Comforts From The Cross: Celebrating The Gospel One Day At A Time (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
If you are a person needing to maximize every minute of your day, this is a great book for your “still time”. It is written by Elyse Fitzpatrick and each day is packed full with food for thought. Depending on how much my mind wanders, it typically only takes me 5-10 minutes to read, but really makes me think throughout the whole day. Matt and I have had some really good discussion come out of this book as well. It is a 30 day series but is definitely worth going through many times!My review of this book is obviously coming from my perspective, keep that in mind, because what I gleaned from this book may not be what sticks out most to you.In the church today, from my experience, it seems we have lost our focus, lost our first love in a sense. We measure ourselves against each other, gauging our own spirituality against the success or failures of those around us. Our spiritual journey is characterized by the highs and lows of our own efforts toward perfection. We have come to obey out of guilt rather than love. In her book, Comforts from the Cross, Elyse strives to return our focus where it should be...on the Cross. She reminds us that what brings balance to our lives is not the straining and toiling we expend to do right but is what Jesus has already done for us on the cross. Even though we know we do not have a “works salvation”, we sometimes let that mindset permeate our actions and end up ruling our lives and stealing our joy. Do we truly understand the freedom we have in Christ and what does that look like in real life? Often times, my life feels anything but “free”.This book is great for restoring the joy of your salvation. Of giving you back your first love. There is no magic formula but rather she deals with many of our “barriers” and shows us how Christ has overcome them.Here is one, of many, of my favorite quotes from her book:“...I tend for focus my thought on my Christianity—how I’m doing, what I’m learning, how my prayers time was today, how I avoided that pesky sin or fell into it again. I think about what I’m supposed to accomplish for Christ, and I interact with others on that same works-oriented ground. But this day isn’t about me at all. It’s about him: his sinless life, death, resurrection, ascension, and reign and the sure promise of his return. It’s the gravity of his life that should attract my thought toward him.” Wonderful little devotional book. There are 31 short chapters, so I read one every weekday during Lent and ended on Wednesday of Holy Week. Fitzpatrick is an engaging author, grounded in Scripture, with a keen understanding of human nature. This book is aimed at women but anyone would benefit from her insights into the cross and the gospel. The takeaway that has meant the most to me is that Jesus died for my sin, past, present, and future, so that when I confess my seemingly neverending list to Him in prayer, I need to remember that He has already forgiven me, always loves me, and through the Holy Spirit is working to sanctify me. For someone who tends not only toward legalism but also perfectionism (which I can't seem to attain so I am constantly beating myself up) this is extremely good and comforting news!
What do You think about Comforts From The Cross: Celebrating The Gospel One Day At A Time (2009)?
Really enjoyed this devotional. Very encouraging reminders of Christ and the Gospel.
—tara
What a wonderfully, encouraging read--yet meaty and rich!
—Douglas
