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Embracing the Love of God: the Path and Promise of Christian Life
In today's world, many people fail to experience the powerful freedom and healing of God's grace. Even Christians too often experience judgment rather than the love that is the vital essence of Christian life. This visionary guide calls believers back to the basics: understanding the promise of God's love to transform our most important relationships and fulfill our deepest spiritual needs. The moving insights found within illuminate the gentle nature of God's love and teach readers how to continue on the path of love by embracing it day by day.
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 1995
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294 people want to read
About the author
James Bryan Smith
41 books182 followersJames Bryan Smith (M.Div., Yale University Divinity School, D.Min., Fuller Seminary) is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, KS and a writer and speaker in the area of Christian spiritual formation. He also serves as the director of the Aprentis Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation at Friends University.
A founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, Renovaré Smith is an ordained United Methodist Church minister and has served in various capacities in local churches. Smith is also the author of A Spiritual Formation Workbook, Devotional Classics (with Richard Foster), Embracing the Love of God, Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven and Room of Marvels.
A founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, Renovaré Smith is an ordained United Methodist Church minister and has served in various capacities in local churches. Smith is also the author of A Spiritual Formation Workbook, Devotional Classics (with Richard Foster), Embracing the Love of God, Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven and Room of Marvels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 7, 2020
Great reminder of God's acceptance, forgiveness, and care for you and how to do those things for yourself and others. Simple but powerful.
August 6, 2022
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. So much so that I braved car sickness as I read it in just a few hours on the road. More than Smith's insights, some of which were very helpful, I appreciated the impactful quotes and stories from an impressively wide variety of writers.
August 7, 2020
This book was so caring and gentle and helped to steer my mind and my heart in the direction of truth. It offers a lot of practical advice and wisdom, and I'll definitely be coming back to this one often.
August 24, 2025
Yearly tradition of mine before each year at Wheaton. Always a delight.
March 9, 2025
Sooooo good!! Whenever you need a reminder of how much God loves us, this is a great read. I love all the uplifting anecdotes the author included and the layout of the book is super easy to read and follow. Highly recommend!
July 14, 2020
This is a good book. It has practical elements, personal experience, and a very organized outline. When you let the Holy Spirit work on you during the read, the outcome is exponential.
My favorite part was the story where the author saw himself in a vision of sorts and gave himself a hug, wrapping himself in self-forgiveness.
Quotes: "My soul longs to be set free, to wonder, to imagine, and to savor the world." pg. 135
The most confusing thing the author said was "Part of the way God cares for us is to hide from us." It makes some sense, as the author continues and basically says we must seek God's presence, because he won't force himself on us.
Besides a couple controversial statements such as the one I just mentioned, the book was phenomenal.
My favorite part was the story where the author saw himself in a vision of sorts and gave himself a hug, wrapping himself in self-forgiveness.
Quotes: "My soul longs to be set free, to wonder, to imagine, and to savor the world." pg. 135
The most confusing thing the author said was "Part of the way God cares for us is to hide from us." It makes some sense, as the author continues and basically says we must seek God's presence, because he won't force himself on us.
Besides a couple controversial statements such as the one I just mentioned, the book was phenomenal.
February 1, 2012
It seemed simple at first, then he grabbed me....or the Lord did.
"Failure, sin, and error do not happen because I get lazy; they are a part of being a fallen person in a fallen world."
"God expects more failure from us than we do from ourselves because God knows who we are."
"Failure, sin, and error do not happen because I get lazy; they are a part of being a fallen person in a fallen world."
"God expects more failure from us than we do from ourselves because God knows who we are."
March 31, 2008
Basically my review is that everyone MUST read this book...period.
December 30, 2021
I am always revisiting this. Basically a devotional for me at this point.
May 23, 2021
This is one of those books that I wish I had read years ago.
On the other hand, maybe right now was the perfect time for me to read it.
Here's a man who liberally quotes G.K. Chesterton, and was friends with Rich Mullins, the latter of which I only discovered about a week before reading the book.
Another thing in this book's favor is that it is a "Renovaré" resource, with a forward by Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline.
The book is divided into three major sections: Knowing God's Acceptance, Receiving God's Forgiveness, and Experiencing God's Care. Within each section, there are three smaller sections, the first of which deals with my direct relationship to God (i.e. God's acceptance/forgiveness/care for me), the second of which deals with my relationship to myself (i.e. accepting myself/forgiving myself/caring for myself), and the third of which deals with my relationship to others (i.e. my acceptance of others/my forgiveness of others/my care for others).
The book is written in an easy-to-read style, and the ideas presented are done so in such a way as to be relatively simple to understand. Yet the truths are life-altering, if embraced.
God loves us. God has accepted us. God has forgiven us. And God cares for us. Because of these three truths, then we should be able to accept ourselves, forgive ourselves, and care for ourselves. This, in turn, allows us to accept, forgive, and care for others.
Bryan opines that, while loving is not necessarily difficult, "Knowing we are loved is." And this is so true. Accepting the fact that we are loved, especially by One whom we may have been raised to believe is always angry with us, is challenging.
Bryan also cites the work of spiritual giants such as St. Paul, St. Augustine, Martin Luther, Evelyn Underhill, Bernard of Clairvaux, Julian of Norwich, John Wesley, Thomas Merton, and others. One of the key scriptures, cited in the introduction, is found in Ephesians 3:18-19. "And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
I didn't take notes during this reading, and boy, do I regret that. But you can rest assured that this book is a keeper. It will have a permanent place on my shelves, and it will be read again, more intentionally, with note-taking, as well as more meditation.
I embarked on this recent weekend with a goal in mind; to be transformed by the love and presence of God. My wife and I were on one of our "retreats" at a favorite cabin location in Glen Rose, Texas (Paluxy River Bed Cabins, in case you are looking for a place to get away). While I don't claim to be fully and completely transformed after only a few days and one reading of this book, I can claim that there has been drastic change in my spirit.
I have come away from this reading with more of an understanding of the idea that everything that I experience in this life is grace, and that all creation is, as Julian of Norwich said, "enwrapped in love and is part of a world produced not by mechanical necessity but by a passionate desire."
God loves us; God has accepted us; God has forgiven us; and God has cared and does care for us . . . more than we have ever imagined.
On the other hand, maybe right now was the perfect time for me to read it.
Here's a man who liberally quotes G.K. Chesterton, and was friends with Rich Mullins, the latter of which I only discovered about a week before reading the book.
Another thing in this book's favor is that it is a "Renovaré" resource, with a forward by Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline.
The book is divided into three major sections: Knowing God's Acceptance, Receiving God's Forgiveness, and Experiencing God's Care. Within each section, there are three smaller sections, the first of which deals with my direct relationship to God (i.e. God's acceptance/forgiveness/care for me), the second of which deals with my relationship to myself (i.e. accepting myself/forgiving myself/caring for myself), and the third of which deals with my relationship to others (i.e. my acceptance of others/my forgiveness of others/my care for others).
The book is written in an easy-to-read style, and the ideas presented are done so in such a way as to be relatively simple to understand. Yet the truths are life-altering, if embraced.
God loves us. God has accepted us. God has forgiven us. And God cares for us. Because of these three truths, then we should be able to accept ourselves, forgive ourselves, and care for ourselves. This, in turn, allows us to accept, forgive, and care for others.
Bryan opines that, while loving is not necessarily difficult, "Knowing we are loved is." And this is so true. Accepting the fact that we are loved, especially by One whom we may have been raised to believe is always angry with us, is challenging.
Bryan also cites the work of spiritual giants such as St. Paul, St. Augustine, Martin Luther, Evelyn Underhill, Bernard of Clairvaux, Julian of Norwich, John Wesley, Thomas Merton, and others. One of the key scriptures, cited in the introduction, is found in Ephesians 3:18-19. "And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."
I didn't take notes during this reading, and boy, do I regret that. But you can rest assured that this book is a keeper. It will have a permanent place on my shelves, and it will be read again, more intentionally, with note-taking, as well as more meditation.
I embarked on this recent weekend with a goal in mind; to be transformed by the love and presence of God. My wife and I were on one of our "retreats" at a favorite cabin location in Glen Rose, Texas (Paluxy River Bed Cabins, in case you are looking for a place to get away). While I don't claim to be fully and completely transformed after only a few days and one reading of this book, I can claim that there has been drastic change in my spirit.
I have come away from this reading with more of an understanding of the idea that everything that I experience in this life is grace, and that all creation is, as Julian of Norwich said, "enwrapped in love and is part of a world produced not by mechanical necessity but by a passionate desire."
God loves us; God has accepted us; God has forgiven us; and God has cared and does care for us . . . more than we have ever imagined.
October 29, 2018
This was a very good book written out of a life of walking with and learning from God. This is definitely one that has and will speak into a lot of doubts, fears, and tough situations in a developing follower of Jesus. The only negative I had with this book (the reason I rated it 4 rather than 5 stars) was that this could have been a wonderful place to clarify the place of the atoning work of Christ in God's love for us. If one is looking for a book about God's love manifest in Jesus Christ, this book is not it. It's not that the book is different than the gospel, but rather the author chose a path other than exposition concerning Christ's work.
July 28, 2020
This book is a short but powerful read and very well organized in its layout. It begins with the topic of acceptance and moves through to forgiveness and then onto caring. I think you take out if it what you need in the moment and I think we can all find that throughout our lives we need all of these things. I very much found myself drawn to the forgiveness chapters as I feel they go in tandem with interests of mine on apologizing (read Harriet Lerner) as well as Lying ( read Sam Harris). Forgiveness is something we all need or need to give at some point in our lives and this book makes a poignant case for both.
July 18, 2018
Had to read for school and take notes so that’s annoying non-voluntary reading no matter how good the book is is just different. But I did like this book. Filled with amazing advice and new ways to view the world and the people in it. Definitely don’t agree with the author on everything but he did an amazing job of explaining what I already believe in simple and eloquent language.
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October 2, 2022Surprisingly insightful, challenging yet encouraging. “God’s love for us, as seen in his acceptance, forgiveness, and care, penetrates our hearts and begins a journey outward to the people around us. If we fail to care for others, we have most likely failed to know that God cares for us.”
July 21, 2023
While there was nothing wrong or bad with this book, it was rather simplistic. I’d recommend it to someone who is a new Christian. For others who have been Christians for longer, I’d recommend Saint Augustine, Pascal, C.S.Lewis, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
June 6, 2017
Basic truths (hence lower rating) but really good reminders that I know but need to really KNOW AND BELIEVE.
September 29, 2022
Very simple read. Discussing love, care and forgiveness breaking into three parts focusing on God, ourselves and others!
July 26, 2023
Absolutely amazing! This book challenged my faith deeply and encouraged me to live vibrantly with the knowledge that GOD LOVES ME!
August 14, 2025
One of best, most inspiring and encouraging books I've ever read - bought extra copies for friends
November 4, 2025
Why play?
November 6, 2025
I enjoyed this.
September 11, 2009
I have gone to church, been in Bible Studies, worked for an undergraduate degree in Applied Ministry, loved God and His Word and His Son Jesus Christ all of my life like so many of us have... but I never knew how much God loved me until I read Jim's book. It tore down walls i didn't even know i had erected between myself and a more full, rich, real relationship with God.
I learned that God really, really has no "flaming hoops" for us to jump through... there's nothing we have to do to win Him or to be loved by Him. He's been loving us all along...with a "reckless raging fury" (I love that. I learned it first from Rich Mullins and I think he and Jim both learned it at the same time from the wonderful Brennan Manning). This is probably my favorite book of all time. It's also the only one I have bought extra copies of so I can give them to friends or people who are broken in pieces, thinking they have done something so terrible that God could never forgive them. I learned about GRACE from this book and it just knocked me out.
James Bryan Smith is such a gifted author - I recommend everything he's written! :) I haven't got my hands on his latest yet, but I'm really looking forward to it! (I'm still reading it! This is such a rich book, I can only read a bit at a time- and i plow through a novel in a day :-))
I learned that God really, really has no "flaming hoops" for us to jump through... there's nothing we have to do to win Him or to be loved by Him. He's been loving us all along...with a "reckless raging fury" (I love that. I learned it first from Rich Mullins and I think he and Jim both learned it at the same time from the wonderful Brennan Manning). This is probably my favorite book of all time. It's also the only one I have bought extra copies of so I can give them to friends or people who are broken in pieces, thinking they have done something so terrible that God could never forgive them. I learned about GRACE from this book and it just knocked me out.
James Bryan Smith is such a gifted author - I recommend everything he's written! :) I haven't got my hands on his latest yet, but I'm really looking forward to it! (I'm still reading it! This is such a rich book, I can only read a bit at a time- and i plow through a novel in a day :-))
December 9, 2013
At the beginning of this book, Smith discusses the fact that he isn't coming up with new ideas. He explains that he has benefited greatly from Christian thinkers such as Brennan Manning, Henri Nouwen, and Thomas Merton. He is correct; their influence is obvious.
That being said, Smith does a wonderful job of summarizing their messages without simply copying their styles. He does go over many of the same themes [embracing weakness, resting in the love of God, loving others as we have been loved, etc] but does so in a way that is much more practical than any of those authors ever were.
Overall, a very solid book that I immediately handed to a student to read, which is a great sign of my approval.
That being said, Smith does a wonderful job of summarizing their messages without simply copying their styles. He does go over many of the same themes [embracing weakness, resting in the love of God, loving others as we have been loved, etc] but does so in a way that is much more practical than any of those authors ever were.
Overall, a very solid book that I immediately handed to a student to read, which is a great sign of my approval.
July 8, 2025
I would describe this book is a collection of sticky notes for Christians- it is filled with important reminders about the love of God and his calling for our life that we often forget. If you are looking for an in-depth explanation of how the biblical text explains the love of God, I wouldn’t recommend, but Smith’s argument remains true to the Bible and is supported by memorable analogies and anecdotes. It has helped me reflect more deeply in my relationship with God, myself, and others. I would highly suggest reading this book with others because it can create some impactful discussions.
September 9, 2013
This book is so simple, so wonderful, so uplifting, so encouraging... It reminded me that God actually loves me for who I am. I don't need to prove myself worthy of His love, He just loves me in ways I cannot imagine. I can rest in this fact because His love is unchanging, unshakeable, and inexplicably reliable. I feel so joyful after reading this book, I recommend it for all Christians -- young and old!
August 12, 2011
This book shows great examples of God's love for us, the love we should have for each other, and the love that we should have for ourselves. It offers practical examples of what it truly means to love and to forgive. It is a great read with so many good points that can change your life.
March 19, 2015
Some good reminders, but I didn't find it particularly astounding. I'm not completely down with all of his underlying assumptions or all of his examples, and some of it is kind of simplistic, but I could see how the central messages would be useful for some people.
July 14, 2011
Every Christian should read this book.
August 6, 2011
Renovare selection that was a good basis for a preaching series.
October 24, 2012
This is book is a great read for anyone having ever struggled with anything, and essientally asking why God?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews