HABITS OF GRACE:
Growing in Christ
By David Mathis
IVP. 208 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 1 783 594 177
This is a book on what are traditionally called ‘the spiritual disciplines’ – that is the practices that aid us in maintaining and growing in relationship with God. It is a fresh take on such disciplines that is to be welcomed.
The fresh take is seen in the title Habits of Grace. Reading the Bible and praying are not presented as duties to be performed, but habits to be nurtured through which grace can and will flow. That positive stance and sense of invitation reverberates through the book. The author self-confessedly comes from the John Piper ‘stable’ and that adds themes of pursuing joy and relishing God’s goodness, which contribute to this freshness.
The book is divided into three sections with six short chapters in each. The first section is on Scripture (Hear his voice) focussing on ways we hear God – reading, meditating, memorising, etc. The second is on prayer (Have his ear) looking at the privilege and practice of prayer, including fasting and journaling.
Body of Christ
The third section is on the church (Belong to his body) and examines fellowship, corporate worship, sacraments and discipline. This is perhaps the most welcome section, because it is so often overlooked in such books. There is a tendency for anything on ‘our relationship with God’ to be become individualistic, whereas the Bible is clear that individual growth is a communal project. The encouragement to see regular interaction with the rest of the body of Christ as key to our growth, as well as our giving to others, is excellent.
Spurred on
Those who are familiar with these areas will find little new here, but they will find themselves encouraged to pursue these habits of grace with renewed longing. Those for whom such habits are an unknown area will find this an excellent starting point.
