Gene Edwards’ book “Living Close to God…when you’re not good at it” is the perfect title for a book to hook people in who may be struggling with their day-to-day walk with God. I saw it and thought, “Exactly what I need to jump-start my one-on-one relationship with God.” The book promises that “you will find many practical helps, even if, like me, you are a Christian who is not endowed with a natural spiritual aptitude.” But for this reader, I didn’t find it true.
And that’s what I find dangerous with some “Christian life” books on the market. They promise something they can’t deliver for everyone. As someone who has worked on my daily times with God over 20 years there are a few things that I know: 1) there’s not one way to spend time with God; 2) the same things don’t work for everyone. So I don’t disregard Edwards’ method of fellowshiping with Christ. It may help a lot of “spiritually handicapped” people as he calls himself. It just didn’t help me.
Fortunately, the book isn’t long and drawn out. If you spend some time I think you’ll learn quickly if it’s for you or not. The question is whether to spend your hard-earned money on a book you’re not sure will be helpful. The answer to that will depend on your desperation of connecting with God. If you’re really struggling, like the author was, then try it. It’s hard to describe exactly what “it” is but the best I can do would be to call it “slow reading of meditative biblical texts as a call and response to God, listening carefully for Him. The key is “slowing down.” And in Edwards’ defense, maybe I didn’t do that enough.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Blogging for Books book review 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.”
