Alone with God

I have tons of devotionals - we all do and we don't get to all of them. This is one I do make time for and that's for many reasons. One is the way the author creates an atmosphere of being open to learning and knowing God more deeply where the reader is. Another is that he hits on subjects that are so specific to issues that we all face, but no one else seems to bring up. For instance, one day he talks about offending his sister in Christ. It wasn't on purpose. His intentions were good, but were they? There is still evil at war within the flesh and in an attempt to do good, some bad might have been done and so forgiveness and reconciliation is sought after recognizing his weakness and confessing it. But wait, I had just done that and it was to a sister in Christ whom I cared for. I'd never thought about it like that. I always have "good" intentions or I thought I did. This and many other devotional thoughts have begun to draw me closer to the Word and to the Lord for God's ultimate desire and that's to be conformed to His image. Michael Warden's Alone With God is an excellent book to help guide us to that point where we truly are alone with God for Him to do His work. And if you aren't "unmarried," get it anyway!

I am not one to make a fuss about such things, but this tiny book has really rocked my world. I was struggling to find a faith of my own when Michael's book found me. In a summer of travel and adventuring alone thrugh the worldthat shaped my faith, the words in this devotional book spoke to my heart and awoke a deep yearning that had remained undiscovered for so long. I was backpacking in Europe for three months with little money, no plans, no map, and a personal challenge to go deeper with my Creator. For the first time in my life, I began to seek true intimacy with God and to build a relationship that was not dependent on the right circumstances to make it work. God's love truly is better than life, and this book was an amazing journey that showed me that. God taught me something in every single line and every single page. The lessons are so simple, but the thoughts and implications are something so profound that you can't help but be changed. It has been almost two yeras since I first began reading it, and I have given away dozens of copies to friends who are also seeking or needing to go deeper with God. I just can't praise it enough. It will challenge you, it will change you, and it will bless your life and all those you share it with. I guarantee it.

In one of his entries, Mr. Warden writes: "Once you begin reading through the Old Testament, one theme becomes abundantly clear: God loves deserts. Or, at the very least, He loves to use them...." Most of us can relate to being in that dry and barren emotional place at some point in our lives, and Alone With God, a compact devotional, is like a nice drink of water for those who are thirsty for refreshment. The title of the book says it is inspiration for the unmarried, but I believe that description is somewhat misleading, for the devotions are for all who have felt the ache of isolation during their spiritual journey (and who among us, married or not, have not felt this way?). The writing speaks to that breaking loneliness we all have in our hearts, how to honestly wrestle with it, and like Jacob and the angel, come away blessed. The devotions also serve as warnings not to buy into the culturally scripted metaphors which all too often pervade our notions of what it means to be single or married (if you are single there is something wrong, if you are married, everything is ok). Mr. Warden's book reminds us that God is passionately and relentlessly consumed with making us more like Him, with making us fall so deeply in love with Him that we lead full, adventurous lives because we are part of a bigger story. And in that journey, we are most assuredly not alone.

Michael Warden's devotional sits with my Bible on my nightstand, and though it is designed to read over a period of six months, I tend to devour more than one per day because I can't put it down! I also find myself reading them over and over again, finding a fresh, new perspective each time. The subtitle is fitting -- it IS inspirational! Michael achieves this through humor, real life experience, and reflection. Don't just read it, LIVE IT.

Rarely have I read a book that plumbs the depths of our humanity, while offering to us the truth that we can take Christ all the way into our souls without it seeming trite or like a quick fix that never has a lasting effect. I was refreshed and delighted by Mike's book, Alone with God. I go back to it again and again not only for encouragement about being single at the age of 39, but also to delve deeper into my love for Christ.