Friday Favorites: 5 Books to Encourage Spiritual Growth

Who even has time to read these days? It comes and goes, but when the motivation to read does hit me, I go down a rabbit hole and it takes a while to come back out.

When trying to find a good book to read, I think about what my life might be lacking at the time, and I try fill that gap. And lately, the gap has been spiritual growth. I have been so focused on other areas in my life, that this area seems to have been a little forgotten.

So here are a few quiet recommends on great books that have reinvigorated me and my spiritual growth.

1. The Contemplative Pastor by Eugene Peterson

While the title of this book may make a few of you feel like it’s not for you, the gold in this book is relevant to all people. The nuggets of advice in this book can be and are highly relevant to all walks of life. He encourages pastors to simplify their lives, quieten the noises of popular culture, and engage in the lives of the people around them. Doesn’t that just seem like wisdom we could all do with! When reading this book, I uncovered a part of me that desired that old school pastoring where they counselled and advised and walked through life with you.

2. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

Hmm, there seems to be a theme emerging here! This is another book that encourages us to slow the rush and busyness of life, and to lean into the quiet and the slow and the still. John Mark Comer has plenty of experience in both of these ways of life, the busy and the slow. If you’re more of a podcast type of person, I recommend listening to his podcast Fight Hustle, End Hurry where he also shares his experience and how he learnt these valuable lessons. But if books are your bag, this is well worth the time! Ideas are shared around God being a small, quiet voice that sometimes can be missed in the hustle and bustle of modern life. Takeaway points: Take time, slow down, quiet your spirit, and hear from God.

3. The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley

One of my biggest passions at the moment is learning about technology and the role it is playing on our society and on our mental health. The Common Rule has been an enlightening read on just how much time and money goes into making technology addictive. If we are not purposeful about our approach to technology, just by sheer force technology will encroach on our family time, personal time, and quiet time. The results of which can allow anxiety and depression can creep in. If there’s one book on this list that is going to blow your mind, and also bring about quite practical change, it would be this book.

4. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

Again, this could be another book that turns you away at the front door with it’s title. I’m not quite sure what images ‘Celebration of Discipline’ is supposed to evoke but it reminded me of my parents telling me to enjoy the pain of the discipline they were in the middle of giving to me, because it was putting me right. But the beauty of this book is how it frees the reader from external pressure first, and then advises you how to apply pressure to yourself in order to live a life of purpose and beauty. As it was quite an old book, with Quaker tendencies, I was a little dubious but it turned out to be one of my very favorite books.

5. The Remarkable Ordinary by Frederick Buechner

In our culture, we’re constantly on the hunt for the Instagrammable location, food, and experiences. What Frederick reminds us of in this collection of writings is how to take note of the ordinary and value it for what it brings. Even the most mundane of experiences and days can remind us of God, and the divine. To me, this is an extraordinary character trait to possess, the ability to recognise and commune with God in every part of our day, however seemingly insignificant it may be.

Do you have any good books that you can recommend? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

I hope you find yourself down a reading rabbit hole soon!