I heard it said once that a favorite book is like taking an axe to the frozen sea inside us. I love books, and I’ve come to believe that God absolutely loves to use the written word to encourage and heal us from the inside out. Here are eleven of my favorite books. May one of them be just what you need at this moment in time.
Special Note: No affiliate links are used below. Just straightforward links to Amazon to help make things easier for you should reading turn to shopping:)
Unforgettable Book
I first read The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett in April 2017. As you probably already know, it’s a classic. Storytelling at its finest. Each character is so masterfully brought to life you’ll feel like instant companions as you get lost in their story.
I believe God is constantly at work loving us, encouraging us, and revealing Himself to us. And so, in the spring of 2017, I decided to look for Jesus everywhere! Not just in the obvious places but anywhere and everywhere. And you know what?! It’s shocking how frequently the story of Christ can be seen when you go looking for it, especially His death, burial, and resurrection! Not directly, of course, but in the most surprising and beautifully subtle ways!
What made The Secret Garden unforgettable was how God revealed throughout its narrative the story of Christ and the ability of the Holy Spirit to renew our minds. Amazing! You know how Scripture says, You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart? Well, it was The Secret Garden that brought that Scripture to life!
He had known it before in a way, he had hoped it and felt it and thought about it, but just at that minute something had rushed all through him – a sort of rapturous belief and realisation, and it had been so strong that he could not help calling out. I shall live for ever and ever and ever!” from The Secret Garden
Book My Best Friend Gave Me
During the darkest time I’ve experienced, my thoughtful husband, sweet Larry Dale, gave me God Thinks You’re Wonderful by Max Lucado. It’s one of those tiny Hallmark gift books you can read in about ten minutes. Of course, sweet Larry Dale added his own touches—little handwritten notes here and there. How is it that such a simple book can move the heart?!
God Thinks You’re Wonderful is one of my favorite books because its message is clear – God is crazy about you!
The next time a sunrise steals your breath…or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless…remain that way. Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, Do you like it? I did it just for you.” from God Thinks You’re Wonderful
Book That Gives Me Happy Tears
I must admit I’m a huge fan of happy tears! How about you?! Well, my friend, All Things New by John Eldredge is an exquisite invitation to indulge in chapter after chapter of happy tear moments.
I mean, take a look at the sub-title: Heaven, Earth, and the Restoration of Everything You Love. This favorite book will flood your soul with unbreakable, unquenchable hope! Because for those who place their faith in the finished work of Christ – in the end, nothing is lost. And as I’m sure you can agree, over time here on planet Earth, the losses can sure begin to stack up.
But Jesus promised the renewal of all things. But what does that mean exactly? And how can His promise rescue our fears in this present time? Well, my friend, inside All Things New, the author skillfully and passionately unpacks the hope found in Jesus’ promise.
I read All Things New outside with God’s creation abuzz all around me. I highly recommend you do the same for an even richer, more dynamic experience of God’s love for you.
If you are wondering why your soul feels so unsettled, and what there really is to look forward to, if you are longing for a wild, astonishing hope that could be an anchor for your life, read on. You’re going to be very glad you did.” from All Things New
Book I Read Again and Again
Do you love a daily devotional based on the truth of God’s Word? Me too! Every devotional I’ve ever enjoyed, once finished I moved on. On to the next one time and time again. That is until I found Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.
Now, I realize the odds of you not already knowing about Jesus Calling is a longshot. But when I think of a favorite book I read again and again, it’s hands down Jesus Calling. I have a beautiful leather-bound copy in my office and the app on my iPhone. Both include the scriptures the author used to inspire each day’s devotional.
But what I love most about Jesus Calling and the reason I come back day after day – is the healing power of the love of God. Jesus Calling is written in such a way so that you might experience the reality that God is with you and unconditionally loves you.
My soul needs the healing power of the love of God daily. Therefore, Jesus Calling is the first thing I read each morning. And if you’re like me and love to combine other resources with your study of God’s Word, Jesus Calling is a perfect companion.
Rest with Me a while. You have journeyed up a steep, rugged path in recent days. The way ahead is shrouded in uncertainty. Look neither behind you nor before you. Instead, focus your attention on Me, your constant Companion. Trust that I will equip you fully for whatever awaits you on your journey.” from Jesus Calling
Book I Would Grab If the House is Burning
If our little lake house ever catches on fire, I would make every effort to rescue four things: Sweet Larry Dale, my wedding ring, the handprint of my son, Brandon, when he was two, and the first Bible I purchased after my salvation on March 2, 1999.
Honestly, I used to believe reading the Bible was a waste of time. I mean, who can possibly understand it?! And, quite frankly, it never seemed relevant. How could something written so long ago connect with life here and now?
I can’t even begin to count all the millions of ways I was wrong—so wrong. Ugh. To this day, I’m still surprised and humbled by the Holy Spirit’s ability to reveal God’s Word and meet you right where you’re living, right where you’re struggling.
For the Word of God is alive and active.” Hebrews 4:12
It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” Isaiah 55:11
Best Book I Ever Read
What’s the best book I ever read? That question seemed seriously daunting, but then I remembered George. I love George. To be more precise, The Autobiography of George Muller.
George Muller was a pastor in Bristol, England, and his autobiography is a collection of excerpts from his diary during his ministry there, circa 1836. George and his wife, Mary, built five orphanages and cared for more than 10,000 orphans during his life. They established 117 schools, educating over 120,000 children. And all of this was accomplished without ever drawing a salary, asking for donations, or going into debt. But how?! George prayed and believed.
The Autobiography of George Muller contains 235 pages of answered prayer. George and I don’t share the exact same theology, but God used the book’s 235 pages of answered prayer to paint the most compelling picture of childlike dependence and faith. George taught me to pray and believe and then watch for what God does next – and that has been and continues to be the greatest adventure I’ve ever known.
Do not think that I am extraordinary or that I have privileges above God’s other dear children. I expect answers to my prayers, and I believe that God hears me.” from The Autobiography of George Muller.
Childhood Favorite Book
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, I’ll look back on my childhood sometimes and wonder, How did I survive? How did my mind stay intact? Outside of the mercy and grace of God, I live in gratitude to Jean Craighead George, the author of My Side of the Mountain.
I vividly remember when I was eight years old inside the Jane Long Elementary School Library in Midland, Texas. I remember frantically racing to the location of my favorite book, fearing that this might be the day I wouldn’t find it. And the relief I felt seeing it there on the shelf…waiting for me. Opening its cover, I see the library check-out card with my name handwritten about a zillion times.
The Spanish novelist Carlos Ruiz Zafon once said, Books are mirrors: you only see in them what you already have inside you. My Side of the Mountain tells the adventurous survival story of Sam, who ran far from home to live in the wilderness. I believe God used Sam’s survival story to connect with the survival instincts divinely placed within me. As I would read, in my imagination, I lived far from my home, tucked safely with Sam inside his burned-out hemlock tree in the Catskill Mountains.
I look at winter, and find spring in the snow.” from My Side of the Mountain
Spring in the snow. Hope in the wilderness. Thank you, Jesus, for My Side of the Mountain.
Book That Helps Me Feel
As I said at the beginning, a favorite book is like taking an axe to the frozen sea inside us. Well, my friend, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop is a perfect book befitting that description. OMGoodness! The healing, therapeutic nature of this splendid book!
To be forthcoming, Dark Cloud, Deep Mercy is a book on the practice and power of lament. I know. I hear you. Lament?! Not the usual type of book one would pack for the beach. But hear me out: sometimes…as silly as it sounds…we need permission to vocalize our pain. Sometimes, we need permission to use our voices to cry out to God raw and unfiltered. To vomit out the angst stuck in our soul. Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy can help guide the way.
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy taught me how lament can be the path between heartbreak and hope! Just imagine crying out to God as David (a man after God’s own heart) did in the Psalms?! And you know what? David always landed in a soothing pool of hope with his trust in God’s goodness restored.
Lament is the honest cry of a hurting heart wrestling with the paradox of pain and the promise of God’s goodness. Therefore, lament stands in the gap between pain and promise.” from Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy
Book That Makes Me Laugh Out Loud
Okay, let’s light up a bit, eh? Here’s a book that’s equally compelling, vastly inspiring, and seriously giggle-delicious—Love Does by the hilarious and gifted writer Bob Goff.
Bob’s incredible stories are literally jaw-dropping! I mean, the escapades this guy dreams up are ingenious – love expressed in the most whimsical ways! The love of God simply oozes delightfully through Bob, and the pages of Love Does.
And if you fall in love with Bob, as I did, and you want more – his follow-up book, Everybody Always, will take you on another daring, unpredictable journey. As Bob would say, Don’t put a toe in the water with your love; grab your knees and do a cannonball.
That’s because love is never stationary. In the end, love doesn’t just keep thinking about it or keep planning for it. Simply put: love does.” from Love Does
Super Fantastic Book
Based on the author’s real life when he was 23, homeless, and living under a pier on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, The Noticer by Andy Andrews is, in fact, a super fantastic book! Cover to cover, a super fantastic book.
The need to be seen and known is primal and unrelenting. Yet most of us spend our days believing ourselves to be invisible and unknown. But the truth is God, our Creator, sees and knows us. It was while reading The Noticer that the Holy Spirit really convinced me of this truth.
The Noticer is also a masterclass in perspective as Andy is mentored by Jones, a man who befriends him. Story after story illustrates different ways to shift perspective. How to take a beat, become curious and wonder, Hmmm, is there another way to think about this? Feel about this? Look at this? What if I slipped my feet in their shoes?
Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.” from The Noticer
One shift in perspective can change everything!
How Will God Bless You?!
As I’ve been writing about all these favorite books, I’ve pondered and asked: How will God bless you? What will the Holy Spirit reveal if you dive into one of these literary gifts?
Pick one! As you were reading or listening, did one resonate more than the others? Pick that one! Click the link (remember, no affiliate links were used), and easy, peasy, pudding, and pie, the book will appear on your front porch, more than likely tomorrow morning.
Do you have a favorite book?! I’d love to hear about it! Just zip me an email.
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Trusting in Jesus, you have more treasure than pockets. From my heart to yours,
PS: This post was inspired by this sweet little puzzle, which is a great way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.