They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but I’ve always loved a good book. I know a really good book after I’ve read it because it pushes me to be more like Christ and to grow my weak areas of my faith. In honor of the month of love, I thought I’d share five books I loved that I’ve read in the last year that loved me back. What I mean by loving me back is that these books have had a lasting, positive, encouraging impact on the way I view my life, ministry, and faith. I’m hoping that by sharing these that maybe they might help your faith grow as well!
Please note that though I have included the Amazon link to each of these books in this post, I receive no commission or any other form of payment for “advertising” these books. I also am not speaking on behalf of these authors or promoting their books to help them gain riches of any kind. I only share these because of the positive impact they’ve had on me.
- Everybody Always by Bob Goff
The tag line for this books states, “Becoming love in a world full of setbacks and difficult people.” I don’t pretend to know what your life is like, but mine has been absolutely full of setbacks and very difficult people. As a matter of fact, sometimes my setbacks are caused by my natural ability at being a difficult person. But if Jesus could continue to show love to the very rude Pharisees (who would eventually lead Him to death) and if Jesus could spend three years serving and teaching the man who would betray Him in the end, I think I can handle loving my neighbor, co-worker, and fellow church member when they’re being difficult. Through his many stories, Bob Goff exemplifies the idea of loving the supposedly “unlovable” of God’s creatures.
My favorite quote from this book is: 
2. Get Lost by Dannah Gresh
Okay: so the entire premise of the book is that if a man is going to pursue you, he’ll find you lost in God’s way. Sounds like if you’re not a young, single woman then you can’t get anything out of it, right? Wrong! This book was the one with the greatest impact on my faith this past year (besides the Bible of course 🙂 ). I know it sounds like a dating book and I know the author introduces it as a dating book and I know the author ends the book with dating. But… everything inbetween is a step-by-step process on how to change your priorities in practical, easy ways to make God first in your thoughts, your emotions, your choices, your time. My faith was challenged and encouraged in a way that I’ve never had it grow before! So, whether you’re a 14-years-old girl who’s never gone on a date or you’re a 45-years-old mom of three kids: this book is for you and your faith.
My favorite quote from this book is:
3. The Last Arrow by Erwin McManus
I feel like I should preface this one to say that it is very obvious that Erwin McManus and I do not agree on our theology 100% and neither would we agree on our practice of our theology in the form of a church. But this book — his swan song — would encourage any Christian to think about their efforts for the Gospel and how they want to live. This book strongly encourages every person to not leave this life with anything left unsused. McManus encourages us to use all that we are, have, and do to live as biblically and gospel-focused as possible. If you’ve felt like you’ve failed a lot lately, if you’ve felt discouraged or like nothing seems to be working out the way you thought it would, if you don’t want to end your life full of regret, this is the book for you.
My favorite quote from this book is:
4. The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness
This is by far the shortest book I’ve read in the last year which is great if you don’t have a lot of time to read. I would also strongly recommend that you do not listen to this book on Audible because the voice actor is extremely monotone. But this book!!! I had been dealing with high levels of anxiety and panic attacks before I read this book, but when I took the advice of this author and tried t olive in the freedom of self-forgetfullness by making my thoughts and actions more others-focused, I found that my anxiety levels dropped dramatically and I stopped having panic attacks altogether! I am thoroughly convinced that almost all of our anxiety would drop away if we would simply think of ourselves less (not think of ourselves AS less, but think of ourselves less often).
My favorite quote from this book was:
5. Open Your Bible by Raechel Myers and Amanda B. Williams
When I entered this Bible study with a women’s small group at my church, I was convinced that I wouldn’t learn anything from it. I mean, I was technically already reading my Bible on a near-daily basis and I had read through my Bible several times. Then, I got into the book and realized that I believed a lot of the lies that these authors brought up in the Bible. I had days where I felt like I couldn’t read the Bible because I was too busy or where I felt like I was too steeped in sin or bitterness to approach the Bible. The authors teach us in very practical, short studies throughout this Bible study about recognizing lies that keep us from reading God’s Word, how to find time to read God’s Word, and how to let God’s Word apply to our very real, hard situations that happen every day in our lives. The Bible is relevant today and now for the person you are today and now: it’s not just for past you that sinned less or had a stronger faith and it’s not just for future you that will have your life together.
My favorite quote from this book was: 
I firmly believe that a reading Christian is a growing Christian: you can’t grow if you’re never challenged or encouraged in your faith. Yes, we grow through church; yes, we grow through prayer; yes, we grow through time in God’s Word. We also grow by taking the time to read. So pick one, grow with it, and let a book show you some love! 🙂
practicallivingforthechristiangirl.com 