40 Ways to Get Closer to God by Jerry MacGregor w/ Keri Wyatt Kent

40 Ways to Get Closer to God
By Jerry MacGregor w/ Keri Wyatt Kent
ISBN 978-0-7642-0918-5
Published by Bethany House Publishers
Reviewed by Clint Walker

When I recieved a book entitled "40 Ways to Get Closer to God" I was expecting a basic devotional with some simple inspiring thoughts. Or something along the lines of something to accompany "The Purpose-Driven Life". (After all, the cover looks similar, doesn't it?) When I ordered this book  I thought it would be a devotional that has some basic information about who Jesus is and what the Christian faith is all about. I was mistaken. This book has much more to offer than the typical "Our Daily Bread" devotional.

What "40 Ways to Get Closer to God" offers is a primer in practicing the spiritual disciplines for the average Christian persons. Starting with the discipline of servanthood, MacGregor challenges his readers to practice each of these time tested spiritual practices by taking on one very specific challenge each day. The idea is that, after 40 days of practicing the 40 ways (although these could be done by week), then the reader has experienced a variety of ways to draw closer to God.

Each of the chapters really is simple and really does offer acheivable goals in putting these spiritual practices to work. They are each about three pages long, and then at the end of each chapter there is a small place to journal and record a brief reflection about each experience.

As I read this book, I could not help but think this would be an excellent text to use with a Sunday School class or small group during Lent. Especially with new or undiscipled believers, it would give several people a chance to really find out how they best connect with God, and learn how to meaningfully grow closer to God in ways they had not imagined.

At the beginning of each chapter there is a quote. Nearly every one of these quotes was by one of my favorite contemporary communicators on spriritual formation. The author of this text knows the material on spiritual formation, but has made it accessable to everyone. No small feat!

This book will be  used in depth by me either with my family or in our church in the next year. I love it! I am sure if you give it a chance you will too. Good job Jerry MacGregor! I will be looking for more from you!

(I recieved this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)