Renovadas: 10 maneiras de refletir os atributos de Deus

by Jen Wilkin

QUAL É A VONTADE DE DEUS PARA SUA VIDA?

Com boa teologia e uma pitada de humor, Jen Wilkin nos mostra que a principal pergunta que devemos fazer a nós mesmas não é ‘Qual é a vontade de Deus para minha vida?’, mas, sim, ‘Quem eu devo ser?’. E a Bíblia tem a resposta: seja como a própria imagem de Deus.

Ao explorar dez atributos comunicáveis de Deus – santo, amoroso, bom, justo, misericordioso, gracioso, fiel, paciente, verdadeiro e sábio –, Wilkin nos ajuda a entender quem Deus quer que sejamos. Por meio de Cristo, o reflexo perfeito da imagem de Deus, descobrimos como esses atributos afetam a maneira como vivemos, levando-nos à liberdade e ao propósito que ele tem para as nossas vidas quando seguimos sua vontade e nos conformamos à sua imagem.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Theology, Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Christian Non Fiction

143 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 28, 2016

About the author

Jen Wilkin is a speaker, writer, and teacher of women’s Bible studies. During her thirteen years of teaching, she has organized and led studies for women in home, church, and parachurch contexts. Jen and her family are members of the Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas. She is the author of Women of the Word.

Reviews

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psalm 139 is not a psalm about me, fearfully and wonderfully made. It is a psalm about my Maker, fearful and wonderful. It is a psalm to inspire awe.

None Like Him is a study about knowing God. "Know that I am God and so that you may worship me." It is in worship that we truly love others and God is revealed in his majesty. It is when we are in awe of the God and what he has done, we put the focus off our selves. So how do we get there? Jen Wilken brings us to the basics of who God is. Have you thought about your limitations? Do you know God's limitations and what they mean. It starts by knowing God is not measurable. It is about how much we desire to measure to have control. We limited humans are lovers of measurement; we number and county, quantify and track Because of our limits and our believe that we are limitless, we strife against our maker.

The 10 different ways that God is different is life changing to the one who embraces these changes. When embracing the 10 different ways, we actually live and worship God in truth. I so appreciate Jen Wilkin's teaching. She is solid and she puts the focus on who God is. I just addressed one the ways that God is different but each one progresses to the next one. It starts by addressing our limitations and that God is not measurable. That we cannot control Him. He is faithful is his own holy attributes. Each chapter starts with a quote and in a conversational tone, she leads the reader to the throne of God. You can't help but worship him. That is what I want.

A Special Thank You to Crossway and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post honest review.

[Heather Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jen Wilkin's really hits hard with her new book, None Like Him. If you are looking for a flowery book about Christianity, then this isn't the book for you. Going in, I knew God was different from me. I knew that was a good thing. But I didn't realize how much I tried to usurp His authority in my life. How many times I tried to take His place and claim attributes that belonged to Him alone. I thought I was going to read about God, but I ended up being convicted to my core.

Wilkin's wrote about 10 ways God is different from us. Including topics like being limitless, having infinite power and knowledge. And then she turned the table on us and exposed our hearts longing to be like God. It started with Eve in the garden, and we are still craving god-ness today in an unholy way.

Personally, I think every woman should read this book. It's an eye-opening, life-changing book about our heavenly Father, and us.

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All comments and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

[Bethany Ennor · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great to read a book aimed at woman that wasn't self-focused, ego boosting fluff. Doing this as a book study with 2 other ladies made this far more encouraging and convicting than if I had flicked through the pages on my own. I am so grateful for the discussions had over God's incommunicable attributes. I was weekly convicted about how I try to usurp God's authority in my life and claim attributes that are His alone. I highly recommend this to anyone (man or woman) as it really brings home why it is so good that He is God and not us! AND why when we try to play God it only ends in disorder.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this on my to-read shelf for so long, and I am so glad I finally got around to reading it.

We often hear about how alike we are to God, but we seldom hear about the ways that He is different from us. Jen Wilkin concisely and biblically explains how that shouldn’t be a bad thing- it’s exactly the opposite.

I ended this book in awe of the unique characteristics of our Creator, and it certainly something to worship Him over.

This book is great for new believers as well as a reminder/eye opener for seasoned believers. I’m definitely planning to re-read. Highly recommended!

[Heather Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend the audiobook (I found it on Hoopla) because Jen reads it. I highly recommend this book. Very accessible and solid. I WANTED to keep listening.

[Christina DeVane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent on so many levels!! 10 chapters of divine aspects of God- I slowly savored each one in my quiet time! The chapters, Infinite and Immutable (The God of No Limits and The God of Infinite Sameness), were probably my favorite realizing I experience limits and change all the time but He does not!
This would be a great book to use as a group Bible study or book club. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I wanted to think it might be suitable for a church book study. But from the opening line of the book, the author's tone repelled me: "If you had told me five years ago that I would one day write a book for Christian women that led off with a quote from Proverbs 31, I would have punched you in the face." A bit harsh, no?

I read as far as the third chapter. That's the chapter on God's attribute of aseity, His self-existence. But she starts the chapter by talking about a friend of hers—who never reads this chapter, I hope!—who hosted a parties with amazing decorations. The author described the decorations (with a bit of exaggeration?) and then said: "I hate her." She immediately added, "I don't hate her—I admire her, begrudgingly," and went on to talk about how she just can't (or doesn't) do the sort of things her friend does. What struck me most was that the author seemed to think that her readers would relate to her and the way she felt about crafts and decorations and so on.

Why? Is this supposed to be "authentic"? Has there been a shift in Christian women's writing from, say, Edith Schaeffer's Hidden Art, where the focus was on how to make our homes and our lives beautiful, to this newer approach where most female readers are expected not to care about that—or even to (pretend to) actively dislike those who attempt it? Is it the case today that women hate the thought of aspiring to or aiming at beauty? Do Christian women (slightly) resent those who do have beautiful decorations or clean homes or great meals, maybe because they feel bad that they don't? What's going on?

It reminds me a bit of the country song by the guy who says that he loves his girl because she doesn't want to drink wine (or some fancy drink) but just likes drinking beer with him; she doesn't want a nice car but would rather sit in his pickup; she doesn't go to the opera or to plays in the theater but wants to sit and watch his cows or the creek or something; she doesn't want to go out with her friends but just likes being with him—in short, he never has to step up his game or make any effort to do anything nice and that's why he loves her.

Besides the tone and this awful chapter opening, what about the rest of the content? It was surprisingly negative for a book on God's incommunicable attributes (e.g., aseity, omnipotence, eternity, omniscience).

The author seems to think Genesis 3 says that Adam and Eve wanted to be like God in every way (though the text says "like God, knowing good and evil," not: "like God, being omnipotent or omniscient or infinite or whatever") and that wanting to be like God is somehow bad (though Adam and Eve were created "in the likeness of God" and though we are to grow more and more like God). So she claims that we commit the sin of wanting to be like God (or thinking that we are like God) in terms of his incommunicable attributes.

Frankly, I don't know what that means. Do people desire to be, say, omnipresent?

The result is that in each chapter that I read, the primary aim of the writing seems to be to convince the reader that he or she has committed this sort of sin, has arrogated to himself or herself the attributes that only God has. In some cases, that may be so, I guess; I don't think it's always so.

But I missed what I had expected in the book, namely, a strong depiction of the beauty and goodness of God, of why these attributes are wonderful, of ways even in which we, as creatures, reflect on a creaturely level these attributes, and so on.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely write reviews, but felt compelled to when I finished this book. Jen Wilkin skillfully highlights ten of God's immutable attributes in a way that is both encouraging and convicting. As a young mother, it is so easy to focus on the little (or big-to-me) problems that surface on a daily basis, but this book helped me to look up to God and rest in all the things that HE is and I am not. Whether I read just a page or two, or a whole chapter at a time, I always came away refreshed and found myself looking forward to reading more so that I could be reminded once again of the character and depth of God.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small book that packs a mighty punch. Each chapter focuses on a different incommunicable attribute of God. She unpacks the scripture, tackles some doctrine, and then reveals our sinful temptations. I had a hard time putting the book down. It is written for women, but every man should read it as well. I used it to teach through a class at church and found it incredibly helpful.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, short read on the character of God.

[Rebecca Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reread but still hits. Thankful for reminders of Gods character that should lead me to awe, worship and delight in Him and remember that He’s God (and literally I’m not)

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a feeling this will be one of the most important books I could read this year and perhaps ever.

“That our hearts could be made a dwelling place more suitable for the Spirit of the Lord than a tabernacle or a temple is miraculous on a scale we cannot fathom. That the seat of utter depravity could become the seat of utter purity boggles the mind. God Almighty places his Spirit in us, working in great power through us to accomplish his purposes.” GLORY, GLORY, GLORY, HONOR AND GLORY TO YOU FOREVER, LORD! Thank You, Jesus! WOW!

[Chautona Havig · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading (and LOVING) Women of the Word with its primary focus on the fact that the Word is about GOD rather than us, I came into None Like Him with high expectations. For the most part, those expectations were met.

Wilkins takes ten of God's most defining attributes (ones that encompass pretty much if not all others) and digs deep into the truth of them. As I read each one, a theme began to emerge--something I don't know if she actually pointed out or not, but it's there. Without His omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, sovereignty, et cetera, God would not be worthy of worship. A God who does not know all isn't worthy. A God who is limited has nothing to inspire worship.

Wilkin does a fabulous job of using Scripture to point us to who God is and how and why He is to be worshiped. I loved that. However, two parts of the book fell flat for me.

1. In many chapters, we spend a lot of time focused on human failings and tendencies, sometimes making sweeping and assuming generalizations about people. Um... I thought this book was about God and who HE is? That bothered me.

2. It's minor, but the questions provided often felt perfunctory. Sometimes they seemed to steer us away from the point the chapter tried to make about God's characteristics and far too much on navel-gazing.
Then there were the questions and prayer prompts that assumed the reader would have a specific problem. Sometimes they were spot on for me. Others...not so much. Still others... so far off the mark it was almost ludicrous. And that made me wonder. Why were they written that way? I don't know. I will say that many of them felt like they were written by someone else, and that offered an answer. Perhaps they were and that person got off the mark of how we need to use the truth of Scripture to keep our mind focused on the truth of GOD and how those things will rewrite our faulty ideas of truth.

Still, these were minor in the grand scheme of the book and the rest was excellent. It certainly didn't turn me off her works. I've got another book in my shopping cart as I write this review.

[Cara Putman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really nice overview of the characteristics of God that are unique to Him. Would make a great group Bible study.

[Mikayla Upcott · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not what she said; it's how she said it.
The author's focus on the attributes of God vs. human limitations was excellent.
What turned me off? The insignificant, everyday things that she equates with idolatry--a desire to be mini gods. Things like iPhones, Facetime, and Google. Even hypochondria--a mental illness!-- gets classified as idolatry here.
Before people come at me with their pitchforks, I think I understand what she's trying to say. And a lot of things like these CAN rise to the level of idolatry. But her tone doesn't come across that way. It comes across as this: the invention of Google was a direct result of man's desire to be omniscient. And in reality, most people don't think that way.

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been wanting to read another book by Jen Wilkin since I read "Women Of The Word", and this one was so good! Wilkin discusses ten of God's attributes that are wholly different from us. I thought she had so many insightful points about how we as humans sinfully try to achieve these attributes that only truly apply to God. I took a ton of notes, and would like to own a physical copy of this book for further study since I listened to it on audio. If you would like a theology primer, or a book that will teach you more about God in an engaging way, this is a great one. Highly recommend!

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t something I typically do when reviewing a book, but I’m going to share the synopsis for None Like Him below, as I think it perfectly encapsulates both what Wilkin promised and what she delivered:

God is self-existent, self-sufficient, eternal, immutable, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, sovereign, infinite, and incomprehensible.

We're not.

And that's a good thing.

Our limitations are by design. We were never meant to be God. But at the root of every sin is our rebellious desire to possess attributes that belong to God alone. Calling us to embrace our limits as a means of glorifying God's limitless power, Jen Wilkin invites us to celebrate the freedom that comes when we rest in letting God be God.

Through None Like Him, Wilkin walks us through these ten attributes of God that no human could ever hope to emulate. She did a wonderful job presenting each attribute and explaining what grasping it more fully gives us in our relationship with God. I found her words wise and relatable, thought-provoking and easily digestible. By the end of this little book, I was even more relieved that God is God and I am not. He is so far beyond my ability to understand, but thankfully I’m not called to understand Him; I’m called to trust Him, to take Him at His word, and to accept the hand of rescue held out by His Son. He can handle everything else.
In her conclusion, Wilkin shows us how all ten of the aforementioned attributes of God are woven through Psalm 139, and how David is praising Him for who He is, not for who He crafted David to be. In her words:

“No, Psalm 139 is not a psalm about me, fearfully and wonderfully made. It is a psalm about my Maker, fearful and wonderful.
It’s a psalm to inspire awe.”

And when we stand in proper awe of God, when we see who He is and who we are not, it is so much easier to trust Him, lean on Him, rest in Him, and follow His lead.

[Katie Delp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. It really helps you regain perspective on Who God is and how easy it is to forget His wonderful attributes—especially during times of trial and hardship. I loved the powerful ending too based off of Psalm 139. Defining a good read 👏🏻👏🏻

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! Highly recommend the audiobook read by the author. I loved how theologically rich yet applicable and accessible this is. It met me where I am, gave me some wonderful truths to chew on, and gave a healthy dose of conviction. Will probably go on to “In His Image” next.

[Miandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Great demonstration of God’s attributes and how we fail by trying to have them and how it never works, because we aren’t God. Will likely reread.

[Amy Kannel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. I've read books on the attributes of God before, such as Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy, but what I appreciated about this one was how down to earth and practical it was. Highly recommend for both men and women, but I'd especially recommend for a women's study. So often books marketed for women's group studies are self-focused fluff; I love that this is utterly God-focused. Jen Wilkin manages to be relevant/relatable yet promotes awe of God. She serves the reader well by both celebrating God's character and also answering the "so what?" question, showing how the truth about who God is matters for everyday life. 4.5 stars.

2026: upgrading to 5 stars. What sets this apart is its pointed, challenging, winsome yet convicting application. It’s so effective in the way it not only shows who God is, but illuminates who we are and the idolatry of our trying to be what only He is.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a good look into God’s character and what Scripture says about Him. It was a convicting reminder to not forget these characteristics of God (how He is eternal, infinite, immutable, omnipotent, etc) and to live life in awe of Him. I used this, including all the verses and questions for reflection she included, as part of my devotions. Highly recommend!

[Abby Voss · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sure Jen Wilkin is a nice and intelligent lady. No shade. I just don’t like fluffy and this is very much that.

I also felt like these attributes were things I already knew about God with a bunch of random added analogies or stories to have more content. I found my mind bored and wandering too many times while trying to finish this book.

[Jami Balmet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful introduction and summarization of the attributes of God. If you've never studied His attributes, this is an excellent beginning! I would have liked it to go a tad deeper perhaps. But for a small quick read, it's well worth it and very sound!

[Andrea Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jen Wilkin’s call for us to be in awe of God instead of building up confidence in ourselves is a breath of fresh air to the Christian community. Wilkin communicates deep theology with humbling clarity. Wholeheartedly recommend.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jen Wilkin's writing style is really readable which is a big plus for me since I struggle with this genre many times. Her examples were relatable, but still deep. I loved her use of Scripture to illustrate her points also.

[Sarai Estrada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pensé que el tema a tratar era algo que ya sabía de memoria hasta que viene Jen y me hace comprender con este libro las veces que he caído en la autosuficiencia y otros cuantos ídolos más.

[Susy C. *MotherLambReads* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been wanting to read this book for awhile now.

I'm excited to dig into to her other books as well and get physical copies of them along with getting to know her teachings better. This book, she deals with 10 ways God is differen than us. I jotted down several truths that hit me for each section. It was good to be reminded of these truth and exactly what my heart need to hear this week.

God is: infinite, incomprehensbile, self existent, self sufficient, eternal, immutable, ominpresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. All the things we aren't and can't b. We should be: holy, loving, just, good, merciful, gracious, longsuffering, wise, and jealous (for Him). At the end of each chapter she had personal reflection questions and scripture passages to go over.

Truths that spoke to me:
Our time should be spent impacting others for eternity and not our own desires. / Time is fleeting- Redeem the time. (He is able to be present everywhere at all times.)
Our brain is not omniscient. There is so much information overload- there must be limits and boundaries set up to safeguard us. (He is all knowing).
God is all powerfull (omnipotent) and immutable (unchanging). How comforting that is when we really think deeply about it- in light of everything going on.
God is sovereign- I am not. Thing that make me become more controlling and anxious are things really beyond my control. I must rest in Him.

[Annika Brands · Rating 5 out of 5]

Defender Dollars coming in clutch so I was able to get this book from the bookstore 😁

It was really good. It’s a book about 10 attributes of God that we do not share with Him. I really appreciate that the author acknowledges that there are tons of attributes of God—the ones she wrote about are only a few of them.

Wilkin has so many good ideas and fascinating ways of thinking about topics that I’ve learned so many times before in my life. I didn’t agree with everything she said, but what I did agree with was SO good!

On to her next book!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this one on my shelf for quite a while, and I'm very glad that I decided to read it in this season. Jen spends time in each chapter talking about one of ten attributes of God (his omniscience, omnipotence, eternality, etc.) and discussing how we fight against our human limits to try to have that characteristic for ourselves. (For example, in the chapter on God's sovereignty, she talks about how we grasp for control of our own lives.)

Jen describes this as a book for women, but it's a book only for women in the sense that God is only for women. The content is worth reflecting on for any Christian. I definitely recommend spending time with it, and it's one I expect to come back to repeatedly.