Customer Reviews

A Godward Life: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The book came in the mail like hundreds of others. You see, I review books for a living. In other words, I get paid to be a cynic about the publishing industry. Know up front that I don't give 5 stars lightly or easily.

I'd heard of John Piper often and heard him quoted even more so it seemed. A devotional? Maybe this will be a good introduction before reading A Hunger for God or Desiring God.

I was taking a trip and decided to take A Godward Life along since my spiritual rhythm would be off while I was gone. Little did I know that I would be caught up in the personal correspondence and private musings of one of today's greatest pastors. I read all 120 readings in 7 short days--some twice, many highlighted, a few quoted in my journal.

I read a lot of books. I've seen a thousand devotionals. This was the first one to change my life. For me, this is the My Utmost for His Highest for my generation. I can't wait for the sequel.

Be sure to read Piper's letters to the editor of the local newspaper. How refreshing. Get to know the man and his thoughts--not just his outer presentation.

If you want beauty and joy and hope and gladness and delight and insight and wisdom and knowledge and encouragement and edification and discernment and inspiration and rebuke and conviction and repentance and humilty and freedom and love and courage and growth - read this book.

Piper's books are all good. And this one is no disappointment. Like book one, this book is full of reflection on Scripture, lessons from history, and insight in culture.

If you read this book, you will learn A LOT of "little things." You'll get a taste for Augustine and Jonathan Edwards. You'll learn a little bit about George Muller and David Brainerd. You'll be challenged to study and pray and persevere and worship. You'll be shocked by insightful commentary on abortion. You'll be stirred by an inspirational story of a Christian family who dug their own graves before martyrdom. You'll be instructed in difficult doctrines like the atonement and omnipotence and sovereignty.

You'll be amazed by rain. You'll find out why God created sleep. You'll be challenged on how to stay away from the traps of computer unreality. You'll be told how to keep happiness from getting thin. You'll see apparent contradictions in the Bible resolved. And you'll learn how to "drink the wine of God."

You'll learn A LOT of little things. But you'll learn one big thing in all of these little things. You'll learn what it means to savor the supremacy of God in all of life. And that's important. So get this book.

I just picked up this book again today. I LOVE being able to read a short excerpt from John Piper and really get something substantial out of it without having to invest tons of time. Even the Introduction to this book is captivating! I especially love Chapters 15 and 25, about reading. Very thought-provoking.

The chapters are only 2-3 pages, but aren't short on meaning. These are MEATY chapters and you will definitely have something to chew on for the next day(s) to come. I intend to buy Godward Life Book 2 as well.

See my other reviews for other devotional book recommendations!

I am going to have to respectfully disagree with the reviewer who said that this is ineffective as a devotional. My wife and I use it as a "just before bedtime" devotional and have greatly benefited from it. OK, I admit I probably benefit more than my wife because I am a Piper fan, but she hasn't complained.

There is a sense in which you could write one review that covers all of Piper's writings, because all of his writings are on the theme of the supremacy of God and/or Christian hedonism. This is no different - it is a compilation of short devotional readings that apply those two themes to various topics.

There is no common thread in these devotions, but to me that is part of the fun of this book. Piper is all over the map here - from marriage, to zeal, to doctrine, to reading, to abortion, to missions, to parenting, and dozens more. I find it spiritually and intellectually challenging to open up to a page and to be called upon to think about a topic that I don't usually think about. And, as I said, with this "supremacy of God/Christian hedonism" theme running throughout, the book helps expand one's worldview, seeing all of life as being lived for God's glory.

Great book - well deserving of 5 stars.

A devotional book: John Piper's A Godward Life, Book Two (Multnomah, 1999). I generally don't go much for such things, preferring to read Scripture straight, but Mr. Piper's 120 meditations are extraordinarily well crafted. He shows us how we can "prayerfully ransack the Bible." He gives us 26 questions to ask of those who demand gender-free Scripture,12 questions to ask when considering a job, and good things to think about in coming to an assessment of pluralism. He doesn't dodge issues involving God's judgment in history ("What does the slaughter of the Amorites mean?") and in our own lives ("What if our dying is discipline?").

This new devotional by John Piper is exciting in the way that it takes deep and sometimes diffucult truths and transforms them into something simple to understand. The simplicity of his approach in no way undermines Scripture, but rather inspires. After having studied the Bible for years, I found myself saying "Why didn't I ever see that before." Be prepared to have joy 're-infused' into your walk with God!

There are many devotional books on the market, some of them sold as new editions of the Bible, and in my experience, they are mostly fluff. Not so with _A Godward Life._ These 120 readings, 2-3 pages each, spill over with inspired thoughts on the whole gamut of Christian living and Biblical thinking.

Piper explains his intent for these readings in the introduction. He doesn't want to tempt us away from reading the Bible; he wants to inspire us to a greater passion for God Himself and to take that passion to our reading or studying of God's Word and to our living by faith through His grace. To that end, he gives us 120 brief readings on God's character, His awesome grace, life in a secular world, loving our enemies, killing the sin within us, defending the truth, and more.

These are far more than readings geared at giving you a good feeling about God over your morning coffee. They may challenge your understanding of Scripture and will certainly help you live to God's glory throughout the week. A great book for college students, especially if they are attending a secular university!

I recommend this book as good Biblical teaching; but more than that, it enables you to spend time with a passionate man of God, full of love and life.

These short meditations were originally written for Piper's church monthly magazine. The church is Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis, Minnesota: what else could you call the magazine but The Star?

As others have commented, this is not your ordinary book of meditations: it includes reflections on the wrath of God as well as the love of God, and musings on subjects as varied as "Enduring the Pain of a Flawed Marriage" and "The Power of Books and How To Read Them."

Several of the short pieces tell the story of a great Christian. This is one of Piper's best gifts to the church. He has a wonderful way of telling a story and pointing us to Jesus.

One reviewer was put off by some of the subjects. Some of them may irk us, but these jabs may be used by God to make us better people, as we reflect on them.

Highly recommended.

I have tried and tried to get into "daily devotional" books for years. I have read in Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost for His Highest" and C. H. Spurgeon's (whom I love!) "Morning by Morning," and even A. W. Tozer's "Renewed Day by Day." They just don't help me much. None of them, that is, except Piper. Piper is different. Piper gives food for the soul.

These meditations are strong meat in bite-size form. Piper meditates on Scripture passages (like Matt. 6:34, Phil. 1:21, and Rom. 5:8), gives snap-shot biography (of men like Abraham Lincoln, Adonirum Judson, and Charles Spurgeon), and reflects on social concerns (such as abortion, advertising with sex, and the lottery) - all from a God-centered perspective.

Not only is the content good, but Piper's writing style is both intellectually engaging and emotionally stimulating. He thinks deep. And when you read Piper, YOU begin to think deep. He is about as far from superficial as the Pillsbury Dough-boy is from muscle-tone.

This book helps me prime my spiritual pump. Some of my favorite meditations are: #19 "O SPARE US THIS REBUKE IN WORSHIP: Thoughts on the Handicapped Heart", #40 "WHEN UNCLOTHED IS UNFITTING: Thoughts on Selling with Sex", and #106 "THE POWER OF A FATHER'S DISCIPLINE: Memories of John G. Paton's Father." And there are so many more.

I commend this book with all my heart. Read. Think. And Live.

I was recommended to John Piper as I am in a stage of "God thirsting", insatiable for the truth, and getting to "know God". I purchased most of Piper's books, thus far I enjoy both versions of Godward Life the most. I read it at the airport as I travel frequently, and one time found myself borrowing a highlighter from my neighbor on the plane. The book made me understand the complete truth behind the passage "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." My heart became very peaceful henceafter, indeed the truth shall set you free.

Some of his preaching are easy to accept, but 'hard to practice' daily in life, but I know those are the truth God is teaching me. Indeed the narrower path has its hardships, yet also its blissful rewards. My next readings will be "The Pleasures of God and Future Grace".