Book Review: 40 Ways to Get Closer to God

We live in a world full of business and noise. We can be left empty and dry by the everyday cares and stresses of this life. The only thing which can fill the emptiness and wet the dryness of life is a closer relationship with God. Most professing Christians have a real desire to get closer to God.

Jerry MacGregor, in his book, "40 Ways to Get Closer to God," presents 40 practical steps one can use to close the distance between themselves and God. The steps range from serving God by serving people to constant prayer to finishing this course of life strong.

"40 Ways to Get Closer to God" is laid out in forty chapters, each chapter representing a single step to be taken on the journey to get close to God. Each chapter, each step, is to be taken one day at a time, hence 40 ways in 40 days. Do not let the concept of a book having forty chapter scare you away from it. Each chapter is concise and to the point. The entire book is only 189 pages.

One of the things I really like about this book is how each chapter begins with a quote. The text of the chapter then relates closely to the quote. Thus you begin each chapter with a provoking thought process. Allow me to use the quote from day twenty-nine as an example. It is by Richard Foster.

"Confession if a difficult Discipline for us because we all to often view the believing community as a fellowship of saints before we see it as a fellowship of sinners."

Though the book is laid out for one to embark on a forty-day journey to get closer to God, you can take one particular step, or one day, and use it to work on your relationship with God. There are steps, or days, in which you will already possess strength in. There are plenty of other steps, or days, however, where there is weakness and distance from God.

The author, Jerry MacGregor, presents a challenge along with each step or day. Each challenge is designed to get you to take an active part, beyond just reading what may be a good idea, in getting your relationship with God to a level of closeness the human spirit so desires.

"40 Ways to Get Closer to God" is a good book to use as a 40-day devotional. Yet if one takes and puts each step into practice, he or she will soon discover that each step is a step that can be taken every day for a lifetime. I recommend this book to anyone desiring to get closer to God.

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."