked me a very intriguing book related question recently that I now want to ask you. “Besides the Bible, what other books have made the most impact on your spiritual life?”
I confess that I went threw a stage a few years back when I had so many “spiritual” books I wanted to read that I relied on them almost exclusively for scripture. The Holy Spirit convicted me of the danger of only ever reading an author-selected verse without context and the writer’s commentary on said verse.
But God has truly gifted some people to teach the Bible, and many do it well in book form. So I didn’t throw out all books on biblical matters. There is too much wisdom to be gleaned there. But I make sure to take a more balanced approach to how much time I spend reading ABOUT God’s Word and reading God’s actual word.
There is a lot of hooey out there. And no less hooey labeled as “Christian”. We must be discerning in what we choose to influence us. So I thought we could help each other. I want to share my list of spiritually impactful books. And I hope you will help me by commenting with at least one book you would recommend to me.
So here is my list:
Spiritually Impactful Books
- Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science by Drew Dyck
- The Louder Song: Listening for Hope in the Midst of Lament by Aubrey Sampson
- Is the Bible Good for Women?: Seeking Clarity and Confidence Through a Jesus-Centered Understanding of Scripture by Wendy Alsup
- Braving Sorrow Together: The Transformative Power of Faith and Community When Life is Hard by Ashleigh Slater
- Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds by Jen Wilkin
- The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: And English Professor’s Journey Into Christian Faith by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
- One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp
- I Beg to Differ: Navigating Difficult Conversations with Truth and Love by Tim Muehlhoff
- It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered by Lysa TerKeurst
Happy reading! And don’t forget to share your recommendations with us!
And now for this week’s featured post from the link up!
Nylse from lifenotesencouragement.com shared her thoughts on Black History Month and educated me on Black Love Day. Learn more by reading Black is Love.
1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.
2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.
3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).
We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.
MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
TAMMY KENNINGTON – Restoring hope. Pursuing peace.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Now Let’s Link Up!
To find some great places where I might share this post, click here.
Great list, Lauren. And you are certainly right about a lot of hooey out there with a Christian label. We do need to be discerning and, as you stated, be sure to read the Bible for ourselves so we recognize it. I’m reading several things lately. One is an old book by A.W. Pink entitled The Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer, an amazing book. I see the Lord’s prayer so much clearer. One book that I have read several times that impacted my life greatly beginning many years ago is Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney and a more recent one of his, Family Worship. A biography that greatly impacted me was Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. Thanks for hosting and have a blessed weekend.
The Eric Metaxas book is already on my list. But I will check out some of your other suggestions. Thank you, Donna.
I heartily “Amen” everything you said in the beginning, from not letting good books replace the Bible, to gleaning wisdom from writers on biblical topics, to watching out for hooey.
Your #5, 6, and 7 here would be among my favorites.
Christian biographies are high on my list. They aren’t instructional in style, but I have learned so much from a peek into others’ lives. Some of my favorites: Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur by Frank Houghton, By Searching and In the Arena by Isobel Kuhn, Goforth of China, Climbing, and How I Know God Answers Prayer by Rosalind Goforth–as well as others about Hudson Taylor, Eric Liddell, Gladys Aylward, Mary Slessor, Adoniram Judson, and more.
Other nonfiction favorites: Spiritual Depression by David Martin Lloyd-Jones, When God Weeps by Joni Eareckson Tada, The Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund, The Good Portion: Scripture: The Doctrine of Scripture for Every Woman by Keri Folmar, Ten Words to Live By: Delighting In and Doing What God Commands by Jen Wilkin, as well as her two books on God’s attributes.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a good biography, Barbara. Thanks for the reminder. The Bonhoeffer one has been on my list for a while. Gentle and Lowly as well. And I love Jen Wilkin. Will definitely check out some of your suggestions.
I always get fury when friends start talking about one author as if he or she has all the answers or wisdom. I prefer to get my direction from the Bible. ‘Spiritual book’ might encourage me, or help me understand something better, but they should never replace the Bible. I loved A Shepherd Looks at Psalms 23, and Run with the Horses (by Eugene H Petersen).
I like Eugene Peterson, but have not read those.
A very interesting list – I’m familiar with only two of the books, though I recognize several author’s names.
I could have listed so many more, but had to stop myself.
Thanks for this great list. I’m always looking for the next book to read, and recommendations are the best way to find great books. There are some books I haven’t heard of before on your list. I’ve saved it for when I finish my current read 😊
I love book recs too! Happy reading!
I know it’s hard to come up with lists like these when you have lots of favorites! So thanks for doing this, Lauren. Several of these are new to me. Two of my favorites you listed that I have read are Mere Christianity and One Thousand Gifts, even though they couldn’t be more different! 🙂
Mere Christianity wasn’t easy, but worth the work.
Oh this list look great-thanks for sharing Lauren!
Your welcome, Holly!
How about “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster.
I don’t know his one, Jonathan. But I will check it out! Thank you.
Great List Lauren, I’m going to have to look into these. I’, forever adding to my to be read pile. LOL! Thank you.
Visiting you today from Let’s Have Coffee #24
I will surely never reach the end of my reading list!
I was kind of bummed to not know that Valentine’s day was also Library Lovers Day; I would definitely have made a trip to my local library. I’m there a few times most weeks anyway as I do LOVE my local library and the wonderful staff there. I just have to show a bit of restraint when picking out a stack of books to bring home or I stress myself out trying to read them all before the due dates.
I know what you mean about stressing by the due date. Even though I can most likely recheck, I still want to finish!