Ragged

This book was recommended as part of the 2022 Anchored Women Book Club, and I am very thankful that it was on the list. As a recovering legalist and perfectionist, I can easily get worn out trying to do it all. Gretchen Ronnevik gives a very grace filled approach to practicing the spiritual disciplines, especially for mamas who's lives are full doing what God has called them to do day in and day out. 

The first six chapters are a call to remember who God is and His ways. While there was a lot of excellent information and being pointed to Truth, I sometimes struggled in these sections to truly understand what she was getting at until the end of the chapter. I'm not sure if it is so much her writing style as it was my tired mama brain, but I didn't enjoy this part as much as I did the rest of the book where the disciplines were discussed. There were excellent points made from quotes she shared and my notes show that many things struck a chord, so in that I would recommend it and I will be reading this book again even with struggling with the first part this last time around.

The rest of the book discusses the spiritual disciplines: rest, Bible reading, prayer, meditation, fasting, confession, generosity, lament and discipleship. I know that most of these are on pretty much any list you will find on spiritual disciplines, but there are a couple that struck a chord as I don't remember them previously on lists.

Lament in particular caught me off guard, but it really hit home, especially with all that is going on in the world. In our society we're so often told to just keep going. Do feel, keep working and you'll get better. But that's not really the case is it? Especially not for Christians. We know the world is broken and not the way it ought to be. When things happen, we need to take time to grieve. And not only that when it's not our time to grieve we are to help others grieve. Gretchen shares how someone did this for her and it was amazing. I had tears in my eyes as she recounted what another family did for her during an intense time of grief and I was blown away. I want to be that for others and I want others to be willing to do that for me if I was in a place of mourning. It was deeply challenging and convicting. That chapter alone made the book a must read for me. 

The other chapters also challenged me and gave me some freedom as she talked about different seasons and how these might look different in different seasons. Welcoming our 11th blessings has changed a lot of dynamics this time because of the personalities of the others and the ages and stages they are in. It reminded me that it's OK if I'm unable to have four hours of uninterrupted prayer and Bible reading every day like I want. It's OK for my generosity to look different than those who are single, empty nesters or in another phase. 

Freedom in Christ sums up the book and I pray that if you read this book, it will help you find the freedom in Christ you need to be able to live well in the season He has you in right now!

4.5 stars for this book on spiritual disciplines.

Reading Challenges:

2022 Anchored Women Book Club January Book

2022 Reading Challenge with Tim Challies: A book about spiritual disciplines in the Obsessed Reader list

2022 Christian Reading Challenge with Jami Balmet: Spiritual Disciplines

2022 Intentional by Grace Reading Challenge: About Christian Living in level 1