Reading is one of my favorite things to do. That probably comes as no surprise to anyone who has been hanging around Intentional By Grace for any length of time.
My reading diet has changed tremendously in the last year, but there are some books I return to again and again and again. Those are the books I will be sharing with you today.
The pressure of compiling this short list of books was really overwhelming for me, but the following books sit on my shelf for reference and for regular reading, and often stand in as faithful friends I can refer back to time and time again. There are so many wonderful books out there, and even more that I would likely recommend if we were sitting side by side talking about what you enjoy reading, or what you want to read. But the books on the list that follows are books that I re-read over and over.
Enjoy!
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Christian Living
by Donald Whitney – This book is dogeared and tattered to near pieces. I wrote about this book years ago (you can read it here). This book is a great outline for areas of a Christian’s life in which we should discipline ourselves. It is a helpful tool in the pursuit of godliness.
by Charles H. Spurgeon – This book kick started a movement in my heart to not only understand grace in my mind, but in my heart and life as well. This book cuts through legalism with a knife and shattered me to pieces as God worked in my heart to put me back together through the lens of grace.
by Gloria Furman – The mission of this book isn’t to give some cookie cutter answer to a mom in the trenches, but to give us the gospel over and over and over again. This book is rich in truth and application of the gospel to our daily lives as mothers and it has transformed the lens through which I see my life as a mother.
by Edith Schaeffer – This book is filled with practical ideas of gospel homemaking and why we, as women, feel a deep need and desire to create beauty in our homes. And even why we should! Even as it gives practical ideas and suggestions for creating a home that makes it impossible to not think about God, it’s not legalistic in the slightest. It was refreshing and full of grace!
Fiction to Encourage Your Faith
by Elizabeth Prentiss – I’m tempted to say this is my number one favorite book and it probably is. But I’m too scared to admit it. The pressure! 😉 This book was given to me by one of my past pastor’s wives, and it has stuck with me for years. I read it as a brand new mother, and quite frankly I need to read it again. I think the single most effective thing that was said in this book was this, “God knows these seasons of motherhood and He ordained them. He gets more glory when we serve our children with a joyful heart than He would if we were able to steal away for private devotions with Him.” Oh how I need this reminder often!
by Francine Rivers – This book spoke to the deep recesses of my heart. It is a fictional story based on the truth of God’s word, and it was balm to my broken heart when I read it for the first time. It helped to begin a healing that would take years to complete, but the redemptive story of the Gospel comes alive through this fictional story.
By the way …
If you want to follow along with my reading choices, feel free to check out my Goodreads account. I’m active there and keep track of what I’m reading, what I want to read, as well as the children’s books I have on my shelf (Goodreads holds my inventory list for my home!).
Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram because I love sharing about the books I’m reading there as well as inspirational tidbits on how they have affected me or how I’m implementing what I’m learning.
I hope you enjoy this list and find a book to encourage your faith!
But remember, don’t spend so much time reading about God that you fail to read the word of God. You’ve been blessed and entrusted with the power of the Holy Spirit if you have trusted in Jesus as Savior. He can teach far more than mere man (or woman) ever could!
4 Lies We Believe that Keep Us From Changing
May I suggest to you a book that changed my life 30 years ago? This book has motivated my personal walk because it revealed to me God’s “big picture” and showed me where I fit in it.
Oops! I guess it would help if I told you the title. It’s called Paradise Restored, by David Chilton. After reading it I felt like my vision was changed from seeing black and white to glorious color. I understand the vision and scope of redemption as never before. I have returned to Chilton’s books again and again over the past 30 years.