1. The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
BOOK SUMMARY: According to Pastor Mark Batterson in his book, The Circle Maker, “Drawing prayer circles around our dreams isn’t just a mechanism whereby we accomplish great things for God. It’s a mechanism whereby God accomplishes great things in us.” Do you ever sense that there’s far more to prayer, and to God’s vision for your life, than what you’re experiencing? It’s time you learned from the legend of Honi the Circle Maker—a man bold enough to draw a circle in the sand and not budge from inside it until God answered his prayers for his people. What impossibly big dream is God calling you to draw a prayer circle around? Sharing inspiring stories from his own experiences as a circle maker, Mark Batterson will help you uncover your heart’s deepest desires and God-given dreams and unleash them through the kind of audacious prayer that God delights to answer.
PERSONAL REVIEW: Mark Batterson does a great job of not just convicting you, but also increasing your appetitte for prayer and knowing God. This was a tough book to put down at night, but forever changed my outlook on the power of prayer.
2. Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan
BOOK SUMMARY: In the Forgotten God, Francis Chan contends that we’ve ignored the Spirit for far too long, and that without Him, we operate in our own strength, only accomplishing human-sized results. It’s time for the beloved church of Jesus Christ to reverse the trend of neglect. Let’s pursue the Spirit-filled life of effectiveness God desires and we desire.
PERSONAL REVIEW: I am ashamed to admit that before this book, I had know idea who the Holy Spirit was. For instance,The Holy Spirit is a who, not an it. Francis Chan really grows your personal walk with Jesus in this book. This is not a book you can breeze through at bedtime, it requires study and patience. But, in the end it was well worth it.
3. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
BOOK SUMMARY: Purpose Driven Life is divided into 40 days of reading in six easy-to-read sections. In the first section, Warren answers the fundamental question every human has, “What on earth am I here for?” He does this by talking about our origin with God and the fact that our life is not an accident. Warren writes that although life is temporary, we can have an eternal impact as we discover our true purpose. In the second section, Rick Warren unveils the first purpose of humans: we were planned for God’s pleasure. In this section, he writes about discovering true worship and friendship with God.
PERSONAL REVIEW: Although the Purpose Driven Life is technically considered a devotional, it goes much deeper than those “one page per day”devotionals. The Purpose Driven Life really challenges you not only as a Christian but as a person beyond that. I have read the book twice, once in High School and then again after college. Reading it twice, reminded me of things that I had forgotten, but also grew me in different areas.
4. Lord, I Need Answers: A 28-Day Journey to Growing Stronger in Your Faith by David Arthur and Kay Arthur
BOOK SUMMARY: Kay Arthur’s top selling Lord, Teach Me to Pray in 28 Days and Lord, Teach Me to Study the Bible in 28 Days (more than 700,000 combined copies sold) direct Christians toward greater communication with God and exploration of His Word. Now she and respected teacher and leader David Arthur lead a journey to a deeper commitment to and relationship with Christ.
PERSONAL REVIEW: I am still in the process of completing my “28-Day Journey”, but so far I love this book. It is just a few pages a day, but the book is very well written, and easy to follow. It seems that when it comes to Christian books there are not intermediate level books. I am not a new believer, but I have not lived long enough to be that person that knows a scripture for every life situation. This book meets me right where I am at.
5. Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer
BOOK SUMMARY: Worry, doubt, confusion, depression, anger and feelings of condemnation: all these are attacks on the mind. If readers suffer from negative thoughts, they can take heart! Joyce Meyer has helped millions win these all-important battles. In her most popular bestseller ever, the beloved author and minister shows readers how to change their lives by changing their minds.
She teaches how to deal with thousands of thoughts that people think every day and how to focus the mind the way God thinks. And she shares the trials, tragedies, and ultimate victories from her own marriage, family, and ministry that led her to wondrous, life-transforming truth–and reveals her thoughts and feelings every step of the way.
PERSONAL REVIEW: Though this book is considered one of Meyer’s older books since it came out in 2002, I still consider it one of her bests. We all have those thoughts of worry, self doubt and criticism. Meyer teaches us how to not only get deal with the thoughts, but overcome them as well.
6. Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
BOOK SUMMARY: Jesus Calling is a devotional filled with uniquely inspired treasures from heaven for every day of the year. After many years of writing in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to listen to God with pen in hand, writing down whatever she believed He was saying to her. It was awkward at first, but gradually her journaling changed from monologue to dialogue. She knew her writings were not inspired as Scripture is, but journaling helped her grow closer to God. Others were blessed as she shared her writings, until people all over the world were using her messages. They are written from Jesus’ point of view, thus the title Jesus Calling. It is Sarah’s fervent prayer that our Savior may bless readers with His presence and His peace in ever deeper measure.
PERSONAL REVIEW: Have you ever gone to church and thought that your Pastor’s sermon was preaching to you? Or have you ever turned on the radio and found personal hope or joy in a certain song? That is exactly how Young’s daily messages are EVERY time you open the page. This is a quick and easy way to stay connected with God no matter what you are walking though in life.
7. Crazy Love by Francis Chan
BOOK SUMMARY: God is love. Crazy, relentless, all-powerful love. Have you ever wondered if we’re missing it? It’s crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe–the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor–loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. Whether you’ve verbalized it yet or not…we all know somethings wrong. Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts–it’s falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis Chan describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.
8. I am Second by Doug Bender
BOOK SUMMARY: Across North America and around the world, millions of people are proclaiming a new anthem: “I Am Second.” No longer are they number one. These people have come alive to the truth that God has a plan for this world…a plan that specifically includes them. In this book you will discover their stories–some from notable people and some not so well known– who have had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ and are walking in radical obedience by putting Him first in their lives.
These stories are raw and real, dealing with the darkest moments of the human experience. Addictions, depression, infidelity, abortion, cancer, pornography, loneliness, jealousy, divorce, war…each story shows the redemptive power of Jesus…bringing purpose and true joy to every secret place of life. Along with each story, there are also helpful insights from the Bible and authentic life application for you or a group of your friends to discuss.
Your story may not be included in this book…but you too can be a Second.
9. The 5 Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman
BOOK SUMMARY: Marriage should be based on love, right? But does it seem as though you and your spouse are speaking two different languages? New York Times bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman guides couples in identifying, understanding, and speaking their spouse’s primary love language—quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, or physical touch.
By learning the five love languages, you and your spouse will discover your unique love languages and learn practical steps in truly loving each other. Chapters are categorized by love language for easy reference, and each one ends with specific, simple steps to express a specific language to your spouse and guide your marriage in the right direction. A newly designed love languages assessment will help you understand and strengthen your relationship. You can build a lasting, loving marriage together.
PERSONAL SUMMARY: You can never read this book too early. Even if you are not dating anyone, this book will give you a unique perspective on not only what to look for in a partner, but how to love on people that are already in your life.
10. Living Faith: Willing to be stirred as a pot of paint by Helen Roseveare
BOOK SUMMARY: The quiet, consistent lives of Christian students drew me and began to convince me. The teaching in their Bible study groups and the assurance in their daily prayer meetings brought a sense of sober reality. They talked of faith as an objective reality, not a blind leap in the dark, hoping for the best. Faith to them was something far more wonderful and real than mere believism or frightened escapism. They spoke of faith as a fact, a gift from God himself to his people to enable them to grasp and comprehend truth. Thus starts Helen Roseveare search for spiritual understanding of the world around her a world that she was to have a significant impact on once her new faith led her to Africa. Dr. Helen Roseveare has a led an exciting life, dealing with human beings in the depths of their despair and at their most joyous.
SIDE NOTE: You might not know the book, but you have probably heard the story of baby and the hot water bottle – SEE HERE
