Book Review For Dr. Charles Stanley’s “I Lift Up My Soul: Devotions To Start Your Day With God!”

I have always enjoyed the writing and teaching of Dr. Charles Stanley.  I was honored to have the opportunity to review his latest book “I Lift Up My Soul:  Devotions To Start Your Day With God!”  Dr. Stanley has a way of communicating God’s truth, so that it comes out in simple and applicable thoughts that can challenge and inspire us to live more obedient and surrendered lives.  In this book, he provides us with 365 days worth of God’s truth and offers us the opportunity to apply this truth to our daily living.

This book provides the reader with a Scripture reading, key verse and instructive commentary which are all referenced from Dr. Stanley’s previous published works.  I found it to be a very easy, inspiring and encouraging read.  I think that it would be a great tool for helping a person to start and maintain a daily devotional time.

It begins it’s first entry on January 1st, but you can read it as you would like.  You may choose to read one day at a time, several days selections in one sitting or you may just thumb through it’s pages looking for just the right title that moves you.

This great little devotional is packed full of bite size chunks of wisdom and insight.  Each reading is inspirational, instructive and encouraging.  It is a great way to get focused on what really matters and will motivate you to stay focused in the way that you live your life!

There are not a lot of personal stories in this book, but there is plenty of personal application.  It will help you to take a little time everyday to think about things that you need to think about.  Read daily, it really does have the potential to help you to lift up your soul!

I found this to be a simple, challenging and rewarding book.  I am glad that I took the time to read it and I think you will be glad too!  If you already have a morning devotional plan that you follow, this would also make for a great “right before bed” reading.

I highly recommend this book and challenge people to read it and even think about sharing it with others as a gift.

Disclosure: This book was provided to me by Thomas Nelson Publishing for review purposes only. I was not required to give a positive review or compensated in any fashion.

We have been really working hard at Grace Place this week and I am so excited to share with you a copy of one of our new ads.  This ad will help to tell a little about who we are, what we do and how the whole thing works!

We also have a new brochure that is in its final stages that matches this ad and some exciting new ministry opportunities that are opening up.

Please feel free to share links to this blog or copy this picture and share on you social pages!  Thanks so much for all of your support and especially for your prayers!  Also here is a link to an earlier blog post when we were first getting started – check it out! https://mjharvell.com/2010/11/22/grace-place/

I got very frustrated yesterday!  It seemed like everything I started out to do that should have been very easy, ended up being very difficult!  As the day drove on I found a growing tension in my neck and shoulders, and my attitude felt like it might just explode at any minute.  When I sat down to look at the Scripture this morning, I got to thinking about why I was so messed up about being messed up and I realized the biggest problem for me was my impatience!

Sometimes I am not a very patient person.  I don’t want to lose my cool, but I often do and while I try very hard to not lose it in front of other people, the truth is:  I still lose it, even if it is in private!

If I am going to accomplish God’s will for my life, then I must learn to practice patient endurance.  Hebrews 10:36 says: “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” As I learn to endure life’s difficulties without becoming anxious or annoyed, I become more patient and as I become more patient, the peace of God is able to flow into and through me and the will of God is accomplished in my life!

My being patient is a badge that shows that I trust God.  This is a form of faith and as my faith grows, so does my relationship with my Creator.  As my relationship with my Creator grows, then so does my relationships with others!

Some say that we should never pray for patience, but the truth is:  “We have not because we ask not!”

Lord, help me to grow in my patience!  Help me to endure life’s difficulties!  Help me to grow strong and dependent upon You, rather than weak and frustrated in my independence.  I know that You will bring me opportunities for Your Holy Spirit to grow and perfect this area in my heart and life, help me to recognize and take advantage of these opportunities!  When the frustrating circumstances of life come my way, help me to react with calm assurance, quiet strength and faithful trust that You are at work!