The Utter Relief of Holiness - A Review and Giveaway

The Utter Relief of Holiness–How God’s Goodness

Frees Us from Everything that Plagues Us

John Eldredge  ©2013

ISBN 978-1-4555-2571-3

$19.99

I’ve been reading another book I’d like to share with you.  Written by the best-selling author of Wild at Heart , John Eldredge, The Utter Relief of Holiness  was just released from FaithWords.   I was the lucky recipient of a copy for review.   Take a look at what you’ll find:

John has written the book in two parts which address The Surprise of Holiness and The Way to Holiness.

Here’s a great excerpt from the book:  

“It may seem strange at first because I don’t believe most folks think of holiness as an utter relief.  Hard perhaps, boring if we we’re honest, necessary like flossing, a level of spirituality we might attain to one day.  But a relief?  Look at it this way: Ask the anorexic young girl how she would feel if she simply no longer struggled with food, diet, exercise—if she simply never even gave it another thought.  Ask the man consumed with jealousy how he would feel if he woke one day to discover that all he once felt jealous over was simply gone.  Ask the raging person what it would be like to be free of rage or the alcoholic what it would be like to be free of rage or the alcoholic what it would be like to be completely free from addiction.  Take the things you struggle with and ask yourself, ‘What would life be like if I never even struggled with this again?’  It would be an utter relief.  An absolute utter relief.”

John talks of the goodness of Jesus and how “There is a way to be good again.”  He addresses that we need wholeness and holiness, not just one or the other.  John also reminds us that the purpose of God is restoring the creation he made.  He reminds us that Jesus showed kindness and said “Forgive them, Father, they don’t know what they do.”  We are told that the utter relief of holiness is what happens when the life of Jesus invades our lives.  John also challenges us by asking if holiness is “our one desire”. 

As John moves into the second part of the book, he shares, through scripture, the way to holiness while explaining that all of our sins are forgiven through the death of Christ if we choose that “way of holiness”.

What did I think? 

I enjoyed this book.  It was honest, scriptural, encouraging and challenging.  This is a book that makes you pause, reflect, and make new and hopefully better choices.  It was a great reminder of the greatness and grace of God and his son, Jesus Christ.  Whether you are Christian or not, the ideas presented in this book will make you more aware of your choices and how they influence your life.  John helps his readers be encouraged that God wants to make them whole and holy.  John definitely presents a strong argument for God’s ability to make us whole, holy, and “utterly free”.

If you’d like more information about the book visit this website .  You can also find out more on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

!!!IT’S A GIVEAWAY!!!

Would you like to read John’s new book?  I get to give away a copy!!  I will be picking a winner randomly from all comments left on this post at noon on February 6th.  This book is sure to be a blessing to anyone who reads it. Yes, that's all you have to do--just leave a comment that you're interested in the book.  Good Luck and Blessings!

 “Disclosure of Material connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,  Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”