Books for Your Lenten Journey
All life is a journey to God, and a journey with God. For much of the last two millennia, Christians around the world have entered Lent as a time of seeking God’s face, and opening their hearts more fully to God: a time to seek a closer relationship with this God who is our journey, and our journey’s end. This Lent, we invite you to take home a new ‘journeymate’: the Christian Education Team at Covenant is lifting up several life-changing books for you to consider reading during this season of Lent, in the hope that you might find one or more of them a blessing:
Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young
A daily devotional that has brought comfort and peace to millions of people around the world, and has helped draw them into a closer walk with Christ.
Creating a Life with God: The Call of Ancient Prayer Practices by Daniel Wolpert
This wonderful book introduces both ancient and modern prayer practices: Lectio divina, Praying in Nature, Creativity and the Divine, are just a few of the chapter titles.
God Is Closer Than You Think by John Ortberg
This book, written by a Presbyterian minister, is both entertaining and deeply challenging. Its challenge: for us to live in the light and joy of the awareness of God’s constant presence with us.
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
For over 400 years, this spiritual classic, written by a Carmelite monk, has helped Christians transform their relationships with God through a closer walk with Christ.
The Soul of a Pilgrim: Eight Practices for the Journey Within by Christine Valters Paintner, PhD
This book invites readers to take a new kind of pilgrimage: an inner journey to discover the heart of God using eight stages of the pilgrim’s way. Christine Valters Paintner shows how to follow these steps to make an intentional, transformative journey.
Earth, Our Original Monastery: Cultivating Wonder and Gratitude through Intimacy with Nature by Christine Valters Paintner, PhD
This book explores connections between the earth and faith in order to see God in the world around you. Christine Valters Paintner provides seven ways of seeing the earth in light of faith and pairs each one with a practical invitation to a practice.
The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred by Christine Valters Paintner, PhD
Christine Valters Paintner uses reflections, stories, guided activities, prayer experiences, and a variety of creative arts to help you patiently and attentively listen to God’s invitation.
The Cloud of Unknowing: A New Translation by Carmen Acevedo Butcher
This book consists of a series of letters written by a monk to his student/disciple, instructing him (or her) in the way of Divine union. Its theology is presented in a way that is remarkably easy to understand, as well as practical, providing advice on prayer and contemplation that anyone can use.
We encourage you to consider picking up one of the above eight titles through your preferred book vendor/provider as a ‘journeymate’ through this Lenten season. May God bless you richly in your spiritual journey during Lent, and may these books be part of that blessing!