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Ordering Your Private World
Does your life feel cluttered? Maybe an overcrowded calendar isn't your only problem! In this updated classic, learn how our technology-focused generation can deal with stress and find balance in life by submitting to God in five motivation, priorities, intellect, spiritual growth, and rest.
We have schedule planners, computerized calendars, smart phones, and sticky notes to help us organize our business and social lives every day. But what about organizing the other side of our lives? The spiritual side?
In Ordering Your Private World, Gordon MacDonald equips you to live life from the inside out, cultivating the inner victory necessary for effectiveness. Simplifying your external life begins with seeking internal order. In addition to focusing on spiritual and mental disciplines, you’ll
The difference between being driven and being calledThe lifelong pursuit of the growth of the mindThe importance of being a listener and readerHow to exercise your soul to keep it in good shapeOur culture encourages us to believe that the busy, publicly active person is also the most spiritual. Our massive responsibilities at home, work, and church have resulted in many of us on the verge of collapse. Learn to take a step back from the outer world and deal with the stress of life by developing your inner your soul.
We have schedule planners, computerized calendars, smart phones, and sticky notes to help us organize our business and social lives every day. But what about organizing the other side of our lives? The spiritual side?
In Ordering Your Private World, Gordon MacDonald equips you to live life from the inside out, cultivating the inner victory necessary for effectiveness. Simplifying your external life begins with seeking internal order. In addition to focusing on spiritual and mental disciplines, you’ll
The difference between being driven and being calledThe lifelong pursuit of the growth of the mindThe importance of being a listener and readerHow to exercise your soul to keep it in good shapeOur culture encourages us to believe that the busy, publicly active person is also the most spiritual. Our massive responsibilities at home, work, and church have resulted in many of us on the verge of collapse. Learn to take a step back from the outer world and deal with the stress of life by developing your inner your soul.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 1983
763 people are currently reading
4385 people want to read
About the author
Gordon MacDonald
112 books121 followersGordon MacDonald has been a pastor and author for over forty years. For many years he pastored Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massacusetts and continues to serve as Pastor Emertius. He has also provided leadership to influential ministries such as Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, which he served as President for three years, and World Relief, which he currently serves as Chairman. Gordon’s best-selling books include Ordering Your Private World, Mid-Course Correction and, most recently, A Resilient Life. He also writes and serves as Editor-at-Large for Christianity Today’s Leadership Journal. When not writing, leading or speaking at conferences, Gordon and his wife Gail can be found hiking the trails of New England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 419 reviews
September 23, 2013
The premise of this book is that the pace of modern life is impossible to maintain without getting our spiritual tanks empty. So many people are running on the cheap fuels of talent, natural giftings, momentum and caffeine fixes instead of the depth and energy that comes from a purposeful decision to be slower, more honest and reflective. As we're all in this western lifestyle together, it's often impossible for us to perceive who is running on which type of fuel until cracks start appearing.
Gordon MacDonald has observed that many lives are sudden sinkholes waiting to happen, because the messages we get from the world encourage us to focus on the surface levels of our lives, including how they may look to others. There is a gaping chasm beneath this veneer which so often remains unfilled.
I loved his clear distinction between being 'driven' in your approach to life, as opposed to being 'called'. I get the impression driven people may tend to regard life with a 'what's in it for me' type of filter. They wear fatigue and stress as badges of honour. Gratified only by accomplishment and positive feedback, they read books and attend seminars with the sole aim of being even more productive. Although they may appear altruistic and heroic, in reality they are exhausted approval seekers, needing to constantly hear the words, "Well done". They are preoccupied with visible symbols of accomplishment, such as office sizes and social media followings. Their minds never stop ticking away, wondering how they can get better connected with other so-called "greats" in their field, all the while keeping their eyes open to see who is applauding them.
On the other hand, those who are 'called' have no need to grandstand or impress anyone, so they can take time to nurture their inner worlds. Knowing they aren't the centre of the universe, they take time to ponder the mysterious little things in the world. When they do give, they are free to do so out of a deep reservoir. And they don't bother keeping track of who's watching them, because they know that's not the issue of life.
The rest of the book consists of mindsets and practices we can try to set up to make sure we are 'called' rather than 'driven'. These include reading good books in a slow, thoughtful manner, letting their insights shape our lives. He also highly recommends keeping a journal of our inner processes and thoughts. I've been doing this for a long time anyway, but I loved his perspective that it's a type of prayer in its own right, making it easier for us to heed God's gentle insights and counsel.
We are given an example of two Biblical men, one driven and one called. King Saul wasted so much energy chasing David across the desert, convinced that getting rid of his perceived competition would prevent his shaky throne from toppling. MacDonald believes that if modern medical monitors had been available then, Saul's blood pressure and stress hormones would have been found to be sky high. However, John the Baptist lived a still life out in the desert, aware of the deeper undercurrents of life. When his followers suggested that Jesus' popularity might be threatening his own position, he was totally unconcerned, knowing it was as it should be.
Just the way this book is written forces us to slow down our racing thoughts and get calm and reflective. If you're like me, you might find that your mind is choppier than you would have thought. But reading this definitely helps make those ripples calmer.
Gordon MacDonald has observed that many lives are sudden sinkholes waiting to happen, because the messages we get from the world encourage us to focus on the surface levels of our lives, including how they may look to others. There is a gaping chasm beneath this veneer which so often remains unfilled.
I loved his clear distinction between being 'driven' in your approach to life, as opposed to being 'called'. I get the impression driven people may tend to regard life with a 'what's in it for me' type of filter. They wear fatigue and stress as badges of honour. Gratified only by accomplishment and positive feedback, they read books and attend seminars with the sole aim of being even more productive. Although they may appear altruistic and heroic, in reality they are exhausted approval seekers, needing to constantly hear the words, "Well done". They are preoccupied with visible symbols of accomplishment, such as office sizes and social media followings. Their minds never stop ticking away, wondering how they can get better connected with other so-called "greats" in their field, all the while keeping their eyes open to see who is applauding them.
On the other hand, those who are 'called' have no need to grandstand or impress anyone, so they can take time to nurture their inner worlds. Knowing they aren't the centre of the universe, they take time to ponder the mysterious little things in the world. When they do give, they are free to do so out of a deep reservoir. And they don't bother keeping track of who's watching them, because they know that's not the issue of life.
The rest of the book consists of mindsets and practices we can try to set up to make sure we are 'called' rather than 'driven'. These include reading good books in a slow, thoughtful manner, letting their insights shape our lives. He also highly recommends keeping a journal of our inner processes and thoughts. I've been doing this for a long time anyway, but I loved his perspective that it's a type of prayer in its own right, making it easier for us to heed God's gentle insights and counsel.
We are given an example of two Biblical men, one driven and one called. King Saul wasted so much energy chasing David across the desert, convinced that getting rid of his perceived competition would prevent his shaky throne from toppling. MacDonald believes that if modern medical monitors had been available then, Saul's blood pressure and stress hormones would have been found to be sky high. However, John the Baptist lived a still life out in the desert, aware of the deeper undercurrents of life. When his followers suggested that Jesus' popularity might be threatening his own position, he was totally unconcerned, knowing it was as it should be.
Just the way this book is written forces us to slow down our racing thoughts and get calm and reflective. If you're like me, you might find that your mind is choppier than you would have thought. But reading this definitely helps make those ripples calmer.
October 11, 2021
Helpful reminders from an seasoned Christian. I was a little iffy on reading this but I am glad I did. Timely reminders.
March 20, 2013
A must read for anyone truly committed to following Jesus...especially Americans who find mindless busyness to be a virtue. I stepped into the trap & am so glad The Lord rescued & showed me a different way. The way of freedom to connect with Him & for him to lead us out of this fine little frenzied mess we've found ourselves flailing about in.
October 27, 2022
Just as I finished reading this book at a café, a man, who was there with his wife and kid, approached me to ask about the book. He had watched me reading it and writing things down, and it had caught his interest. I was glad I could tell him that it was a really good book about “how to maintain the inner garden of your soul and spirit”. And that apart from many christian self-help books this one had given me much practical insight about some eternal truths.
It turned out the man was working as some kind of coach, and was also a Christian. He eagerly read the backside of the book, and asked if he could take a picture of it. He really wanted to order it online. Then he asked me a little about myself and what I want to do in life. I gave him a few answers that I assumed would please a coach, haha, but actually I could have told him that, after reading the book, none of those things seemed more important than ordering my private word.
If you feel a similar urge, I recommend you reading this book. It’s full of Jesus and rest.
- Helsinki, August 2022
It turned out the man was working as some kind of coach, and was also a Christian. He eagerly read the backside of the book, and asked if he could take a picture of it. He really wanted to order it online. Then he asked me a little about myself and what I want to do in life. I gave him a few answers that I assumed would please a coach, haha, but actually I could have told him that, after reading the book, none of those things seemed more important than ordering my private word.
If you feel a similar urge, I recommend you reading this book. It’s full of Jesus and rest.
- Helsinki, August 2022
December 14, 2021
Synopsis: Believe it or not, most people give more attention to the public world than their private world. Unfortunately, those who devote too much time to the public world are usually living a wreck. Drawing from various Biblical passages, as well as the writings of Christian thinkers such as C. S. Lewis, Gordon MacDonald shows us that inner victory is necessary for public effectiveness.
Review: I don't usually read non-fiction, but this was part of a three-book Gordon MacDonald omnibus I won at a party recently, so, I figured, why not check it out? I ended up being glad I did; Mr. MacDonald had some wonderful thoughts, and he explains his concepts quite well. If you've read and enjoyed the writings of Max Lucado or C. S. Lewis, you should definitely check this out.
Score: 4.25/5
Review: I don't usually read non-fiction, but this was part of a three-book Gordon MacDonald omnibus I won at a party recently, so, I figured, why not check it out? I ended up being glad I did; Mr. MacDonald had some wonderful thoughts, and he explains his concepts quite well. If you've read and enjoyed the writings of Max Lucado or C. S. Lewis, you should definitely check this out.
Score: 4.25/5
April 27, 2013
I reread this book every year. So many things to learn and relearn.
January 29, 2008
I just read this. I really liked the sections comparing the "driven" person to the "called" person. A great reminder of how important devotional time is.
September 3, 2021
Excellent book and a must read for all leaders especially those in ministry!
Talent and ability only go so far. You will not endure if that is what you are relying on!
He shares his story of learning and growing his inner life, nurturing the garden of his heart first.
Finding your identity in your public world will make your life come crashing down when things change. This is why people can’t retire, pastor a church too long, etc. They can’t let go. But when you’re inner life is strong, things remain the same regardless of circumstances. (I’m not saying transition isn’t hard, because it is!)
I also loved the insight of focusing on different things depending on what season it is. He counsels more in the spring, reads more in the summer, etc. I do some of this, but I want to experiment and find better rhythms in my life.
Good book to come back to every few years!
Talent and ability only go so far. You will not endure if that is what you are relying on!
He shares his story of learning and growing his inner life, nurturing the garden of his heart first.
Finding your identity in your public world will make your life come crashing down when things change. This is why people can’t retire, pastor a church too long, etc. They can’t let go. But when you’re inner life is strong, things remain the same regardless of circumstances. (I’m not saying transition isn’t hard, because it is!)
I also loved the insight of focusing on different things depending on what season it is. He counsels more in the spring, reads more in the summer, etc. I do some of this, but I want to experiment and find better rhythms in my life.
Good book to come back to every few years!
October 30, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. For years, I had heard that it was a good read (and it is). While reading the book I thought I would Google if the author was still alive. Alas! Not only did Google inform me that he is alive (at the time of this review) but that he had cheated on his wife around the time that this book was published. Now, does truth change because the bearer of truth stumble? No. However, it does give one a bad taste in their mouth while reading it. I don't know the author personally and from the little bit I read, he and his wife were able to restore their marriage and continue on serving God (in what role or roles, I do not know).
Many of the chapters had good truths with good illustrations. A bit scant on Scripture and bit heavy on quoting the mystics. I did really enjoy the chapters on the difference between being "driven" and being "called." I believe I have met many in ministry who are driven leaders instead of called leaders. And MacDonald, in my opinion, warns of the dangers of driven men and women.
Many of the chapters had good truths with good illustrations. A bit scant on Scripture and bit heavy on quoting the mystics. I did really enjoy the chapters on the difference between being "driven" and being "called." I believe I have met many in ministry who are driven leaders instead of called leaders. And MacDonald, in my opinion, warns of the dangers of driven men and women.
April 1, 2009
I put this book up there with Rick Warren's 40 Days of Purpose. It is so impacting and thought provoking.
March 18, 2012
This book speaks volumes to Christian people who are feeling dragged down by the press of the everyday life they live, the need to compete, to succeed, to win at the game of life. Gordon MacDonald published this first in 1985, but the message is still as relevant as it was nearly 30 years ago.
MacDonald has given much thought about what it takes to "abide in Him," as He abides in me. To make it more attainable, he breaks down our private, or spiritual, world into five sectors. He looks first at what makes us function as we do..what is our motivation, i.e, are we driven, or called? The driven are those who respond to the stress and pressures of life by working harder and harder, where the called are responding to Jesus' call to be what He would have us become.
As we begin to order our private world, we look at how we use the time God has given us. Practically speaking, MacDonald suggests that we begin to plan our days two months out, filling in the calendar with time that is devoted, say, to our relationship with God and our families, so that we recognize we have a standing commitment when some other worthy opportunity comes up. He encourages reading both scripture and other edifying literature that stretches and/or comforts us spiritually. MacDonald urges us to look to the life of Jesus as our example, learning to look at others "through Heaven's eyes," focusing on something or someone other than ourselves. Finally he urges us to take advantage of God's example and actually rest, in order to be restored and refreshed.
I had the opportunity to read this with a study group over a several week period. The comments of other participants are often more insightful, thought provoking, and beneficial than what I might otherwise have come up with. Reading slower often means thinking deeper. This is a study that one would do well to repeat from time to time. The copy I have comes with thought questions at the end of the book. Though we didn't use that as a guide, it would likely be helpful to guide one's thoughts if going through the book solo.
MacDonald is a thinker and a good communicator. If the stress is getting to you, his suggestions may well be just what you need to re-center and become more like the person God intends for you to be.
MacDonald has given much thought about what it takes to "abide in Him," as He abides in me. To make it more attainable, he breaks down our private, or spiritual, world into five sectors. He looks first at what makes us function as we do..what is our motivation, i.e, are we driven, or called? The driven are those who respond to the stress and pressures of life by working harder and harder, where the called are responding to Jesus' call to be what He would have us become.
As we begin to order our private world, we look at how we use the time God has given us. Practically speaking, MacDonald suggests that we begin to plan our days two months out, filling in the calendar with time that is devoted, say, to our relationship with God and our families, so that we recognize we have a standing commitment when some other worthy opportunity comes up. He encourages reading both scripture and other edifying literature that stretches and/or comforts us spiritually. MacDonald urges us to look to the life of Jesus as our example, learning to look at others "through Heaven's eyes," focusing on something or someone other than ourselves. Finally he urges us to take advantage of God's example and actually rest, in order to be restored and refreshed.
I had the opportunity to read this with a study group over a several week period. The comments of other participants are often more insightful, thought provoking, and beneficial than what I might otherwise have come up with. Reading slower often means thinking deeper. This is a study that one would do well to repeat from time to time. The copy I have comes with thought questions at the end of the book. Though we didn't use that as a guide, it would likely be helpful to guide one's thoughts if going through the book solo.
MacDonald is a thinker and a good communicator. If the stress is getting to you, his suggestions may well be just what you need to re-center and become more like the person God intends for you to be.
November 23, 2008
One of those books that is life-changing. I haven't even had time to breathe in the past few months as I've been striving for my best with my business. It seems everything else has gone to the dogs in the process! This book is getting me back on track with everything that is important
October 14, 2015
i've read this book every year around christmas time for the past 8 years. it's a good tool to examine every area of your life.
April 21, 2012
I really love this book. I've read it twice, so far and I get something out of it each time. In fact, it's back on my current reading book shelf to read again.
September 21, 2016
Really good and really challenging! Loved it!
February 5, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be coming back to it in the future! Gordon has a lot of wisdom to share; it felt like the perfect combination of different aspects of Garden City, Gentle & Lowly, and The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.
August 26, 2021
This book is a JEWEL.
That's it for now.
That's it for now.
October 21, 2017
A number of years ago I was involved with student leadership development while staff with the Navigators. My boss at the time was a huge fan of Gordon’s and we used sections of a few of his books as part of our yearlong development program. So when I had the opportunity to get and review this book I was very excited. As soon as I started reading the book I became curious. For this book was originally published in 1983, republished in 1985, revisions in 2003 and now a major revised and updated version that includes a study guide. The book has 221 reviews currently on Amazon, and 2891 ratings on Goodreads and 181 reviews. The majority of the reviews on Amazon are 5/5 stars, 75% in fact. And the overall rating on Goodreads is 4.1. So my giving it an even 3 stars is about par. But realistically I could wish I could have given it 2.5. I have been able to track down information on 30 different editions of this book, 7 are foreign language, and 4 are various audio formats. So over 20 different editions of this book over the last 34 years. Even the second reprint in 1985 was called a revised edition.
The chapters in this book are:
Author’s Note
Preface: The Day I Hit the Wall
1. The Sinkhole Syndrome
2. A View from the Bridge
3. Caught in a Golden Cage
4. The Tragic Tale of a Successful Loser
5. Living as a Called Person
6. Has Anyone Seen My Time? I’ve Misplaced It!
7. Recapturing My Time
8. The Better Man Lost
9. The Sadness of a Book Never Read
10. Order in the Garden
11. No Outer Props Necessary
12. Everything Has to Be Entered
13. Seeing Through Heaven’s Eyes
14. Friends
15. Rest Beyond Leisure (Sabbathing)
Epilogue: Courage, Appreciation, Depth
Study Guide
Notes
About the Author
I really really wanted to enjoy this book. But I found it hard to get into, and even harder to keep reading. It was so easy to pick up something else. I was able to get through it. But only after a few attempts and false starts. There are numerous authors in this genre, some Christian, some just self-help guru’s. In the former category we have authors like John Maxwell, Chuck Swindoll, Max Lucado, and Tony Campolo and the list goes on. On the latter category there are authors like Dan Millman, Robin S. Sharma, Deepak Chopra, and Carlos Castañeda. Over the last nearly 50 years I have read books by all of the above named authors.
What I found with this book is it is good, but really seems dated. It is good but not great. And to have a new version come out almost every year and a half seems a bit excessive to me. It is a good read, and people in mainline evangelical Christianity will gravitate towards the author. But it just doesn’t do it for me any more. It is older and out of print but I would highly recommend Managing Yourself (Out of print but worth tracking down) by Stephen B. Douglass or How to Achieve Your Potential and Enjoy Life (currently available as both print and ebook) by Douglass and Al Janssen. Or go give something by Matthew Kelly a read all of his books are amazing.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
The chapters in this book are:
Author’s Note
Preface: The Day I Hit the Wall
1. The Sinkhole Syndrome
2. A View from the Bridge
3. Caught in a Golden Cage
4. The Tragic Tale of a Successful Loser
5. Living as a Called Person
6. Has Anyone Seen My Time? I’ve Misplaced It!
7. Recapturing My Time
8. The Better Man Lost
9. The Sadness of a Book Never Read
10. Order in the Garden
11. No Outer Props Necessary
12. Everything Has to Be Entered
13. Seeing Through Heaven’s Eyes
14. Friends
15. Rest Beyond Leisure (Sabbathing)
Epilogue: Courage, Appreciation, Depth
Study Guide
Notes
About the Author
I really really wanted to enjoy this book. But I found it hard to get into, and even harder to keep reading. It was so easy to pick up something else. I was able to get through it. But only after a few attempts and false starts. There are numerous authors in this genre, some Christian, some just self-help guru’s. In the former category we have authors like John Maxwell, Chuck Swindoll, Max Lucado, and Tony Campolo and the list goes on. On the latter category there are authors like Dan Millman, Robin S. Sharma, Deepak Chopra, and Carlos Castañeda. Over the last nearly 50 years I have read books by all of the above named authors.
What I found with this book is it is good, but really seems dated. It is good but not great. And to have a new version come out almost every year and a half seems a bit excessive to me. It is a good read, and people in mainline evangelical Christianity will gravitate towards the author. But it just doesn’t do it for me any more. It is older and out of print but I would highly recommend Managing Yourself (Out of print but worth tracking down) by Stephen B. Douglass or How to Achieve Your Potential and Enjoy Life (currently available as both print and ebook) by Douglass and Al Janssen. Or go give something by Matthew Kelly a read all of his books are amazing.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
June 18, 2021
Interesting topic but felt like poor execution. I’m totally on board that an ordered private life is critical to finding meaning in life, spiritual fulfillment, satisfaction with external circumstances, etc etc, but I felt like the book was kind of just listing out all of these ideas as advice, without much development.
July 14, 2016
I skimmed this over the course of two days. MacDonald provides some good frameworks and is certainly right in his basic thesis. The book, as it stands, could be 1/3 as long. Too many anecdotes to convey basic concepts and a missed opportunity to go a little deeper.
December 13, 2023
I have started and re-started this a few times over the past couple years and haven’t finished until now. For some reason the writing style didn’t resonate with me before, but I *loved* this book now. MacDonald speaks humbly from his own failings and his experiences in leadership, ministry, and burn-out. He calls his readers to the necessity of cultivating our “private world” — the deepest parts of ourselves that have to do with our character, our priorities, and our relationship with the Lord. Super convicting. I will probably revisit this yearly. 😅
July 21, 2023
Sometimes books on spiritual disciplines can feel repetitive (though still helpful) but I really enjoyed this one! It still included some helpful practical disciplines but I felt like the main point was cultivating an inner world that is connected and listening to God. Basically it was definitely titled appropriately !!
I appreciated the way this book focused on “routine, unspectacular moments”. It can be so tempting in our culture to focus on what’s popular or what looks attractive in a 30sec clip rather than the things that are harder and take longer to cultivate, like character or resilience or “capital F Friends”. This book was a helpful reminder of the beauty of a daily, steady walk with Jesus.
I appreciated the way this book focused on “routine, unspectacular moments”. It can be so tempting in our culture to focus on what’s popular or what looks attractive in a 30sec clip rather than the things that are harder and take longer to cultivate, like character or resilience or “capital F Friends”. This book was a helpful reminder of the beauty of a daily, steady walk with Jesus.
January 4, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. I think it would be great to read once a decade. The first half was my favorite, casting a vision for the importance of an ordered private world. The second half is immensely practical- it didn’t hold much that was new to me, but was encouraging a motivating. I think it would be excellent to go through with a small group or in a mentoring relationship.
July 28, 2024
Rich insights, deep soul searching moments and principles that are formative!
“We must learn to soundproof the heart against the intruding noises of the public world in order to hear what God has to say.”
“We must learn to soundproof the heart against the intruding noises of the public world in order to hear what God has to say.”
January 18, 2024
Fantástico
March 1, 2025
A very solid book on how to sort yourself out.
Although written in the 70s, very applicable for the challenges of today.
I wish I had read this as an 18 year old. Would have changed my life.
Although written in the 70s, very applicable for the challenges of today.
I wish I had read this as an 18 year old. Would have changed my life.
September 10, 2009
MacDonald's book is something of a classic, and deservedly so. I read it first in college and found it a worthwhile re-read. MacDonald is very practical and while his advice is primarily aimed at pastors, he does a good job at making sure it is worthwhile for everyone, and that is the case. If you need a swift kick in your tookus, MacDonald's book should do the trick.
As you can tell from my rating, though, the book, while very good, certainly has its shortcomings. First, although running not even 200 pages, the book seems 1/3 longer than necessary. Many of the chapters could be shortened and combined, especially through the back half of the book. Second (and similarly), while many of MacDonald's illustrations are winners, they grew a bit wearisome for me. His strength is straightforward, practical advice, not storytelling, necessarily. Third, the back-half of MacDonald's book is spiritual health driven and while I commend him for this, it 1) probably should have been up front instead of at the back; 2) is a bit narrow in its understanding of spiritual vitality for my taste; and 3) doesn't exactly fit seemlessly with the front half of the book.
Overall, it's a good read. If you need that 'swift kick' take a look at the first half and skip the second half -- not that the second half isn't necessary -- but other authors have done it better justice.
As you can tell from my rating, though, the book, while very good, certainly has its shortcomings. First, although running not even 200 pages, the book seems 1/3 longer than necessary. Many of the chapters could be shortened and combined, especially through the back half of the book. Second (and similarly), while many of MacDonald's illustrations are winners, they grew a bit wearisome for me. His strength is straightforward, practical advice, not storytelling, necessarily. Third, the back-half of MacDonald's book is spiritual health driven and while I commend him for this, it 1) probably should have been up front instead of at the back; 2) is a bit narrow in its understanding of spiritual vitality for my taste; and 3) doesn't exactly fit seemlessly with the front half of the book.
Overall, it's a good read. If you need that 'swift kick' take a look at the first half and skip the second half -- not that the second half isn't necessary -- but other authors have done it better justice.
March 1, 2009
276 pages of great reading! Though this is not an easy read by any means, it was a good book that was thought provoking and challenging to the soul level. It's slightly hard to begin and "get into" but once you do I think you will find yourself caught up in how you can order not just your day and schedule, but your private world.
February 24, 2025
Not sure I can adequately summarize the treasure of this book. Some books are merely informative; some are life-changing. This book would be the latter. Still processing through everything, but this will be on a list of books to read regularly.
One will not emerge from reading this book the same. It will change the way you think.
One will not emerge from reading this book the same. It will change the way you think.
July 25, 2011
This book was my constant companion for a few years when I was new in christian ministry. There was plenty of disorder in my private world, and this book was a massive influence as I waded through it.
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