Chasing God {book recommendation}

Chasing God is the latest book written by Angie Smith, who happens to be one of my favorite authors. Her book, I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy, about her pregnancy and loss of baby Audrey, is an amazing story. I recommend it to anyone that has lost a child but also anyone suffering at all. Such a story of encouragement!! Then, her book What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms was amazing also! I remember reading that book and thinking I would not get anything out of it because I don’t struggle with fear. Ahem. I learned something from that book, I might not have called it fear, but there were areas in my life where fear was present. Great book.

And now, Chasing God. There aren’t many times I can say that every.single.book by a certain author is one of my favorites, but so far, with Angie Smith’s writing, I can say that.

When I first heard the title of this newest book, I totally had the wrong idea about it. I thought, “well yes, Chasing God is a GOOD thing…we all need to chase after Him more!” Wrong. I had the wrong impression of what Angie meant by “chasing” God.

Watch this book trailer to get a better idea…

So, not exactly what I was thinking when I heard the words “chasing God.”

But, while my mind was going the wrong direction, from page 1 of this book, my heart followed what Angie was getting at and was drawn in to words that I needed to hear!  I want to share some of my favorite quotes from the book.

The very first chapter contains a quote that I really need to print and frame for my home! Oh how I need this reminder…such a powerful truth, yes?

“The truth is that our journey with God isn’t really about living, and He never claimed it would be.  It is, and always has been, a gradual death to everything we love outside of  Him.” Angie Smith, p. 22.

She goes on to say that we will never know God until we come to recognize our need for Him. I don’t know about you, friends, but this has proven so very true in my own life. Especially in my struggle with depression, I tell people that is one of the biggest lessons I learned through the hard times – that I am so desperate for Jesus. And that is right where He wants me to be.

When Angie talks about “chasing God” she is talking about all the wrong things we do because we think those things make us a good Christian or even a Christian at all. Salvation is not a set of words or US doing something right, Angie reminds us.  The chasing involves works based faith. The chasing is us doing more and more to get on God’s “good side” or to make Him love us more. Sometimes, we don’t even realize we are doing it. “At least when you’re chasing Him you still have some sense of control, right?” p. 23. I think for a lot of us, the “control freak” in us takes over our need for God. In turn, we start chasing God.

“Had it not been for the overwhelming barrenness, there would not have been such appreciation for what He provided. The true understanding of our own depravity isn’t a punishment, it’s an opportunity to understand the value of the gift.” Angie Smith, p. 50-51.

This is another beautiful portion of this book that reminds me of things the Lord has shown me over the past few years. In the brokenness He is able to show Himself powerful. Sometimes, without our broken places, we would not see those glimpses of Him.

There is also a very encouraging portion of this book on our emotions and how our faith cannot be based upon them. Oh wow. Y’all. I’m such an emotional and sensitive person. Too often I let my emotions run so many aspects of my life. Even when I’m trying not to. 🙂 This portion of the book was a HUGE blessing to me.

“We don’t follow Him because we are moved to do so or because we think we’re sufficiently prepared. We don’t wait for a moment of emotional revelation. We simply fix our eyes, steady ourselves with His promises, and put one foot resolutely in front of the other out of obedience. And when the feelings of unbelief come like clouds on the path, we form these words alone with our lips, and we step forward anyway. Lord…I believe.” Angie Smith, p. 91.

My faith and my walk with Christ cannot be based on how I’m feeling today. I shudder even typing that out because I know so many times in the past I have been in that place where my emotions were running all over me. I have to make the choice to be obedient and live by faith regardless of what I’m feeling or what my surroundings look like.

Do you feel like your faith is made up of you doing more, working more and just plain spinning your wheels? If so, this book will encourage you and give you the rest your heart needs. If your heart is full of doubts and you don’t feel capable of standing on the TRUTH of God’s promises, this book will be so good for you.

So, I have so many more quotes I’d love to share with you…but this post is getting so long already. I highlighted probably half the book. ha! Needless to say, I highly recommend. 🙂

Let’s get on with the give away!

Give Away Details

**UPDATE: give away is now closed. ROBIN is the winner! Thank you all so much for participating! 

Friends, you might have noticed I am not doing as many formal reviews on my blog anymore. I am choosing to focus my writing time on other things right now that I feel the Lord placing on my heart. The exception to that is books that I’m already reading and LOVING and want to share with you. This is one of those. 

I’m excited that I get to share this book with ONE of you! I accepted this review and give away because I truly loved the book AND because I get to give one of YOU a copy!!

Leave me a comment before February 24th to be entered to win your own copy of this great book! Make sure you leave an email so I can contact you if you win! 

For extra entries, you can share on any social media platform – just come back and leave a SEPARATE comment for each place that you share this post!