Spiritual Life Hacks: Uncommon Solutions to Common Challenges

by Len Woods

Tips and Tricks to Help You Live Out Your Faith
 
Life hacks—ingenious solutions to everyday problems—are everywhere on the internet. If you want to stop your cat from unrolling the toilet paper or learn how to cut a cake with dental floss, you can find a site that will show you how.
 
Such clever strategies might save you a few seconds and give you a good story to tell your friends, but they can’t help you with the stuff in life that truly matters, like trying to live as God intended. That is…until now.
 
Discover life hacks for your spiritual life, field-tested fixes for chronic problems that plague many Christians. What do you do when you are…
 
…headed out into a problem-filled world?
 
…disillusioned by your lack of spiritual growth?
 
…forced to be around somebody really annoying?
 
…disgusted with yourself because of all the things you “should” be doing but aren’t?
 
…tired of all the pretending?
 
Join award-winning author Len Woods as he shares some sound biblical strategies for overcoming these common challenges—and learn to give yourself grace along the way. 
 
 

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

Published August 6, 2019

About the author

A graduate of LSU (journalism) and Dallas Seminary (theology), Len is a StoryBrand Certified Guide and Copywriter who writes words that help good companies and customers who need their products or services find each other.

A former pastor and ECPA Gold Medallion Award-winning author, Len also writes about the agonies and ecstasies of the spiritual life.

Find out more at lenwoods.com (or thewoodswords.com, the blog Len shares with his wife Cindi).

Reviews

[Sleepless Dreamer]

Okay yes, I'm Jewish and not really that into organized religion but regardless, I really wanted to read this book. We have much to learn from everyone and I'm always up for discovering new ways to connect to spirituality. Recently, I'm in the midst of a Jewish religious crisis (yes, again, the Israeli elections will do that to people) and while my faith seems very fragile, I still find myself leaning on my spiritual religious rituals so I was up for learning a few more.

So thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my opinion! I very much needed spiritual hacks.

The advice here is good. It's a little basic but I felt like it spoke to me. We all need to remember to be more grateful and to deal with our problems better. Religious advice books usually aren't for the information but in order to awaken inside of us what we know already exists. This book does that pretty well.

I've had plenty of conversations with spiritual leaders and this guy has the lingo down. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just reads like a religious self help book, which, in fact, it is. You hear that type of mentality in the writing style.

This is nitpicking but please, consult a native Hebrew speaker. Hebrew is written from right to left so it tends to be wrong in printed books, as is here on page 66. The transliteration is also a little off. Also, there's a bit somewhere on page 100ish where the author mentions Hebrew in a way that seems a little inaccurate. So yeah, feel free to contact me with Hebrew related questions, I'd be happy to help in order to make it right.

All in all, this is a quick read and it manages to do what it sets off to do, although I'm too much of a millennial to be sold by the use of the word "hacks". If you're up for a nice book about solutions for religious problems, this could be good for you.

What I'm Taking With Me:
- Christianity, as presented here, is more reflective than Judaism.
- Honestly, I'd be so up for just hanging out with the author for coffee, he feels like a chill guy.
- I always feel a certain animosity towards Jesus, sorry.
- That story of his about getting robbed because the guy told him he's in need of religious help and everyone has turned him down. Like wow, that's a clever way to trick someone and it's so sad because I feel I would have easily fallen for that as well.

[Sleepless Dreamer]

Okay yes, I'm Jewish and not really that into organized religion but regardless, I really wanted to read this book. We have much to learn from everyone and I'm always up for discovering new ways to connect to spirituality. Recently, I'm in the midst of a Jewish religious crisis (yes, again, the Israeli elections will do that to people) and while my faith seems very fragile, I still find myself leaning on my spiritual religious rituals so I was up for learning a few more.

The advice here is good. It's a little basic but I felt like it spoke to me. We all need to remember to be more grateful and to deal with our problems better. Religious advice books usually aren't for the information but in order to awaken inside of us what we know already exists. This book does that pretty well.

I've had plenty of conversations with spiritual leaders and this guy has the lingo down. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just reads like a religious self help book, which, in fact, it is. You hear that type of mentality in the writing style.

This is nitpicking but please, consult a native Hebrew speaker. Hebrew is written from right to left so it tends to be wrong in printed books, as is here on page 66. The transliteration is also a little off. Also, there's a bit somewhere on page 100ish where the author mentions Hebrew in a way that seems a little inaccurate. So yeah, feel free to contact me with Hebrew related questions, I'd be happy to help in order to make it right.

All in all, this is a quick read and it manages to do what it sets off to do, although I'm too much of a millennial to be sold by the use of the word "hacks". If you're up for a nice book about solutions for religious problems, this could be good for you.

What I'm Taking With Me:
- Christianity, as presented here, is more reflective than Judaism.
- Honestly, I'd be so up for just hanging out with the author for coffee, he feels like a chill guy.
- I always feel a certain animosity towards Jesus, sorry.
- That story of his about getting robbed because the guy told him he's in need of religious help and everyone has turned him down. Like wow, that's a clever way to trick someone and it's so sad because I feel I would have easily fallen for that as well.

[Alicia Unterreiner]

Quote: When you are down to nothing~~God is up to something.

Spiritual Life Hacks are fun ways of dealing with everyday problems.
This book offers tips and tricks on ways to handle common challenges.

Thank you NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for the ARC.

[Tami]

While the concepts of spirituality and hacking seem oxymoronic at best and mutually exclusive at worst, Mr Woods manages to not cross the fine line between credible ‘spiritual hacks’ and oversimplifying spiritual issues. Personally, I love a good hack. And the combination of this love and some recent questions I’ve had about my spirituality made me select this book. I was, however, worried that it might be one of those ‘click bait’ type resources that fall short of their sales pitch, but it is not that at all. It is very thoughtfully written with a number of learning points. It answers questions about faith in a manner that is very direct and refreshing.

I also enjoyed the real-life examples that came with each subject matter and helped bring them to life. As a ‘hack’ compilation, it presents each hack in short chapters that you can almost read like a devotional-a-day or something along that line. However, it did once in a while seem like the hacks and their descriptions were a bit longwinded, making the book tiring to read at various points.

All-in-all, I enjoyed the author’s sense of humour and laughed out loud several times. I appreciate his perspective of faith-based living. I give this book 4 stars and would recommend it to anyone interested in examining their faith through more of a practical, lifestyle lens than a religious one.

[Kathy]

Len Woods comes across as one of those guys who is comfortable wherever and with whomever he is. Warm-hearted with a fine sense of humor, in Spiritual Hacks: Uncommon Solutions to Common Challenges, he offers thoughtful responses to Christians who find themselves in very common situations.

What should we do when:
- we're feeling disillusioned by our seeming lack of spiritual growth?
- we have to face a problem-filled world?
- we can't see God working in our life?
- we're battling doubts?
- we feel overwhelmed?
- life is full of uncertainty?
- when we're exhausted?
- when it's taking a long time to bounce back from a draining situation
-when the idea of repenting leaves us cold?
-when we need to pray but we're all out of words?
et cetera, et cetera, et cetera...

This is a man who has been in our shoes, in these situations, and in many more that he covers in this small book packed full of straight-talking, wisdom and understanding. I so enjoyed the time I spent with this book, and the lessons I learned from Len Woods! And though I'm not a betting woman (my highest bet is usually a nickel!), I feel confident you will enjoy and learn from this book too!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harvest House Publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions stated here are my own.

[Marvy Herrera]

I received an ARC of this book from Harvest House Publishers via NetGalley, this review is my personal opinion.

This is a great book, I truly enjoy it. I had a great time reading it, I could relate to so many of the situations Pastor Len talks in his book. And not only from his own personal experience but with biblical, insightful, practical and sometimes funny advice or spiritual hacks as he names it to put them on practice in our daily life. This book represents a useful tool, especially in those moments when we don't have the answer we are needing. In a toned base on God's love and grace, I like his honesty and openness, and also that in my opinion, I think this book is not about you must have to do this way. But more: I live that and I learn this, I think this could help you. I like his honesty and openness, and I believe this book could be a blessing and a must-read for everyone, new believers or even if you have years as Christian.

Truly grateful to Harvest House Publishers for the ARC of this book.

[Natalyn]

How often do we feel the need to use life hacks to survive? We have more than we can handle and we think, what could make this easier? More often than not I find myself taking unique shortcuts to make my day better and more efficient.

In the midst of all this hacking, Len Woods asks us to reframe our minds. What would a spiritual life hack look like? Rather than cheating the system, a spiritual life hack would make our faith more accessible to us, even in the times when faith feels distant and rough.

Woods does excellent work in giving reader applicable tips and trick to use in their daily lives. He uses story to teach lessons and show us why our faith can’t just be hacked, but how small hacks can create big differences in our faith!

[Debra Southern]

At the end of the book it says, "Wanting heaven is why we rebuild the engine and rework the recipe. It’s why we rethink the process. Reorganize the closet. Resume the diet. Renew our marriage vows. Write the book. The truth? We want heaven." In the beginning of the book it says, "We all need regular reminders because we’re all expert forgetters!" Len does an excellent job of reminding us through scripture and more other shared human experiences of how our common hardships are connected with our forgetfulness and our wanting heavan, go together. In learning how Spiritual Life Hack is defined, we learn how to go about life, according to God's instructions, which is closer to our once Godly self, as heavan on earth can be.

[Cheryl]

I enjoyed the friendly, companionable tone of the author in this book, as well as the short, pithy chapters which made dipping in and out of this a pleasure. I read from cover to cover but going forward I can see myself returning to random chapters for a quick spiritual hit, or seeking out a particular chapter for a reason. The hacks cover a wide variety of issues and are fairly practical for the most part, which I liked. As a non-religious person, I still felt able to relate to the hacks on a spiritual rather than religious level, and would absolutely recommend the book to others.

NOTE: A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Connie]

This is another one of those carefully thought out books that work well as part of my morning because the hacks are short, and I can read one every morning to think about as the day goes on. If you personally prefer, this can also be read straight through. The author, Len Woods, shares some personal information about himself and also talks about how the reader can use life’s daily occurrences to improve their spiritual life.

I thoroughly appreciated this book, and I especially love how each chapter has an easily identifiable hack, so I can quickly find one that will apply to where I am any day.

[Mrs C]

The author takes the time to gradually ease into the different hacks. The spiritual hacks are shortcuts to issues or challenges that deal with doubting your faith, how to act around other people, prayer life, feeling selfish, when you feel you’ve let yourself down etc. The chapters are filled with lots of straight-to-the-point advice with scripture references to drive the message home. This is a breezy book that combines a Christian approach to dealing with life’s problems.

Thanks to the publisher for access to the review copy.

[Patty Liverance]

I love this book because it is so honest about the doubts and struggles we all have while giving practical advice on how to tackle them. I followed the advice in the chapter on what to do when we're feeling overwhelmed and it was not only helpful, but really fun. Coming up with some of the lists will be a great activity for family and friends - would be perfect for small groups! Len Woods writes with an honest and upbeat style that helps me to give myself a break and reminds me we're all in the same boat. Onward and upward!

[Kacie]

I was only a few pages into this book when I knew it was just what I needed to read at this season in my life. This book was so refreshing, full of truth, and so funny and entertaining to read. The holy habits/spiritual life hacks Woods writes about are so practical and helpful whether you're a new Christian or have been a Christian for years and years. I found this book so encouraging and consider it a must-read for everyone.

[Kylene]

I really enjoyed Spiritual Life Hacks. It's broken into smaller chapters, each focusing on a different hack. Because of its structure, it's easy to fit a little reading into a few spare minutes of the day--and to put it down and come back to it a few days (or more) later. The tips cover a wide variety of issues, and for the most part, are very practical.

[Susan LeJeune]

“Len Woods has a gift. It's the ability to simplify how we can act (or react!) to the way things stack up. Much like MacGyver constructs creative solutions, Len ties ordinary words together that yield extraordinary solutions to our stressful situations. Are you ready to use the spiritual life hacks he’s forged for you to find uncommon solutions for common challenges? I am.”

[Anne]

In this book, Len Woods addresses relevant problems we all face in the Christian life, he gives thoughtful and practical solutions, and he writes in a clear and concise manner. This is a great book for men or anyone who wants to get to the point and learn specific actions they can take to overcome real challenges. I bought extras to give to friends who want to grow in their walk with the Lord.

[Linda Dwyer]

I can't put this book down... I keep going back to it over and over again. It is one of those books I truly believe every home should have!! Len Woods writing is so easy to understand, yet funny, yet thought-provoking.. it's a perfect combination. Hoping he will make a sequel!! It makes a great gift too!!

[Carter Hemphill]

I found some useful spiritual tips or "life hacks" for a book that was a quick read. I like how the book reflects upon the author's advice learned through his life. It's an interesting concept that would be great to bring into a lot of other mature Christian's spiritual life hacks.

[Melissa]

Amusing writing with some helpful ideas and tricks to help during certain situations in life. There were some good ideas in here!

[Natalie]

Love this book! Incredibly practical! Great read. Love the author! Was fortunate enough to sit underneath his teaching for years :-) we try and read everything he's published!

[Kelly]

Very encouraging and helpful book. I am glad that I had a chance to read this book and will refer to it again as needed.

[Nancy]

3.5 stars.

[Carrollynn]

Easy and humorous read. And most importantly, grounded in Truth. I'm keeping this book close for continued reference.

[abigail]

Motivated me

[Alyson Hinkie]

I am encouraged! This book is accessible, comforting, and helpful. It is easy to get busy and distracted these days. Many of the helpful hints presented here will no doubt stick with me for good. My favorites: list making, "Lord, you know..." prayers, focusing on the questions Jesus asked, and the reminder to say what I need to say to those I love. I enjoyed the conversational style of the writing - the author's honesty about his own struggles made me like a fellow pilgrim. It's not preachy. This is a book for those new to the Christian faith as well as for those who might have become a bit ragged around the edges after a few too many passes around the block.

[Sue]

Fun, but meaningful reading about prayer, worship, faith . . .

[Deborah]

I really enjoyed this book. Len Woods gives help with anecdotes and quick thoughts to help the Christian get closer to God. These are then gathered together at the end of the book.
Thoughts including: when your devotional life is stale and blah........throw it a curveball and when you feel disillusioned by your lack of spiritual growth.....stop waiting for a holy "zap" and start working out. These are explained in short chapters within the book.
If you are looking for help with your Spiritual life then this is the book for you.
I was given this book by Netgalley and the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[Erica (The Literary Apothecary)]

Spiritual Life Hacks is a well-written, easy-to-read text on Christian spiritual growth. Len, in a very conversational style, does an excellent job expounding on the trials of Christian life and provides applicable 'hacks' for dealing with those trials. Each of these strategies can be modified or tweaked to the reader's personal situation.
Highly recommended for down-to-earth Christian readers who enjoy Max Lucado.