Book review: Choosing Gratitude Your Journey to Joy, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Book: Choosing Gratitude Your Journey to Joy by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
ISBN#978 0 8024 3255 1

Book Description:

Gratitude is a choice. If we fail to choose it, by default we choose ingratitude.

And once allowed into the heart, ingratitude does not come by itself but with a lot of other seedy companions that only succeed in stealing joy.

To not choose gratitude - daily and deliberately - is more costly than we usually realize. And when we do choose a lifestyle of heartfelt, humble gratitude, we are mindful of the benefits received from our gracious Savior and those He has placed around us.

By intentionally thanking God and others, bitterness and entitlement are replaced with joy and the humble realization of just how undeserving we really are.

  

Derived from a popular Revive Our Hearts radio series, Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy challenges and equips the reader to live a life of intention. A life based on thankfulness - for the freedom Christ has provided and for the blessings of others. As a bonus, a 30-day plan of journaling, prayer and activities to help the reader on her path to joy is included.

My reflections:

This book is one of those books that really can change your life.

It is funny God has brought me on a journey toward this very book. I have had the blessing of reading three books, and attend a bible study on this very subject. This book is the last in the procession of “Gratitude” type books.

 Here is an excerpt from the book:

 "Life is full of occasions that can be transformed from mere parties and pleasantries into deliberate moments of united gratitude." (Just an example of the beautiful way the book is written)

And

"Is the gratitude that flows out of your life as abundant as the grace that flows into your life?"

But my favorite:

“I can choose to respond in one of two ways: I can whine or I can worship!”

I have had the privilege of testing these words of wisdom out this week and the result is just beautiful, when you smile, life just seems better somehow.

The author DeMoss states that gratitude is not merely a second-tier virtue in the Christian life--it is vital, and I must agree!

This “Christian gratitude” recognizes what we’ve received first and foremost from God including the blessings we receive from others. Sometimes these “blessings” come disguised as trials and tribulations. This gratitude also acknowledges that God is the Giver of every good gift. And finally, this gratitude expresses appreciation to Him and others for those gifts.

The quote on the back of this book is what lead me straight to this book:

Is the gratitude that flows out of your life as abundant as the grace that flows into your life?

I am striving to change the way I show and express my gratitude. 

This book is a vibrant, and rich read it is thoughtful, and I plan on re reading it many times to glean all the tidbits of wisdom out of it. I found this book biblically based and chock full of great life quotes, and to solidify the teachings it includes a 30 day action plan at the end.

This little gem would make a great small group study, especially for women.

Thank you DeMoss for writing this wonderful book, I am on my way to becoming a more joy filled me!

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review form Moody Publishers. Thank you so much Moody!

About the author: Nancy Leigh DeMoss

NANCY LEIGH DEMOSS is the author of ten books, including the bestselling Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free and Choosing Forgiveness: Your Journey to Freedom. She is the host and teacher for Revive Our Hearts and Seeking Him, two nationally-syndicated programs heard each weekday on over 1,000 radio stations. Through her teaching ministry and books (which have sold more than 1,600,000 copies), God is using her as a mentor and spiritual mother to thousands of woman and as a leader of the True Woman movement.
Nancy's burden is to call women to freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ and to see God ignite true revival in the hearts of His people. For more information on her radio programs, conference ministry, and books, visit www.ReviveOurHearts.com.