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Sidetracked in the Wilderness
1991: by Michael Wells- Learn the way back to a victorious, abundant life.
190 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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96 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 30, 2024
Transformative
February 10, 2009
Halfway through chpater seven.
Definitely a good read regarding one's walk with God. Focuses on getting "sidetracked and the fact that most of those side trips are ones we take on our own and usually end up somewhere we know we shouldn't be.
Mr. Wells does a good job of helping the "sidetracked" believer understand the need to return to the path laid out by Giod and travel by faith instead of walking in the flesh.
Challenging reading for those believers finding themselves wandering places they know they shouldn't but can't seem to help themselves. And that's the point, when we attempt to help ourselves, we always fail.
Definitely a good read regarding one's walk with God. Focuses on getting "sidetracked and the fact that most of those side trips are ones we take on our own and usually end up somewhere we know we shouldn't be.
Mr. Wells does a good job of helping the "sidetracked" believer understand the need to return to the path laid out by Giod and travel by faith instead of walking in the flesh.
Challenging reading for those believers finding themselves wandering places they know they shouldn't but can't seem to help themselves. And that's the point, when we attempt to help ourselves, we always fail.
October 29, 2017
Truly life changing
It is tempting for me to say I wish I had read this book years ago, but God knew I was ready for it now. If you are tired, discouraged, plagued by a stronghold of sin, at a loss for how to continue, struggling with difficult people, or just needing refreshment for your faith, this book is what you need. I thank the Lord for the wisdom it contains and the author who wrote it.
It is tempting for me to say I wish I had read this book years ago, but God knew I was ready for it now. If you are tired, discouraged, plagued by a stronghold of sin, at a loss for how to continue, struggling with difficult people, or just needing refreshment for your faith, this book is what you need. I thank the Lord for the wisdom it contains and the author who wrote it.
January 5, 2023
Abiding Moment by moment
Very "Christ Centred" relationship with the father as described in this book. Please do your self a favor and read this with and understanding of the spirit to guide you out of your wilderness in life.
Better than any self-help book I've read up to 2023
Very "Christ Centred" relationship with the father as described in this book. Please do your self a favor and read this with and understanding of the spirit to guide you out of your wilderness in life.
Better than any self-help book I've read up to 2023
July 25, 2020
Too much "sort yourself out and then you'll feel Gods love", which defeats the purpose of the book.
January 23, 2022
Anything written by Michael Wells is worth reading! Returning to the basics of Abiding in Christ always helps me refocus.
September 15, 2014
Review of Sidetracked in the Wilderness: Find the Way Back to a Victorious, Abundant Life by Michael Wells (Abiding Life Ministries, International)
As this book’s subtitle implies, many Christians wander out of the victorious, abundant life Jesus Christ promises and into a spiritual wilderness. When they do, they often ask people to pray for their “desert experience.” Friends then remind them that God saw Hagar in the desert, that He led and fed the Israelites in the desert, that God spoke tenderly to Jerusalem when it had gone astray, that Jesus resisted temptation in the desert, and other encouragements. Friends do their best to pray these Christians out of their desert funk … until the next time these Christians feel empty, fruitless, and far from loved. Nothing is wrong with this prayer scenario. Like putting a Band-Aid on an ulcer, it simply falls short of praying the person into the victorious, abundant life God wants for His children.
If being Sidetracked in the Wilderness is the ailment, Michael Wells suggests abiding in Christ as both treatment and prevention of recurrence. Wells does more than remind us of God’s faithfulness and closeness in our faith shortfalls and distance; he offers truths that change how we see and relate to God.
To Christians who feel defeated in efforts to please God, who struggle to pray, whose self-help strategies have not resulted in long-term changes, whose natural abilities seem inadequate for Christian ministry, who feel little joy in the journey, Wells says, “The answer is not something that we must do but rather something we must believe. … Abundant life is not something to work for, but rather is something given to be worked from.”
To this end, Wells presents the simplicity of the abiding life; warns of the idols of unbelief, self-life, and lying emotions, among other ways we get sidetracked in the wilderness; and he encourages us to become aware of unique aspects of ourselves that God enjoys. Wells also addresses confusion over where the true battle is. The bible was written to give life. And in my opinion, the perspectives Wells gives in this book would be life-giving to every Christian. By the way, Wells also suggests how our prayers for others in the wilderness can go beyond Band-Aids to helping them find abundant, abiding life.
As this book’s subtitle implies, many Christians wander out of the victorious, abundant life Jesus Christ promises and into a spiritual wilderness. When they do, they often ask people to pray for their “desert experience.” Friends then remind them that God saw Hagar in the desert, that He led and fed the Israelites in the desert, that God spoke tenderly to Jerusalem when it had gone astray, that Jesus resisted temptation in the desert, and other encouragements. Friends do their best to pray these Christians out of their desert funk … until the next time these Christians feel empty, fruitless, and far from loved. Nothing is wrong with this prayer scenario. Like putting a Band-Aid on an ulcer, it simply falls short of praying the person into the victorious, abundant life God wants for His children.
If being Sidetracked in the Wilderness is the ailment, Michael Wells suggests abiding in Christ as both treatment and prevention of recurrence. Wells does more than remind us of God’s faithfulness and closeness in our faith shortfalls and distance; he offers truths that change how we see and relate to God.
To Christians who feel defeated in efforts to please God, who struggle to pray, whose self-help strategies have not resulted in long-term changes, whose natural abilities seem inadequate for Christian ministry, who feel little joy in the journey, Wells says, “The answer is not something that we must do but rather something we must believe. … Abundant life is not something to work for, but rather is something given to be worked from.”
To this end, Wells presents the simplicity of the abiding life; warns of the idols of unbelief, self-life, and lying emotions, among other ways we get sidetracked in the wilderness; and he encourages us to become aware of unique aspects of ourselves that God enjoys. Wells also addresses confusion over where the true battle is. The bible was written to give life. And in my opinion, the perspectives Wells gives in this book would be life-giving to every Christian. By the way, Wells also suggests how our prayers for others in the wilderness can go beyond Band-Aids to helping them find abundant, abiding life.
May 18, 2010
A non-self-help book. Pretty helpful :D
March 29, 2014
An amazing,life changing book. This is not a book to just read but to study. Powerful and Transforming.
June 3, 2014
The freedom of The Christ walk is highlighted soooo well in this book and it makes you remember the joy of when you first were with Christ and making that joy a daily thing
January 12, 2024
I've read and reread this gem no less than 5 or 6 times over the years. It's exceptional and life-changing!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews