Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Fearless by Max Lucado



I have read several books by Max Lucado and always love that they are simple to read and yet the message is always so profound. He speaks clearly and poignantly, and I am always blessed by his compassionate and biblical stand point. His newest book is no exception. Max asks the question; "What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats?" in his new book Fearless.

Even with as much faith as we have, FEAR is still in us and it takes up too much of our lives. We live in a fallen and sinful world that teaches us to fear and pushes us away from faith. I found it interesting when Max pointed out that Jesus says "do not be afraid" more than he tells us any other one thing. Fearless is especially pertinent at this time in our country, as Max observes, "Fear's been making a good living lately." And thankfully, instead of bombarding us with another "at risk," he proves what the media has been doing increasingly in recent years, and he provides the antidote. I am encouraged by Fearless. As a believer, I see that fear is much more relevant than I care to admit. While reading this book, I became more aware of the fears I’ve been holding on to. Now, I realize that, while I learn and grow in my faith, I can lay down those fears and turn to God with trust that I will be taken care of.

This quote, from Fearless, is my favorite. It speaks to what I know to be true, as apposed to what I hear everyday. "Fear never wrote a symphony or poem, negotiated a peace treaty, or cured a disease. Fear never pulled a family out of poverty or a country out of bigotry. Fear never saved a marriage or a business. Courage did that. Faith did that. People who refused to consult or cower to their timidities did that. But fear itself? Fear herds us into a prison and slams the doors."

Max compels us to meditate on what fear means for us, in our personal lives, by sharing his own challenges and those of others. He includes, in the back of the book, a discussion guide which has a "lesson" for each chapter. It is split into three groups that are sure to dig deeper into the fears that hold us back. Fearless is a wonderful read that will touch your life.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. 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.”

1 comment:

  1. I like Max Lucado very much. I'm reading CAST OF CHARACTERS right now. Thanks for sharing about this book

    ReplyDelete

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