Sunday, July 13, 2014

Book Review: Alone In Marriage: Encouragement for the Times When It's All Up to You by Susie Larson

This book has encouraged my heart a lot over the years.  It is written for women who are in a marriage where their husband either can not or will not shoulder his weight of the marriage and family responsibilities either for a short time or for the long haul.  I think it is safe to say that most women have found themselves in this position at least once or twice or much much more during their marriage.

In section one she covers the wights that wear you down:
1. Anger
2. Worry
3. Fear
4. Self-pity

Then she covers weights that Refine
1. Disappointment
2. Loneliness
3. Imperfection
4. Waiting

In section three she covers...
1. Perspective
2. God's Words
3. Prayer
4. Faith, Hope, and Love

The only thing that I would caution someone about, is in the sections at the end of each chapter she talks about "listening prayer".  One should proceed with caution here.  Thankfully she gives this warning at the end of chapter 1:

"The is a prayer exercise and what you write should not be taken as gospel (i.e. "God told me..."), or replace what you read in the Bible. The more acquainted you are with Scripture and the heart of the Father, the more biblically accurate your listening prayers will become.  Even so, we only know in part; and yet God loves to reveal Himself to those who seek after Him."

Be very careful with putting words into God's mouth if you do this exercise.  Make sure everything you write is steeped in Scripture used in context to avoid error.

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