The Love as a Way of Life Devotional: A Ninety-Day Adventure That Makes Love a Daily Habit (Hardcover)

by Gary Chapman (Author), Elisa Stanford (Contributor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Start Developing the Best Habit of All

To become a person who consistently loves others, you first need to be a loving person. In this companion devotional to Love As a Way of Life, you’ll find inspiration for letting love guide the way you respond to others in every situation. The daily readings capture God’s wisdom and direction in practicing the seven traits of a loving person. Compelling stories and biblical illustrations will show you how to live out the characteristics of kindness, patience, forgiveness, courtesy, humility, generosity, and honesty.

These ninety short devotionals–perfect for reading on your own, with your spouse, or with a friend over coffee–deliver the inspiration and encouragement you need to make love a lasting habit. Whatever your love language, you’ll enjoy richer, more rewarding relationships as you embark on an exciting daily adventure in loving others.

About the Author
Dr. Gary Chapman is the author of twenty-six books, including Love As a Way of Life and the New York Times bestseller The Five Love Languages. An internationally respected marriage and family-life expert, he hosts the daily radio program A Love Language Minute. Dr. Chapman and his wife, Karolyn, live in North Carolina, where he serves on a church staff.

Elisa Stanford is the author of Ordinary Losses: Naming the Graces That Shape Us. She lives in Colorado with her husband and two daughters.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (October 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307444694
• ISBN-13: 978-0307444691
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #442,245 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars together is always better..., February 13, 2009

By	Jeffrey Borden "Pastor" (Western, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I picked up this book, I mistakenly thought that it was a "marriage" devotional. Although it is not specifically intended for marriage, its principles are certainly true in marriage as well as in any other relationship. Based on seven distinguishing characteristics of a loving person, the authors focus on each characteristic for a total of twelve daily devotionals. With each devotional being only 2-4 paragraphs in length, their brevity makes them easily readable in our busy lifestyles. Although they are short, each devotional closes with a prayer, a thought, or a suggested action step, which help the reader take the next step to apply the devotional in their lives. I particularly liked that the authors began the book with devotionals emphasizing that true love is only found in a relationship with Christ and ended the book with devotionals emphasizing that only His grace enables us to extend these characteristics of true love to others.

4.0 out of 5 stars Challenging and encouraging micro-devotional, March 27, 2009

By	Jennifer Bogart "@ Quiverfullfamily.com" (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When Gary Chapman penned The Five Love Languages its sweeping popularity paired with the effectiveness of his work embedded the concept of varying love styles deeply within our society, nearly making him a household name. His work on love then expanded to include love languages for children, teens, languages of apology, languages of communing with God, as well as other titles building upon the basic foundation of love.

When the entirety of scripture is examined it becomes apparent that not only is God's love the most powerful emotive force in existence, it's also the very foundation of the tapestry that He began weaving when He created the world. As followers of Christ our highest ambition is to embody and reflect this love to the world around us - from family and friends to acquaintances and even strangers.

In The Love as a Way of Life Chapman encouraged believers to put love in the center of their lives by developing the qualities of Kindness, Patience, Forgiveness, Courtesy, Humility, Generosity, and Honesty. The Love as a Way of Life Devotional, co-written by Elisa Stanford, provides 90 micro-devotionals to encourage and inspire Christians to develop each loving quality in their lives.

Each devotional segment includes a topical heading, scripture verse, illustration or personal anecdote and a practical action step or prayer. The anecdotes are drawn from scripture, Chapman's life, those of notable Christians such as Mother Teresa, pastors, literary characters and many other sources. The action steps and prayers are practical, helpful ways to become mindful of the unloving behaviours we often exhibit, and provide encouragement to strive to more faithfully represent Christ's love to others.

Each devotional is approximately two brief pages in length and is easily squeezed into the busiest schedule. To be honest, I kept my copy in the bathroom while I was reading it. It's so simple to get in and out of a devotional segment in a matter of minutes, yet the insights stay with you throughout the day. I found myself continually asking if I was behaving in loving ways with my family, and asking God to reveal my weaknesses in each quality listed above. Even my husband (who is not an avid reader) found himself reading through the devotionals' short sessions and would then discuss the impact they made on him.

Though The Love as a Way of Life Devotional is written as a companion devotional to The Love as a Way of Life, it lends itself just as easily to independent study. Not having read the original volume myself, I can attest to the fact that reading it alone will still result in effective self-examination and a desire to press on towards Christ-likeness.

Apart from the daily devotional experience itself, several of the illustrations have stuck with me. Each time I recall them I'm challenged anew, crying out to God to give me His heart for people; that I would be filled more completely with His love; and that others may come to know His love for them through my example.

5.0 out of 5 stars The short, easy-to-read portions make this a wonderful resource for those who want to supplement their reading, March 4, 2009

By	FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

When Jesus was asked what the greatest command is, He surprised the inquirer by offering two commandments: Love God and love others. These were not options for a disciple, but rather by following these two commands, someone could fulfill all of the law. Despite the simplicity of these commands, they can be extremely difficult to follow. That's one reason bestselling author Gary Chapman has penned THE LOVE AS A WAY OF LIFE DEVOTIONAL (co-written with Elisa Stanford), a 90-day devotional designed to help you make love a daily habit.

Designed as a complement to LOVE AS A WAY OF LIFE, Chapman identifies seven characteristics of a loving person: kindness, patience, forgiveness, courtesy, humility, generosity and honesty. He believes that by reflecting these qualities in everyday life, we reflect the love of God to our friends, family and spouse.

Each short reflection begins with a scripture, then includes a reading portion that's two or three minutes long, and concludes with a thought, prayer or action step. Many of the reflections draw on inspirational stories or quotes. Readers will be familiar with illustrations from Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi and others. But some of the best stories are the personal ones from Chapman's life. For example, Chapman tells the story of his friend, Joe Warner, who visits his home every Christmas with a box filled with sugary sweet oranges. Though Warner is in his 80s, he continues to pursue such acts of kindness and offers a colorful reminder that love is often portrayed in small yet significant ways.

Another beautiful story is told of Mary Jo Copeland's care of the homeless and poor at Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The primary mission is to reach out to the disadvantaged. Copeland's practical approach to helping others by providing everything from socks to warm meals is a tangible expression of God's love.

Chapman writes: "The life of Christ reminds us that only when we take the attitude of a servant can we grow into the character of God. Every time we serve someone else, the results are out of our control --- who knows how the other person will react? Yet those are the moments we understand Christ's love for us most deeply."

One of the great strengths of THE LOVE AS A WAY OF LIFE DEVOTIONAL is its brevity. The short, easy-to-read portions make this a wonderful resource for those who want to supplement their reading of Chapman's full-length book. It's also a great gift for anyone who is brand new to the faith.

--- Reviewed by Margaret Oines