3 Christian Books I’m Reading This Summer

Summer reading is a favorite pastime for many. For me, it’s been a quite eclectic bundle this summer. I had a few books sent to me to review, representing several different types. 

While the following post contains reviews on books that I received in echange for a review, you can have confidence that all opinions expressed are my own. I want to share exactly what I thought of each one of these books so that you might find a helpful book for your summer.

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

10 Minutes in the Psalms

The book of Psalms has been the poetry of my life for the last few years. Because of that, I was naturally drawn to this book. 10 Minutes in the Psalms is a short, 46-day devotional that leads you through the entire book of Psalms. The premise is that it’s about 10 minutes of reading and then a short devotional based on the passage read. 

I appreciated the insightful, scripturally-rooted nature of this book. Often, devotionals tend to be nice platitudes inspired by a single verse or passage. This book avoids that entirely. The bulk of your reading is not the author, but Scripture. Then, the author provides some practical implications for your life from that passage. The emphasis is not “look at what I have to say” but look at what God has said. It is a charming composition that makes reading through a book of the Bible approachable and simple.

It was informative and clearly well-researched. I learned new information about the individual psalmists and felt the humanity in the psalms like never before. This book is simple enough for new believers but yet, appeals to all levels and would be appropriate for even a seasoned believer. I highly recommend this book as a great introduction to encourage the habit of daily Bible reading. 

Pre-order your copy here now!

Pushing Into Joy by Hannah Grimley

Hannah Grimley’s writing is real and authentic. This book is a brave tribute to how God called her to push into joy during one of the most desperate, broken seasons of her life. 

Pushing into Joy is a 27 day devotional, designed to be visited again and again. There are journaling areas for you to leave several responses, as you journey through joy in different parts of life. 

While the book left me wanting more Scripture to truly consider it a devotional, it was a very encouraging read that felt like a conversation with a friend. Grimley went through 27 different reasons we might feel like joy is impossible and how we can find joy in even the most trying circumstances. 

While reading this book, I kept feeling like it would be the perfect book for someone struggling through anxiety. Especially for someone new to the faith or someone outside of the faith, this would be a great introduction to the Christian concept of joy in the midst of sorrow. 

Pre-order your copy here now!

Walking Through Infertility: Biblical, Theological, and Moral Counsel for Those Who Are Struggling by Matthew Arbo

I struggle with books on infertility because, as a whole, many of them are very personalized memoirs. While those can be helpful (and I’ve enjoyed several of them) I have been looking for a book that I can hand to others to help them delve into the theological and moral implications that any couple facing the trial of infertility must wrestle with. This book meets that goal. 

Matthew Arbo addresses infertility from a Biblical point of view, looking at what couples experiencing infertility go through, how the Church can help, and the moral implications of artificial reproductive technologies. 

This book was a very thorough, technical, scripture-filled overview. Yet, it was compelling in nature and drew me in instantly. I quickly flipped through it, eager for more. 

My only hesitation is whole-heartedly recommending this book is the last chapter on the moral implications of artificial reproductive technologies. I greatly appreciate the high regard that Arbo gave to life, even in its earliest stages, but I felt that he was slightly too intense in that manner in which he addressed in-vitro fertilization. Even with that intensity, I still feel like the points he raised are important for any couple going through infertility to consider. 

Pre-order your copy here now!

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to preview these books. It’s important that, during this summertime, we’re taking time to consider what would help grow and stretch us to take out faith deeper this year. 

You might also like: 

10 Christian Books That Need to Be On Your Radar

6 Important Principles For Fostering Family Devotions

What I’m Adding to My Bookshelf in 2018

My Hygge + Faith Morning Routine

Proverbs 31 Mornings: 6 Ways to Start Your Morning as a Woman of God