Abiding Dependence by Ron Block is written as a devotional book for a 40 day period. I came across this book last fall when I was given some credit through Moody Publishing. I had asked a lady I knew quite well at that time for a recommendation and she recommended this book. It did not disappoint.
As one might guess by the title, the book's focus is about abiding in Christ...living our lives in Him rather than trying to live life in our own strength and power.
This would be an excellent read for the Lenten season. Even though I have read it straight through I plan to put it back to use as my Lenten devotional for next year. Due to the number of daily readings, the subject matter and the fact that each chapter is between 3-5 pages long (mostly 3) makes it ideal for something like that.
The author reminds the reader many times of who we are in Christ if we are a Christian...a true Believer in Him.
As I read through the book I was trying to make mental notes of parts that I would want to share. It's one of those books that the Holy Spirit may speak to each person differently as they read through it, but there are a couple of quotes that I would like to share here. Perhaps they will be helpful for someone.
The chapter titled "Be Weak" gives a clear description on what rest is. "To clairfy, rest is not passivity; it produces the opposite. Resting in Christ gives us a capability to do much more than working from our own strength. It's active. We sit, we quiet our soul-noise, and listen. We expect God to give us the wisdom we lack, the strength we need. These are all actions - inner actions. And taking this kind of inner action and making it a habit begins to transform our thoughts, attitudes, and outer actions." page 99
He then continues to illustrate what he is saying. "Practicing guitar from a sense of confidence, ability, and sufficiency gives me a sense of trust and hope about improving and playing well. This give me a more restful attitude and allows me to pay attention to my technique. I learn more quickly, and faster learning builds a sense of confidence, ability, and sufficiency. It's a positive, self-fulfilling loop. Confident faith makes me more active, not less, because I work from hope - the expectation of good things coming." page 100
Mr. Block continues, "Which is more passive in a heated discussion - taking a breath or two to rest in Christ and recognize He is in you and in the other person, and then responding with love and patience, or reacting with fleshly effort to convince the other person you're right? Entering His rest, or a primal reaction?" page 100
And to continue with the last example he gives, "Which is more passive - to live every day in fear, tension, and stress, letting our minds wander willy-nilly over every possible bad scenario, or to be continually 'casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you'(1 Peter 5:7 ESV), and using our imaginations to think through possiblities? Tumbling in the flood of our natural reactions, or trusting God to be our strength to get us to the solidity of the riverbank?"page 100
"Recognizing our weakness is the way to standing in His strength." page 100
I would definitely recommend this book because it is a rich reminder of who we are in Christ and how He desires us to rest in Him.
Thank you for this review. 'Resting' is difficult for me. I feel like I have to be 'doing' all the time. Lately though I've been sitting back and reviewing just who I am in Christ so this book resonates.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how he relates our resting with doing throughout the book. I think it's one that you would enjoy.
DeleteThere is so much truth to grasp practically. So much in my head that needs to transfer to life habits. Thank you, Dianna, for the great review of this book.
ReplyDelete"So much in my head that needs to transfer to life habits."....I think we could all say that about ourselves, Ellen. I know I certainly could.
DeleteOh I see it now! I'm NOT technological by any means. Old-school author-dinosaur! Sorry. I will repeat here what I said over on Lisa Burgess's blog about your piece, should you have other readers not following her:
ReplyDeleteDianna, I just read your book review, which was well done, and I would have commented to thank you for taking time to share that; but somehow, I could not find a place to respond on your blog; so I will do so here, with thanks. Keep writing. Keep encouraging. Keep changing lives, one blog at a time!
Blessings,
Lynn Morrissey
I didn't mean anonymity, but there again, I'm not blog-savvy! :) ~Lynn M
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DeleteI don't think I've heard of this title or author. Sounds like a wonderful topic for a book! Interesting though that resting in Christ is active, not passive.
ReplyDeleteHe was someone new to me, as well, Barbara. The friend who recommended the book to me orders a lot of her books through Moody Press amd I believe she told me that she knows the author. His point in the resting being active rather than passive has to do with the idea of when we are resting in Christ it frees up our minds and hearts to be able to better concentrate on the things that are at hand that we find to do.
DeleteI've not heard of this author either, but this sounds like a really good one. I like the idea of doing it for a Lenten devotional.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the book, Mari. It would be great for a Lenten devotional. That's what I plan on doing for next year.
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