When I Don't Desire God

I've just finished Piper's When I Don't Desire God; what an amazing book. The best chapter in my state, was chapter 6: Fighting for Joy like a Justified Sinner (Learning the secret of gutsy guilt).

What I appreciate so much about Pipers books, second to his penetrating and hallowing treatment of the Word, are his inclusion of so much of the heights of various authors he's read over his lifetime. He has gone before us, and culled out the gems from hundreds of authors, old and new, and presented before us the best of what they had to say. I'm very thankful to God for him.

He has given me good advice, and the most practical for me was chapter 11. I know what I need to do. I need to arise early, set a a schedule of proper diet, sleep, exercise, AND prayer, and keep it. This will pull me 85% out of this mire, should God so choose to enable me to fulfill this endeavor. I should also find an outlet for ministry to others; this will take my mind from myself and put it on to Christ and others.

So here is my prognosis. What a wonderful book: time well spent--very well spent. I will read it again one day.

some (concluding) thoughts. On to Bunyan...