The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People

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First and foremost, this book is an amazing read that anyone who desires a more genuine relationship with Christ must have, period. Ortberg is one of the best communicators when it comes to revealing the potency of spiritual disciplines or discipleship activities and why they can help us so much. This book is very well written and has a surprisingly nice flow from chapter to chapter despite the book being broken up into segmented sermons, more or less (which is by no means a bad thing). You can certainly see how Dallas Willard has influenced Ortberg's ideas and communication styles (especially Willard's "The Spirit of the Disciplines" and "The Divine Conspiracy"). The best part of the book is the fact that it is easily and readily applicable to your every-day life. Much like J.G. Marking's, "A Voice Is Calling" (who cites Ortberg a few times), this book's entire goal is to equip you to authentically and passionately pursue God with a revitalized perspective on discipleship and an enlightened sense of one's relationship with Christ. One of the best books I've ever read and a book that changed my life.

Ortberg has written a gem on how God can transform our lives so we may live a life more pleasing to Him and also more fulfilling for us.Among the principles Ortberg mentions are:1. Do not let certain people and gadgets rob you of God's joy!2. Pride is an ancient problem.3. Characteristics of a well-ordered heart.4. God wants to speak to us but we must first listen to Him!5. Excellent thoughts about pleasing God instead of others.6. Principles for meditating on Scripture.7. We are not Superman!8. Excellent notes on the importance of solitude.Read the book and be encouraged to change for the better!

This work is the second title I have read by John Ortberg. The first title, "If You Want to Walk on the Water..." was impressive, and this second one certainly was not disappointing. I am eager to his latest release, "Love Beyond Reason."Perhaps the best way to describe this book is to parallel it to Dallas Willard's classic work on spiritual formation. Willard's writing is profound and powerful, yet is often difficult for an average layperson to follow. Ortberg comments in his preface, "...one of my private working titles for this book was 'Dallas for Dummies'."The author here introduces the concept of spiritual disciplines. He then describes several disciples in easy-to-understand, entertaining language. Ortberg includes the practices of celebration, slowing, prayer, servanthood, confession, guidance from the Holy Spirit, secrecy, and reflection on Scripture. He concludes with comments on a well-ordered heart and the importance of Christian endurance.This book is simply excellent. I recommend it wholeheartedly to all Christians, leaders and laity alike. Don't pass on this one!

I have been impressed with hearing John Ortberg speak, but this books is a clear view into his heart. I am amazed by his love for Christ and his willingness to talk about where he stumbles at times. There are a lot of great illustrations and funny stories! I am a big fan of this book!

. . .The Bible and Mere Christianity were #1 and #2, by the way:) Once you get past the Baby-Boom-marketing-gimmick title, there's good stuff here. There is a time and place for retreat and contemplation--which he discusses in Chapter 5--but John Ortberg doesn't live in a monastery, and he realizes the average person reading this book isn't, either. His message is that we can live a deeper, more spiritual life right where we are, even with mortgages and kids and dogs and laundry. (He even says that, approached in the right way, our everyday responsibilities are spiritual training ground. That may not be revolutionary to some of you--but it is for me:) This work is immensely readable and laugh-out-loud funny in places--but I've had it two months and am still not finished studying it. It's deep:) What he says about studying Scripture--that our goal is not to get through the Scriptures, rather to get them through US--is also true of his book. My Christian walk is never going to be the same again. I'm giving this to every believer--new and mature--on my Christmas list this year.