Relaxing with God: The Neglected Spiritual Discipline
Jesus called his followers to exchange the heavy yoke around
their necks for his light one. So why are so many Christians
feeling weighed down and burned out? The simple answer is that they
are being told from many pulpits across the country what they
"should be" doing for God.
Bestselling author Andrew Farley calls this for what it
is--works-based religion--and then shares with readers biblical
wisdom on the neglected art of resting in Christ. Anyone longing to
experience true release from the crushing expectations that the
world throws their way will find life and rest in Farley's
revolutionary message.
From the Back Cover
Jesus didn't come to get you to do more or work harder. He
came to give you rest!
Jesus calls us to exchange the heavy yoke around our necks for
something he said is "easy" and "light." So why are many Christians
feeling weighed down and burned out? The simple answer is that
we're constantly being told we should "do more" and "be more" for
God.
Bestselling author Andrew Farley calls this what it is--works-based
religion--and presents us with a surprising paradox: good works
spring from spiritual rest. So if you long to experience true
release from the crushing expectations that the world--and the
church--often throws your way, you'll find lasting hope in this
unexpected message.
"Relaxing with God could change everything for you. Expect
to discover the freedom of God's grace. Expect to know Jesus like
never before!"--Bart Millard, lead singer for MercyMe
"Andrew Farley's writing is incredibly powerful and freeing. The
'captives' of cold, dead, and stiff religion rise up and call him
blessed. As a recovering Pharisee, I'm one of them."--Steve
Brown, bestselling author and radio host of Steve Brown
Etc.
"Among all of today's Christian authors, there is only
one whose work I never miss: Andrew Farley. If you want truth that
blows away the cobwebs in your head and speaks directly to your
heart, Relaxing with God is your book."--Ralph
Harris, author of God's Astounding Opinion of You
Andrew Farley is the lead pastor of Church Without Religion
(ChurchWithoutReligion.com) and bestselling author of The Naked
Gospel, God without Religion, Heaven Is Now, and
The Hurt & The Healer. Andrew's live call-in radio
program airs nationwide each Sunday on Sirius XM. Connect with
Andrew on Facebook and Twitter (@DrAndrewFarley). Get free
downloads and learn more at www.andrewfarley.org.
Top Highlights
“But with spiritual rest, it’s not really about new circumstances. It’s about new thoughts in the midst of those same old circumstances. And those new thoughts have to be inspired by what God calls the new covenant.” (source)
“Year after year, these events were perpetuating an emotional cycle: commit, try hard, fail, feel horrible, then confess and recommit to try even harder, only to have your hopes of renewal shattered all over again. It seemed so spiritual, but it set me up for what was to come.” (source)
“So the true gospel in all its potency is both simple and spiritually restful. Experiencing this rest doesn’t take that much learning, but it may take a great deal of unlearning. Underneath all the layers of religiosity that we’ve added over the years, our God has already adorned the halls of our heart with his exuberant love. We may simply need to peel away those layers of restless rhetoric in order to gaze at the full splendor of God’s grace.” (source)
“We get to fully enjoy something that we don’t deserve at all. We get to relax in it and simply thank God for it. That’s all we can do!” (source)
“the beginning of my crash into a state of religious anxiety and depression that would last for several years.” (source)
Product Details
- Title : Relaxing with God: The Neglected Spiritual Discipline
- Author: Farley, Andrew
- Publisher: Baker
- Publication Date: 2014
- ISBN: 9781441246080
Andrew Farley is the lead pastor of Ecclesia: Church without Religion and bestselling author of The Naked Gospel, God without Religion, Heaven Is Now, and The Hurt & The Healer. Andrew's writings have been featured by national news outlets such as PBS, ABC, and FOX, and his live call-in radio program airs nationwide on Sirius XM. Connect with Andrew on Facebook and Twitter (@DrAndrewFarley). Learn more at www.AndrewFarley.org.