Simplify Your Spiritual Life: Spiritual Disciplines for the Overwhelmed [Paperback]

Donald S Whitney (Author), Richard A. Swenson (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 2003

Jesus faced incredible challenges and suffered agonizing trials, but there was simplicity in His relationship with His Father that we can emulate. And in that simplicity, we can realize our greatest fulfillment as believers.

If your Bible study seems tedious and your prayer life wearisome, stop and rediscover how rewarding the simple Christian life can be.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Simplify Your Spiritual Life is a worthy and worthwhile companion. -- Kansas City Star, September 27, 2003

From the Back Cover

Are you overwhelmed by the weight of the world? Let's face it--we live in a complex world. Technology improves daily, and with it, the pace increases. Surrounded by driving forces, it is no small wonder that our spiritual lives take a hit. But if the weight of the world is hindering your walk with the Lord, maybe now's the time to step back and evaluate. Life on earth was less hectic in Jesus' time. He faced incredible challenges and suffered agonizing trials, but there was simplicity in His relationship with His Father that we can emulate. And in that simplicity, we can realize our greatest fulfillment as believers. If your Bible study seems as tedious as filing your tax return and your prayer life as wearisome as trying to understand your phone bill, stop. Take a deep breath. Let author Donald Whitney show you how rewarding the simple Christian life can be.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: NavPress (June 23, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576833453
• ISBN-13: 978-1576833452
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360,712 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book ... bite-sized bits of spiritual wisdom!, October 21, 2004

By 

Deborah Taylor-Hough "Debi" (Washington State, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Simplify Your Spiritual Life: Spiritual Disciplines for the Overwhelmed (Paperback)

I'm always looking for ways to simplify my life ... "Simplicity" could almost be called my favorite hobby. But for some reason, even with all the simplifying I've done in my personal life, finances, chores, job-related work, etc., I really hadn't given much thought to simplifying my Christian spiritual disciplines. Whitney's book was a wake-up call. Full of clear, concise, practical Bible-based wisdom, this book has found a place on my shelf of "favorites."

This book is written in short, easy-to-read, stand-alone chapters. When I have a few minutes when I want to read but don't have time to delve into a longer, involved chapter, I'll grab this book and read one of the two-page sections and feel like I have enough to think on and ponder for several days.

Highly recommended for people serious about their Christian growth.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spiritual Hope for the Weary, May 22, 2009

By 

Laurence T. Baxter "Step Up to the Call" (Indiana USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Simplify Your Spiritual Life: Spiritual Disciplines for the Overwhelmed (Paperback)

Simplify Your Spiritual Life takes a different approach to discussing the spiritual disciplines. Rather than heavy exposition and theology, the book is a mosaic of encouragement and short tips on a variety of topics in spiritual growth. These topics are bite-sized 1-2 page nuggets: "Ask often 'What does the Bible say?'", "Meditate for Heat and Light", "Discipline Yourself without Legalism", "Remove one thing, organize one thing", and one of my favorites "Take a Nap". Even better, they don't really have to be read sequentially. Find one or two that seem of interest and read them, even if you only have a few minutes. (If you want something more meaty and instructive, see his other book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.

Whitney begins with first principles on the spiritual life and the role of spiritual disciplines, and why they're important even (especially?) for busy people. Then there are seven sections or themes which these short chapters discuss. Simplifying and Truth, Simplifying and Prayer, Simplifying and Your Journal, Simplifying and Your Mind, Simplifying and Your Heart, Simplifying and Your Time, Simplifying and Others. The thrust of the book is to present a variety of simple ideas in the hope that the reader can take a few and put them in practice. It's even better if they can replace something in their life that is cumbersome, time-consuming, or just not working, and replace it with something much simpler. There is much joy in the Christian life and in God's word that we too often bury with our own complications.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of Godly wisdom!, August 18, 2004

By 

JayMcN - See all my reviews

This review is from: Simplify Your Spiritual Life: Spiritual Disciplines for the Overwhelmed (Paperback)

This book is full of wise and practical insights from Don Whitney. One would do well to obtain all Whitney has penned - he is the real deal! His standard work is Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.