When I read a book I'm going to review, I usually read it pretty fast. However, this is a book to be savored. It is rich and deep and thought provoking. It is gentle and convicting. It puts words to things I know to be true but hadn't thought of. It is very helpful and encouraging.

Ortlund writes, "We walk along, building a sense of self through all the feedback pinging back at us. We don't even realize we're doing it" (location 964). How true! He goes on to say that "one vital aspect of growing in Christ is coming back time and again to the doctrine of justification to do chemotherapy on the remaining malignancies of our craving for human approval" (location 945). When we remember and think on the extreme lengths Jesus went to to save us, it changes us.

There were so many helpful things in this book. I'll share just one more special quote. "What we must see is not only that Jesus is gentle toward you but that he is positively drawn toward you when you are most sure he doesn't want to be. It's not only that he is not repelled by your fallenness--he finds your need and emptiness and sorrow irresistible" (location 237). What a Savior!

Thank you to Crossway for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I will read it again and again. I'd highly recommmend it. All opinions are my own.

If you want to get serious about getting closer to God read this book. It is encouraging and convicting. It is not filled with different strategies for us to do but emphasize letting the Holy Spirit work in us. It was so many helpful statements made in this book but I choose not to reveal any because I really want you to read it yourself. This is a book that many people will read multiple times.

Highly recommend!

l LOVED it, it drew me closer to GOD!

Another very edifying book by Dean Ortlund!