Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines

by David Mathis, John Piper (Foreword)

The Christian life is built on three seemingly unremarkable practices: reading the Bible, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. However, according to David Mathis, such “habits of grace” are the God-designed channels through which his glorious grace flows—making them life-giving practices for all Christians. Whether it’s hearing God’s voice (the Word), having his ear (prayer), or participating in his body (fellowship), such spiritual rhythms of the Christian life have the power to awaken our souls to God’s glory and stir our hearts for lifelong service in his name. What’s more, these seemingly simple practices grant us access to a host of spiritual blessings that we can only begin to imagine this side of eternity—and the incredible joy that such blessings bring to God’s children today.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Theology, Nonfiction, Faith, Christianity, Discipleship

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 29, 2016

About the author

David Mathis (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando) is executive editor at desiringGod.org and an elder at Bethlehem Baptist Church in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. His seminary experience includes Reformed Theological Seminary and Bethlehem College & Seminary, where he now serves as adjunct professor.

Reviews

[Peter Yock]

Quite a good read. Reading this book’s like spending time with an old friend. By his own admission, the author is a John Piper Junky and has worked alongside Piper for years. So it’s kind of like he’s tried to boil all of Piper’s teaching on daily habits down to a simple book. But it works.

I found his categorising of all the spiritual disciplines into three main categories REALLY helpful, even if that means he ends up with heaps of sub chapters. The broad categories make this book excellent. I also really liked his emphasis on being realistic about what’s sustainable in the chaos of day to day life. It’s all very scripturally based too.

This book would be great to read with someone who’s been a Christian for a year or longer, and especially great for helping someone establish new godly habits. I can see myself using it in one to one ministry with uni students and young adults.

[Collin]

Ok this book totally changed my perspective on the gospel. Really it was the introduction that shook me, but it reintroduced me to the gospel and I’ve since been living in so much more freedom and grace than I have been for the majority of my Christian walk. The book itself paints spiritual disciplines in a whole new light that shuts down the lie of legalism that so many of us would never say we believe, yet subconsciously live. I did at least until I read this book. Anyway, it’s an easy short read. Please please read it!

[Glenna]

A really helpful book on the importance and utilization of spiritual disciplines, both corporately and individually.
Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life is perhaps a bit more accessible for the average reader. But there’s a lot of good stuff in this one. Mathis’s chapter on receiving and giving correction/rebuke is excellent.
His “hook” of hearing God’s voice, having His ear, and belonging to His body so closely mirrors the approach I took in my book, Everyday Faithfulness. It was encouraging to see him travel a similar path through his book. I would call this book the “big brother” to my own. ☺️

[Matt]

A very simple summary is that this book is a mile wide and an inch deep. The author pointed out many important disciplines in the Christian life, but each was skimmed over to the point that it seemed like a lot of fluff with no actual substance. It was a mashup of thoughts which lumped the Great Commission and the ordinances of the local church together as personal disciplines of the Christian life. I also believe that the author’s premise as stated in the title was never developed. The connection was never made between “enjoying Jesus” and the “spiritual disciplines” he tries to get you to embrace.

The issues with the book arise partly from the lack of substance and partly the author’s style. As I was reading, I felt like I was sitting at a “spiritual pep rally” and the author was trying to pump me up and get me caught up in the emotion of experience instead of intelligently reasoning with me and teaching me from the Word of God.

The biggest disagreement overall was that the author presented these disciplines as a “means of God’s grace” without truly explaining what he meant by the phrase. As I read the book, it seemed to me that everything was being presented as a way to “unlock the power of grace” or to “receive God’s grace” – including the ordinances of the local church (which he termed sacraments, and his theology indicated that he does indeed believe that there is a special grace imparted when one partakes).

I did glean several things from the book as there was the random good point and application, but overall I would not recommend it – especially to one new in the faith which seems to be the target audience. If it had not been required reading for a course, I would have stopped after the first chapter.

[Emma Bing]

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, especially to someone new to Christianity. Habits of Grace was a requirement for a course I was taking and, if it wasn't required, I wouldn't have finished it. The way the author chooses to explain some concepts was ridiculous, not to mention that the section on fasting was just down right concerning. If you're going to read this book, make sure you're not taking in what it says without pausing to consider if the message is accurate or not.

[Ben Taylor]

One of my favorite books, makes my top 5 for books I would love for every Christian to read if able. Over the last 8 years and counting I regularly go back to Habits of Grace as a resource.

Spent several months going through this one with a few guys on Saturday mornings, and there are not many better books for a group study format. Mathis communicates glorious realities of what it means to seek Jesus through the spiritual disciplines in a way that is easy to comprehend and stokes the heart to action.

[Darlene Nichols]

Sometimes you just need small, practical reminders to refresh and refocus your heart toward growing in Christ. This book did that for me.

[Christian Barrett]

Mathis provides a helpful foundation for engaging the disciplines of grace. He connects these to the fullness of the Christian life by emphasizing the importance of living within Christian community. This may be a great starting point for someone who wants to understand what it means to be a Christian

[David Puerto]

Un muy buen libro sobre disciplinas espirituales. Las divide en tres grandes categorías: oye Su voz, háblale al oído y participa en Su Cuerpo. Muy buenas recomendaciones y muy realista. Un buen punto de partida para aprender y practicar los hábitos de gracia.

[Brian Pate]

Wonderful introduction to the spiritual disciplines. Gospel-filled and practical. Read with 2023 RTIM interns.

[Elizabeth Santelmann]

It’s hard to figure out what the plan is for the spiritual disciples are. Is it something we do to be closer to God or a means a grace that he draws near to us?

I loved the way that David laid out a case for these rhythms of grace in the life of the believer.

If you’re a seasoned Christian, the first couple of chapters I think it would still be worth your time and money.
The later chapters are practically laying out how it could look in the life of a church and believer. If you’re a new believer or rediscovering grace after legalism I think these chapters would be encouraging.

[Jason Braithwaite]

This book is everything I want and need to help me better understand and apply the big 3... hearing God's voice (his word), have him hear (prayer), and belonging to his body (church and fellowship). Can't wait to dive deeper into this text with church family!

[Josiah Coolen]

so good!! felt really encouraged reading this

[John Pawlik]

Habits of Grace is the best book I’ve read on the spiritual disciplines! I’m excited to have a book that is so spiritually rich and easily accessible at the same time. These are the best books to be able to have and hand out to people.

While reading Heart Aflame for God I was thinking to myself “I wish I had a short version and more accessible version of this to give people.” and lo and behold, it already existed!

The concept of this book is golden:

1.) Repackage spiritual disciplines as habits of grace to remove both the legalistic tendencies of the usual material while also getting rid of the Roman Catholicy spiritual vagueness that characterizes other books on the disciplines.

2.) Organize the disciplines around the three areas that Scripture gives us for thinking about growth in the Christian life: Scripture, prayer, and church life. It’s not that you can’t be creative in the way you practice your faith, but if you take a spiritual prayer walk into the woods, understand that what are you are doing still falls under the scriptural category of prayer.

This book was theologically rich and pastorally creative in the way it talked through the habits of grace. I found myself constantly underlining things that were so helpful for understanding the life that God has called us to together in Christ.

Wonderful book!

[Rachel]

While I didn’t fully agree with everything detailed in the book (particularly the section on baptism, as the author is a Baptist and I’m Presby), I am so impressed with its practicality. Any type of believer could read and benefit from this book, whether you’ve been a Christian for 25 years or 25 days. Highly recommend!

[Hanna Lee]

Easy to read, very practical, and a straightforward reminder of the various means of grace the Lord has provided for us. He mentions often Donald Whitney’s spiritual disciplines, which also is a helpful read on this topic.

[Erica Rasmussen]

This is a good reminder book of the essential spiritual disciplines and gives fresh perspective on the “why” behind it. Definitely recommend for anyone struggling in their Bible reading, prayer, or fellowship!

[Eva]

Every Christian should read this book. It is amazing! David Mathis provides a unique perspective on the spiritual disciplines that moves away from legalism and instead towards how to enjoy Jesus. His ideas are practical and doable, full of grace and flexibility. I can actually apply things I learned amidst a crazy life. The Lord has taught me much through this book and I don't think I'll ever stop recommending it.

[Kristen Rosener]

What a fantastic book. As a recovering legalist, my understanding of the gospel was deepened by reading "Habits of Grace," and for that reason, it is one of my Top 5 favorite books of 2023. There is so much practical encouragement in HOG that will shape your understanding of the gospel, as well as bolster you in times of spiritual drought or discouragement. If you want to pursue godliness, you will need to form and cultivate habits of godliness (prayer, Bible reading, Scripture meditation and memorization, fasting, and fellowship). This book will aid you in that pursuit.

Some meaningful quotes:

“Chosen before time. Called with effect. United to Jesus in faith and repentance. Adopted and forgiven. Justified. Sanctified. Glorified. And satisfied forever. This is grace gone wonderfully wild. This is the flood of God’s favor in which we discover the power and practice of the means of grace."

"Bible reading is like watching the film in real time. Study is like going through a clip frame by frame. Meditation, then, along with Scripture memory, is for lingering over particular frames and pressing the significance to our hearts and into our lives."

"Meditation that is truly Christian is guided by the gospel, shaped by the Scriptures, reliant upon the Holy Spirit, and exercised in faith. Man does not live by bread alone, and meditation is slowly relishing the meal."

"God's words of instruction are to saturate your life, give you direction, shape your mind, form your patterns, fuel your affections, and inspire your actions."

"Learn from personal conversations, read books, take classes, watch educational videos, and listen to recorded audio. Diversify your sources of learning."

"Grace sanctifies. It is too wild to let us stay in love with unrighteousness. Too free to leave us in slavery to sin. Too untamed to let our lusts go unconquered. Grace's power is too uninhibited to not unleash us for the happiness of true holiness."

[Matt Ecton]

The first time I read this was nearly a decade ago as a new convert learning how pray and read his Bible. This time was years later now as a young pastor. I was pleased to find it just as profitable each time. Mathis is admittedly indebted to Whitney’s more popular book, but I think I slightly prefer this one overall.

A few of Mathis’s strengths are 1) his brevity; 2) his organizational scheme, explicitly tying each discipline back to the Word, Prayer, or Fellowship; and 3) his emphasis upon corporate worship as THE most powerful means of grace in the Christian’s life (chapters 13-18 on Fellowship are perhaps the best in the book).

This is a book I’ll continue coming back to over the years for refreshment and reinvigoration in the spiritual disciplines.

[Sarah]

This book is fantastic, I would highly recommend it to all Christians who want to grow in "habits of grace", which the author defines as "God's word, God's ear (prayer) and God's church" and honestly who doesn't want or need to grow in these areas. I think this is a book that I will keep coming back to. There are so many practical tips I have already re read a few chapters but I need to go back and think practically about how I am going to make changes to my everyday life. A brilliant book.

[Jacob Prince]

This is the best book I’ve read on spiritual disciplines. While it may not go into great detail or pragmatically on individual disciplines, it builds frameworks that are grace-filled, approachable, and refreshing. It makes the disciplines seem like skiing rather than cross country skiing- includes some effort but moved by a greater force, the grace of God.

[Allison Bailey]

David’s grace-filled approach to the disciplines was refreshing. His approach addresses the heart behind the disciplines throughout, allowing the reader space to gaze on the beauty of the Lord, and to respond in light of that. Highly recommend. I also loved his inclusion of fellowship as a discipline not just for a chapter, but as a third of the book. A small view of the church, David has not.

[Bridget]

Comprehensive, straightforward, and practical. A good, simple way to cover a lot of core disciplines without being overwhelmed.

“His grace is essential for our spiritual lives, but we don’t control the supply. We can’t make the favor of God flow, but he has given us circuits to connect and pipes to open expectantly. There are paths along which he has promised his favor.”

“…our heartbeat in the habits we develop for hearing every word, speaking every prayer, and participating in every act of fellowship is Hosea 6:3: ‘Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD.’”

[Raquel Najera]

Una excelente, profunda y práctica forma de abordar las disciplinas espirituales, confrontando el corazón y dando ideas prácticas de cómo abordarlas.

Mathis es honesto al exponer el reto pero también el gozo y la dependencia que necesitamos día a día de Cristo. Basado en la Escritura nos ayuda a ver cuan grande es el gozo de Encontrarnos con nuestro Salvador día a día.

[Mikayla]

This was an amazing book. The chapter are short and to the point, so I never got tierd of a subject. It had so much encouragement, and actually made me excited to try new things in my spiritual walk instead of feeling guilty for what I am not doing.
Highly recommend this to all.

[Elias Nakanishi]

Super helpful, particularly the last chapter on “The Clock” and the Epilogue were timely for me today. I can see myself returning to this one in the future.

[Imani]

Mathis does really well at talking about practices without allowing you to just make a checklist (which I really wanted...). Instead, he plumbs the depths of principles so you are forced to either stop reading or ask yourself why do I do x or y. By the end of each chapter it felt like I was up in the clouds but by the end I saw myself and my habits so differently. His appendix (?) was helpful in filling in some of the more practical elements but I wouldn't appreciate them without the principles from the main text.

Took off a star because he's so wordy which may have been necessary but it's my review.

[claire]

another dad rec, thanks dad! nice quick read, full of practical applications, and paints spiritual disciplines in an entirely new light. 10/10

[Erin]

So encouraging.