Has your Christian walk become a spiritual rut? Maybe it's because you're trying to follow somebody else's path. Describing nine different temperaments---naturalist, sensate, traditionalist, ascetic, activist, caregiver, enthusiast, contemplative, and intellectual---Thomas helps you more naturally express your relationship with God and follow the route he has designed you to travel. 232 pages, softcover from Zondervan.

This book encourages readers to see strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies in their devotional approaches to God, and thus learn how to improve their devotional, quiet-time, and personal-worship life with God.

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Reviewed by Barb Bloom (Parma, Oh), February 14, 2010

A small group of women in our church gather and read a book periodically. The pastor's wife recommended this book and I devoured it quickly. The author brings the thesis that there are 9 clear forms of sensing and worshipping god. Much like the Meyers Briggs personality test, Gary Thomas makes his case that our worship personality will vary and how we sense god in our life may be individual and different. worth the read.

Reviewed by John Rose (Johnstown, PA), September 02, 2008

I purchased this book because of its author (read Sacred Marriage of his) and because of its title. I believe its has delivered what its decription says about it. Gary not only gives the many advantages of the nine paths to experiencing God, but there are cautions he points out with each of them as well. We humans tend to become attached to certain ways (ruts) and fail to use other means that can be quite beneficial. Gary IS NOT saying, there are many paths TO God, but rather there are various ways of exeriencing God's presence in our lives. By this book I've found may dominat path and I've seen where I can incorparate other paths as well that would enhance my journey of faith. Thanks Gary for yet another great read!

Reviewed by Derek Iannelli-Smith (Goose Creek, SC), May 20, 2008

Whatever Gary writes he writes with excellence. When "revolutions" were historical wars and now have become cliche terms in the church, this book was/is revolutionary regarding worshipping God in Spirit and Truth. Excellent book!

Reviewed by Joyce Griffin (Sharon, MA), February 07, 2008

I found the book easy to read. The concepts were wonderful. Sometimes as a Christian, I get into a pattern and need a change of pace. This book gives a number of options to enhance your Christian walk according to your personality. There are 6 questions at the end of each chapter to help you keep things in perspective and an overall review of your scores at the end of the book. I give it a high rating.

Reviewed by David R. Bess (Charleston, WV), February 23, 2005

Most Christians have dealt with the frustration of trying to balance a busy lifestyle with a consistent devotional time. Some of us do better with the balancing act than others. Many of us wonder, "Are there better ways I can commune with God on a regular basis?" Thomas states here that there are better ways, once we have discovered as God has placed them in us. Thomas identifies nine "sacred pathways" that are present in differing degrees in Christians. Naturalists love God in nature. Sensates worship God through their five senses. Traditionalists walk with God through ritual and symbolism. Ascetics draw strength from solitude with God and from simplicity. Activists energize themselves spiritually through confrontation. Caregivers best worship God by caring for the physical needs of others. Enthusiasts love God with mystery and celebration. Contemplatives interact with God via adoration. Intellects love to serve God with their minds. The author includes at the end of each chapter a questionnaire, so that the reader can quiz himself to see how strong of an inclination he has in each pathway. Most people have two to three pathways that are dominate. This title is excellent. I recommend it to anyone who wants to improve the quality of consistent devotional time with God.

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