If you’re looking for a book (or two or ten) that will inspire your faith to grow deeper, look no further. I’ve compiled a list of some of the books (besides the Bible, of course) that have most impacted my faith, and I believe they have the potential to do the same for you. Whether you’re looking for a devotional, a true story, a fictional story, or even an allegory, there’s something here for you.
All gratitude is ultimately gratitude for Christ, all remembering a remembrance of Him. For in Him all things were created, are sustained, have their being. Thus Christ is all there is to give thanks for; Christ is all there is to remember. To know how we can count on God, we count graces, but ultimately there is really only One.
— Ann Voskamp
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp — This book is a gift itself: a life-transforming, beautiful work of art. Ann Voskamp has a graceful, lyrical writing style, and her way with words makes this a delight to read. Her rich insight and captivating honesty add layers of meaning and understanding to what it truly means to give thanks, with each chapter adding another nuance. This book is oh-so-meaningful and filled with truth.
Beloved, the highest call on your life—above any personal passion or pursuit—is to be loved by God and take your place as His child. This means you are to be holy and set apart so that everything you do is done in the name of the Lord Jesus.
— Christy Nockels
The Life You Long For by Christy Nockels — I originally borrowed this book from the library, and I got so much from it that I decided to get my own copy. In it, worship leader Christy Nockels guides readers on a journey of learning to live out of their identity as God’s Beloved. She urges readers to stop striving to build the perfect life and instead rest in their Father’s embrace. It’s only as we accept our calling as the Beloved that we are able to enter into a vibrant community of fellow believers and fulfill our capacity for living out love.
This book is so insightful, and even more, it’s warm and compassionate. Christy doesn’t stand on a stage and proclaim truth from a distance; instead, she comes alongside and shares what she’s still learning. She writes from one pilgrim to another, drawing from the well of her experience. This is a soul-soothing read with a message that needs to sink deep into all of our hearts: before anything else, you are the Beloved.
To live with desire is to choose vulnerability over self-protection; to admit our desire and seek help beyond ourselves is even more vulnerable. It is an act of trust. In other words, those who know their desire and refuse to kill it, or refuse to act as though they don’t need help, they are the ones who live by faith. Those who do not ask do not trust God enough to desire. They have no faith. The deepest moral issue is always what we, in the heart of hearts, believe about God. And nothing reveals this belief as clearly as what we do with our desire.
— John Eldredge
The Journey of Desire by John Eldredge — This book has shaped my life and faith in a way few other books have. Ever since I first read it several years ago, its message has stuck with me. You know that desire, that hunger that lives deep inside your heart? What do you do with it? What if, instead of denying it, you saw it as a gift from God? That’s exactly what John Eldredge so compellingly proposes in this book. It was a transforming concept for me, and one that I constantly return to. If you only read one book from this list, let it be this one.
A glacier, a rainbow, a classic Renoir—truly aesthetic pieces have a quality that points beyond them. They are signs. A sign can be stared at or it can be followed. I can look at a road sign, see that it is made of thick aluminum sheeting with black polythene letters adhered to a yellow background fastened by brackets and bolts to two poles supporting it from the ground. Or, I can read the sign’s message and follow its directions.
Beauty points to a source. . . . For those with eyes to see, beauty can reflect God like the moon reflects the sun.
— Sheridan Voysey
Unseen Footprints by Sheridan Voysey — In this well-crafted book, Sheridan Voysey takes the reader on a journey that begins in a barren desert and ends in the very heart of God. He opens our eyes to God’s unseen presence in seeming coincidences, our yearnings, and life events. In it all, God is whispering His love to us. A deep and thoughtful book, short in length but laced with meaning, I would recommend it to anyone with a seeking heart and an open mind.
It may seem to us at first thought that any dependence is the opposite of strength or a mature personality. But when we look closely at Jesus, we see that this is not so. Always the Master gave the impression of a moment-by-moment companionship and dialogue with the Father, yet here was a Man afraid of nothing. Not fearing men’s opinions of Him, He spoke the truth bluntly. He was not afraid of unpopularity because He knew that when we are true to our real self, it is impossible to please everyone.
— Catherine Marshall
Something More by Catherine Marshall — Something More is a rich and redolent read. Although I didn’t agree with Catherine Marshall on every last thing, I gained a lot of wisdom from her words. This book covers a variety of subjects, including trusting God in trials, thanking Him for everything, the meaning of dreams, spiritual warfare, revival, healing, and the Holy Spirit, with plenty of illustrations and stories from the author’s experiences. In the end, it comes full circle by reminding readers that in Christ there is always something more.
This book is not just our family’s story, nor is it a how-to book on adoption. This is a book about redemption. It’s also about listening to what God has called you to do and then being all in no matter how crazy or unrealistic it seems. It’s about expecting God to work it out, keeping the faith, and knowing that when God says it’s time, it is time, and no one can stop Him.
— Mike and Hayley Jones
At Any Cost by Mike and Hayley Jones — Not everyone is called to adopt eight siblings from Africa, but that’s exactly what God led Mike and Hayley Jones to do. In this book, they share their story, complete with the soaring highs and aching lows they experienced along the way. It’s an inspiring and challenging story of ordinary people who took on an extraordinary undertaking in God’s strength and how He carried them through.
Our purpose isn’t to hold Rachel up as some kind of perfect, sinless saint because she was as frail and fallen as all of us, as her brothers and sisters are well aware.
Rather, we share these things because we believe her brief life holds powerful lessons for all of us, including young people, for whom she cared so much, and parents, many of whom struggle with how to instill deep and lasting godly values in their children.
— Darrell Scott and Beth Nimmo
Rachel’s Tears by Darrell Scott and Beth Nimmo with Steve Rabey — You are probably familiar with the story of the Columbine tragedy and may have heard of Rachel Joy Scott, one of the students who was killed in the shooting. While this book talks about the events of that day, it’s primarily focused on Rachel’s life and the way she lived out her faith with an intensity not often seen. Rachel’s story has challenged me personally, and I’m sure it will do the same for you as well.
“A prophet doesn’t see the future. She sees the Word of God. She sees things exactly as they are now, and she knows what that’s going to mean for the future.”
— Nancy Rue
The Reluctant Prophet by Nancy Rue — Anyone who wants to be used by God but feels unqualified and clueless about how or where to start will find a friend in Allison Chamberlain, The Reluctant Prophet. She’s a realistic character who receives a crazy-sounding divine Nudge to buy a Harley. When she listens and obeys, the adventure begins: following the Spirit where He leads, straight along paths that take her places she never would have thought into a deeper knowledge of the heart of Jesus. It’s a wild ride.
This book tells a story that lands just outside the lines of sanitized Christianity and challenges readers to think about where Jesus might want them to step out of their comfort zones and reach out to those in need.
I recognized His voice instantly, soft and gentle as a reed in the sand, but it boomed against my spirit like the breaking of an ocean wave on the shore.
— Chris Coppernoll
Screen Play by Chris Coppernoll — The main character in this book, Harper Gray, is marvelously relatable. She’s been through some hard times and is barely holding on when all of a sudden, God throws her a line and her wildest dreams start coming true in ways she never could have imagined.
I love the theme of this book and how the author skillfully brought to life this truth: God is always leading us, even when we don’t see it, and often He chooses to show up in ways we would least expect. So you’ve got to keep your eyes open, because you never know how God might reveal Himself in your life.
Much-Afraid looked at him and then said something that she had never been willing to say before. “I don’t think I mind so very much if you do; only have your will and way in me, Shepherd. Nothing else matters.”
— Hannah Hurnard
Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard — This classic allegory portrays the journey it takes to learn to trust the Lord completely. After my mother read it, she said it seemed like a female version of Pilgrim’s Progress, and I think that’s a helpful assessment. The message of Hinds’ Feet on High Places is similar to that of Pilgrim’s Progress, yet it has a feminine feel. But while Pilgrim’s Progress focuses on the journey of conversion, Hinds’ Feet on High Places focuses more on the journey of sanctification, of growing through surrender and faith. It’s rich with encouraging takeaways for the journey, and I would highly recommend it for Christians who are seeking to grow in their faith.
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