You Set My Spirit Free: A 40-Day Journey in the Company of John of the Cross

If you desire a closer walk with the Lord, this book is for you. Through meditation and reflection upon its words, you will find yourself in God's presence. The Holy Spirit's work will become evident and obvious as you spend time with Him in the writings of St. John of the Cross.

I have used this for personal retreats and for Lent. My experience of this tool changes with each circumstance, it has helped me grow and the beauty of John of the Cross becomes richer and richer.

This is an excellent guide for those seeking God. As I read it, though, I found I wanted to read John of the Cross' words more literally (this book is a paraphrase). Having tried translations by Peers and Kavanaugh, I prefer the latter. Hazard's paraphrase is very helpful even as an introduction, but I've discovered that as I'm ivest myself in following John's rather complex sentence structure, I find incredible richness. At this point in my journey, I find his writings far more significant and helpful for me than any contemporary writer from any stream of christianity.

Please, read this book! Read it for your spouse. Read it for your children. Read it for everyone you love, but especially for those who you don't love. And, above all, read it for your relationship with the Lord, for it will never be the same.

A must read for those who want the richness of the classics but don't have the time to go searching these depths. This author has dug up nuggets from past saints and offers them on a silver plater. I have so enjoyed the "Rekindling the Inner Fire" series and bless God that the treasures of these saint's experience with our Eternal Lover have not been lost beneath dust and banished to back of our libraries. I recommend all of these books from John of the Cross to Andrew Murray and all those in between.