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Fully Known: An Invitation to True Intimacy with God
We were made for intimacy--spiritual intimacy with God that brings oneness and bears powerful fruit. We were made to know Him and be known by Him, fully. So why do we often feel burnt-out, distant, and disheartened in our journey of faith? How do we cultivate true intimacy with God? And what does His design of physical, sexual intimacy unveil of the full gospel story?
Sharing Word-backed, Holy Spirit-breathed revelation with humility and openhanded honesty, New York Times bestselling author Mo Aiken walks alongside us through the beauty and power of life lived in active communion with God, rather than the self-seeking, counterfeit faith we've settled for. Unpacking eternity-defining concepts that have become confusing, offensive, or altogether ignored--like submission, repentance, sanctification, holiness, and discipline--Mo shows us how God has given us a physical model of spiritual intimacy through His design of marriage, sex, and family. Exposing many roots of selfishness and perversion we see so often in our relationships, both human and divine, she invites us to pure-hearted and transformational communion with our Creator.
If you've felt far from God, caught in broken relationships, dead in religion, and longing to be fully known, join Mo on this journey of return to right-natured intimacy with our First Love.
Sharing Word-backed, Holy Spirit-breathed revelation with humility and openhanded honesty, New York Times bestselling author Mo Aiken walks alongside us through the beauty and power of life lived in active communion with God, rather than the self-seeking, counterfeit faith we've settled for. Unpacking eternity-defining concepts that have become confusing, offensive, or altogether ignored--like submission, repentance, sanctification, holiness, and discipline--Mo shows us how God has given us a physical model of spiritual intimacy through His design of marriage, sex, and family. Exposing many roots of selfishness and perversion we see so often in our relationships, both human and divine, she invites us to pure-hearted and transformational communion with our Creator.
If you've felt far from God, caught in broken relationships, dead in religion, and longing to be fully known, join Mo on this journey of return to right-natured intimacy with our First Love.
182 pages, Paperback
Published April 6, 2021
39 people are currently reading
1180 people want to read
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June 30, 2021
I truly appreciate Mo’s desire to call Christians today to deeper intimacy with God. It’s a message near and dear to my heart as well, and reading her story of how the Lord called her to forsake distractions and superficiality for a richer and deeper relationship with Him made me want to cry out “Hallelujah!”
For those who are new in the faith or feel spiritually stagnant, there is much to glean from this book. Read it prayerfully, and pause often to discuss with God those things which He stirs in your heart. I especially appreciated Mo’s anecdote of ending her prayers with the words “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” Silence and stillness are often ignored in our churches and discipleship today, and it’s a much-needed correction.
That said, there were a few things I wished to find in this book that were missing:
1. Engagement with other authors. I’ve read SO MANY good books on intimacy with God, and there’s much to learn from spiritual mothers and fathers of the church. I wish Mo would have engaged in a dialog with these writers—building on their ideas, pushing back, exploring further—which would have led to a richer and deeper treatment of intimacy with God. As it is, we have only Mo’s thoughts and perspectives. Which is not a bad thing; it’s just likely to be more appealing to those who are just beginning in their journey with Jesus.
2. Endnotes and citations. This kind of relates to the point above, but there’s no citations of other people’s work. No asks us to believe her when she lays out the case for how Hebrew marriage contracts parallel the Torah, and it’s an interesting theory, but there’s no biblical scholarly engagement to back it up. How can I trust that what she’s claiming about ancient Israelite culture is true if she doesn’t tell me where she learned it from? This is just basic good writing etiquette.
3. Future consummation. Mo develops the intricate and intriguing metaphor of physical intimacy as a picture into spiritual intimacy with God. It’s truly an intriguing premise. The problem comes when she draws on the marriage bed (and other aspects of physical intimacy between a husband and a wife) to explain the joy and delight Jesus wants us to experience with Him. But… according to Scripture, the church of Christ is still in the betrothal period. Our spiritual union has not been consummated because we’re still waiting for Jesus to return and for the marriage supper of the Lamb to mark the beginning of our “marriage”. There’s an element of “already, but not yet,” and the metaphor seems strained in the second part of the book.
4. A call to corporate living (less individualism). For a book about intimacy with God through the picture of a spiritual marriage between Jesus and His bride, there’s a glaring omission concerning the church. This whole book is focused on INDIVIDUAL and PERSONAL intimacy with God, and while that’s part of the Christian experience, it’s a small part. Throughout the New Testament, we read exhortations to unity with other believers, the “one-another’s” of community, and the repeated imagery of the Church as the bride of Christ. Unfortunately, the English language does not differentiate between the singular and plural “you” pronouns, but we cannot take biblical teaching about “y’all” and blindly apply it to “you” (singular). In a 182 page book, only half a page even talked about the importance of life in community. This is probably the most egregious omission, IMHO.
This may come across as harsh criticism. I don’t mean it that way. After all, I’ve given three stars, not one, and that means there’s a lot of good in this book. But be aware that what Mo’s teaching about spiritual intimacy is one part of the bigger picture.
Read this book. Be inspired to go deeper with Jesus. And link arms with faithful women and men as you live out the beautiful picture of the Bride of Christ waiting for her groom.
For those who are new in the faith or feel spiritually stagnant, there is much to glean from this book. Read it prayerfully, and pause often to discuss with God those things which He stirs in your heart. I especially appreciated Mo’s anecdote of ending her prayers with the words “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” Silence and stillness are often ignored in our churches and discipleship today, and it’s a much-needed correction.
That said, there were a few things I wished to find in this book that were missing:
1. Engagement with other authors. I’ve read SO MANY good books on intimacy with God, and there’s much to learn from spiritual mothers and fathers of the church. I wish Mo would have engaged in a dialog with these writers—building on their ideas, pushing back, exploring further—which would have led to a richer and deeper treatment of intimacy with God. As it is, we have only Mo’s thoughts and perspectives. Which is not a bad thing; it’s just likely to be more appealing to those who are just beginning in their journey with Jesus.
2. Endnotes and citations. This kind of relates to the point above, but there’s no citations of other people’s work. No asks us to believe her when she lays out the case for how Hebrew marriage contracts parallel the Torah, and it’s an interesting theory, but there’s no biblical scholarly engagement to back it up. How can I trust that what she’s claiming about ancient Israelite culture is true if she doesn’t tell me where she learned it from? This is just basic good writing etiquette.
3. Future consummation. Mo develops the intricate and intriguing metaphor of physical intimacy as a picture into spiritual intimacy with God. It’s truly an intriguing premise. The problem comes when she draws on the marriage bed (and other aspects of physical intimacy between a husband and a wife) to explain the joy and delight Jesus wants us to experience with Him. But… according to Scripture, the church of Christ is still in the betrothal period. Our spiritual union has not been consummated because we’re still waiting for Jesus to return and for the marriage supper of the Lamb to mark the beginning of our “marriage”. There’s an element of “already, but not yet,” and the metaphor seems strained in the second part of the book.
4. A call to corporate living (less individualism). For a book about intimacy with God through the picture of a spiritual marriage between Jesus and His bride, there’s a glaring omission concerning the church. This whole book is focused on INDIVIDUAL and PERSONAL intimacy with God, and while that’s part of the Christian experience, it’s a small part. Throughout the New Testament, we read exhortations to unity with other believers, the “one-another’s” of community, and the repeated imagery of the Church as the bride of Christ. Unfortunately, the English language does not differentiate between the singular and plural “you” pronouns, but we cannot take biblical teaching about “y’all” and blindly apply it to “you” (singular). In a 182 page book, only half a page even talked about the importance of life in community. This is probably the most egregious omission, IMHO.
This may come across as harsh criticism. I don’t mean it that way. After all, I’ve given three stars, not one, and that means there’s a lot of good in this book. But be aware that what Mo’s teaching about spiritual intimacy is one part of the bigger picture.
Read this book. Be inspired to go deeper with Jesus. And link arms with faithful women and men as you live out the beautiful picture of the Bride of Christ waiting for her groom.
April 8, 2021
Aiken begins her book with a bold statement. “You were made to know intimacy with God.” (130/2664) Yet she noticed a lack of deep personal relationships with the Lord among professing believers. God has made the intimacy possible, making a way for us to know Him and be known by Him. We have everything we need: the finished work of Christ, the Holy Spirit, His Word. Why is intimacy so lacking in the Christian community?
Aiken explores the roots of why we do not pursue intimacy with God. Perhaps we are so focused on doing for God we have missed being with God. Perhaps we are not willing to count the great cost to that intimacy. Perhaps we are so focused on the world we don't take the time for such intimacy. Perhaps we are not willing to repent, to be quiet, to be small.
Aiken uses marriage as the framework to understand God's covenantal love for us and help us understand our response to Him. She frequently concentrates on the physical intimacy of marriage, such as likening a wife being too tired for her husband's advances to our being too taken by the cares of this world to respond to God's advances. (1692/2664)
There is a great deal of good admonishment and encouragement in this book. While there is no specific strategy to help us on the journey to intimacy with God, Aiken gives many suggestions. She admonishes us to true repentance, to live in an awareness of and submission to the Holy Spirit, and more.
I am not so taken with marriage as a useful example to our intimacy with God. Marriages in this sinful world are faulty. I cannot think of one marriage I know that I would say is a good example of a relationship with God. Just as many Christians have difficulty understanding God as Father because of their own fathers, I think many might have difficulty benefiting from a marriage example because of their own or of others. And then you have the single people.
If you desire deep intimacy with God, this book will give you encouraging suggestions. Just make sure you are willing to count the cost, to engage the Holy Spirit working in you, and to surrender what is required.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Aiken explores the roots of why we do not pursue intimacy with God. Perhaps we are so focused on doing for God we have missed being with God. Perhaps we are not willing to count the great cost to that intimacy. Perhaps we are so focused on the world we don't take the time for such intimacy. Perhaps we are not willing to repent, to be quiet, to be small.
Aiken uses marriage as the framework to understand God's covenantal love for us and help us understand our response to Him. She frequently concentrates on the physical intimacy of marriage, such as likening a wife being too tired for her husband's advances to our being too taken by the cares of this world to respond to God's advances. (1692/2664)
There is a great deal of good admonishment and encouragement in this book. While there is no specific strategy to help us on the journey to intimacy with God, Aiken gives many suggestions. She admonishes us to true repentance, to live in an awareness of and submission to the Holy Spirit, and more.
I am not so taken with marriage as a useful example to our intimacy with God. Marriages in this sinful world are faulty. I cannot think of one marriage I know that I would say is a good example of a relationship with God. Just as many Christians have difficulty understanding God as Father because of their own fathers, I think many might have difficulty benefiting from a marriage example because of their own or of others. And then you have the single people.
If you desire deep intimacy with God, this book will give you encouraging suggestions. Just make sure you are willing to count the cost, to engage the Holy Spirit working in you, and to surrender what is required.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
April 7, 2022
Age: 18+
Genre: devotionals, Christian
Content: mild sexual analogies
Review: I have very mixed feelings about this book. I loved the first half; it was so convicting about the way I see my faith, and I really saw the whole "bride of Christ" thing in a different light. I love how Aiken used examples from ancient Jewish wedding tradition and tied them into our relationship with Jesus. Very powerful! However, she lost me on the second half. Chapter 8 in particular ("Pregnant with Purpose") made me want to throw up. She had some fair analogies that definitely made sense, but there were some awful descriptions and details that she very well could have left out. The first paragraph of the chapter made my skin crawl. It's totally possible that my lens is warped on that topic in particular, but it just bothered me and made it an uncomfortable chapter to read. There were a few other things that I didn't care for but that's the one that stood out most to me. Overall, I'd say it's worth reading, because there are some key points you don't want to miss. And hey, maybe you'll get some different things out of it than I did- that's the beauty of people: we all have different experiences which alter the lens from which we view the world around us. There's good and bad in everything, so don't let the bad scare you away from gaining what you can from the good. I gave it four stars because the good parts were REALLY good, even if the bad parts were really bad.
Genre: devotionals, Christian
Content: mild sexual analogies
Review: I have very mixed feelings about this book. I loved the first half; it was so convicting about the way I see my faith, and I really saw the whole "bride of Christ" thing in a different light. I love how Aiken used examples from ancient Jewish wedding tradition and tied them into our relationship with Jesus. Very powerful! However, she lost me on the second half. Chapter 8 in particular ("Pregnant with Purpose") made me want to throw up. She had some fair analogies that definitely made sense, but there were some awful descriptions and details that she very well could have left out. The first paragraph of the chapter made my skin crawl. It's totally possible that my lens is warped on that topic in particular, but it just bothered me and made it an uncomfortable chapter to read. There were a few other things that I didn't care for but that's the one that stood out most to me. Overall, I'd say it's worth reading, because there are some key points you don't want to miss. And hey, maybe you'll get some different things out of it than I did- that's the beauty of people: we all have different experiences which alter the lens from which we view the world around us. There's good and bad in everything, so don't let the bad scare you away from gaining what you can from the good. I gave it four stars because the good parts were REALLY good, even if the bad parts were really bad.
September 23, 2023
I appreciate this author personally, her testimony, and her passion for God. She is a beautiful communicator and a force for the kingdom. But the intimacy language and sexual parallels in this book are way too much and way too far. The passion is admirable, but cringy language and connections makes it something I wouldn’t recommend.
March 29, 2021
This book showed me how much richness, beauty, and transformation exists in true intimacy with God. Connection on the deepest level is such a powerful thing - yet we haven’t taken time to unpack that in the light of God’s glory and grace. This book does that.
It is beautifully written, full of both confronting truth and warm invitations to experience better connection with God. It is perfect for anyone wanting to really know more of God - especially those, who, like me, have felt stagnant or plateaued in their relationship with God. This book is not a ‘feel-good’ kind of thing; but, if you are willing to read, and truthfully consider the Spirit-filled words within these pages, you will finish this book being strengthened, and spurred on, drawing you deeper into God’s great love and mercy - to a life with God that is more intimate, tender, passionate, and fully-known.
It is beautifully written, full of both confronting truth and warm invitations to experience better connection with God. It is perfect for anyone wanting to really know more of God - especially those, who, like me, have felt stagnant or plateaued in their relationship with God. This book is not a ‘feel-good’ kind of thing; but, if you are willing to read, and truthfully consider the Spirit-filled words within these pages, you will finish this book being strengthened, and spurred on, drawing you deeper into God’s great love and mercy - to a life with God that is more intimate, tender, passionate, and fully-known.
April 27, 2021
“He rebukes the sin to redeem the God-created thing.” Mo Aiken delivers a fiery and Spirit-filled call for repentance and soul-seeking in her book Fully Known. It draws so many fascinating parallels throughout the Bible and our present day reality, one of my favorite being the similarities between our relationship with God and the historic Jewish wedding ceremony. Mo uses allegories and vivid imagery to paint the picture of what we are like in our current state and what we are called to be. Don’t hesitate to read now and let it draw you to the God who never lets go!
August 3, 2021
I have so appreciated this author and past books she has written, so I was very excited to pick this book up. Mo writes beautifully and creates images to describe our relationship with God that are so unlike others I have read. I thought there was a lot of good truth to be gleaned from some of the chapters and I appreciated the amount of Scripture she referenced throughout the book. That being said, there were good chunks of this that seemed to fall flat or analogies that seemed to be a bit of a stretch.
Overall, I can maybe see myself picking this book up to reference certain sections or reread some chapters, but it ended up not being my favorite book on the topic of spiritual intimacy.
Overall, I can maybe see myself picking this book up to reference certain sections or reread some chapters, but it ended up not being my favorite book on the topic of spiritual intimacy.
March 23, 2021
Mo Aiken challenges you in your walk with Christ in her new book, Fully Known.
She dives into the hard and holy work of sanctification for a believer in Christ. She makes you not want to be satisfied with a simplistic faith that rides the coattails of someone else’s relationship with Christ, but makes you long for your own intimate relationship with God the Father.
The words may be hard, but they are needed. We live in a time when it is easy to be lulled to sleep with a feel-good message and to surround ourselves with a crafted message in our own echo chambers. Fully Known seeks to wake the sleeper and re-kindle the fire of the Holy Spirit in your life.
She dives into the hard and holy work of sanctification for a believer in Christ. She makes you not want to be satisfied with a simplistic faith that rides the coattails of someone else’s relationship with Christ, but makes you long for your own intimate relationship with God the Father.
The words may be hard, but they are needed. We live in a time when it is easy to be lulled to sleep with a feel-good message and to surround ourselves with a crafted message in our own echo chambers. Fully Known seeks to wake the sleeper and re-kindle the fire of the Holy Spirit in your life.
April 27, 2021
This is a wonderfully transformational book. It resonates with me deeply because I too am one who desires to know God more and for Him to know me fully. Mo challenges my status quo Christianity with hard hitting questions, personal testimony, transparency, and scripture. Before reading Fully Known, I never understood the concept of wrestling with scripture or concepts I didn’t understand... I just merely ignored them or rationalized them away. But now I have been provoked to take my disappointments and hard questions directly to Jesus and lay them at his feet and wait for him to respond. And in the waiting I have found peace, acceptance and joy in the mystery of life. I may not get every question answered on this side of heaven, but I know that God loves me, that He is good and He longs to personally walk this life with me. You will not regret reading this book.
June 16, 2024
In Fully Known, Aiken invites readers to consider their intimacy with God. She bravely tackles an unspoken subject, as she acknowledges that so many people long to know the God who made them, redeemed them, and loves them.
Admittedly the topic of intimacy feels unnatural in our conversations about God and with God, and yet, Aiken shows how the Bible uses marriage as a metaphor for our relationship with God. Pulling from Old Testament and New Testament examples, Aiken offers countless Biblical examples of God’s invitation to His people. However, Aiken misses the corporate call for intimacy with God. Many of the Biblical support she offers were statements to the nation of Israel as a whole, or to entire communities of early believers. Unfortunately, she seems to focus on the individual pursuit of intimacy with God, rather than the call of God to all of His people—Israel and the church. She doesn’t mention sanctification in community until the last chapter with a brief aside. Scripture is clear that the Bride of Christ is composed of the people of God, not just us as individuals.
Furthermore, Aiken uses marriage as the bedrock metaphor for intimacy with God. However, she seems to adhere to a complementarian view of marriage with distinct marital roles, such as husbands who lead and wives who ‘submit.’ So, the conclusions she draws about Christ and His Bride derive directly from her view of marriage. Although she tries to include Biblical evidence, I would caution readers to consider their own views on the roles of spouses before reading her book. Otherwise, readers may reach too deeply into the marital metaphor and draw conclusions about Christ’s relationship to the church that Scripture does not make.
I did appreciate Aiken’s bold words, as she called out destructive behaviors, sinful patterns, and idolatrous attitudes that hinder our intimacy with God. However, her words center more on worm-theology than on the beauty of Christ’s compassionate heart. I see her attempt to call out the lukewarmness in the church and I appreciate her efforts.
Overall, I am so thankful for Aiken’s own intimate relationship with God, and the invitation she extends to us all to seek God. Still, I would suggest that believers read with caution and prayer.
Admittedly the topic of intimacy feels unnatural in our conversations about God and with God, and yet, Aiken shows how the Bible uses marriage as a metaphor for our relationship with God. Pulling from Old Testament and New Testament examples, Aiken offers countless Biblical examples of God’s invitation to His people. However, Aiken misses the corporate call for intimacy with God. Many of the Biblical support she offers were statements to the nation of Israel as a whole, or to entire communities of early believers. Unfortunately, she seems to focus on the individual pursuit of intimacy with God, rather than the call of God to all of His people—Israel and the church. She doesn’t mention sanctification in community until the last chapter with a brief aside. Scripture is clear that the Bride of Christ is composed of the people of God, not just us as individuals.
Furthermore, Aiken uses marriage as the bedrock metaphor for intimacy with God. However, she seems to adhere to a complementarian view of marriage with distinct marital roles, such as husbands who lead and wives who ‘submit.’ So, the conclusions she draws about Christ and His Bride derive directly from her view of marriage. Although she tries to include Biblical evidence, I would caution readers to consider their own views on the roles of spouses before reading her book. Otherwise, readers may reach too deeply into the marital metaphor and draw conclusions about Christ’s relationship to the church that Scripture does not make.
I did appreciate Aiken’s bold words, as she called out destructive behaviors, sinful patterns, and idolatrous attitudes that hinder our intimacy with God. However, her words center more on worm-theology than on the beauty of Christ’s compassionate heart. I see her attempt to call out the lukewarmness in the church and I appreciate her efforts.
Overall, I am so thankful for Aiken’s own intimate relationship with God, and the invitation she extends to us all to seek God. Still, I would suggest that believers read with caution and prayer.
April 7, 2021
When I found out several months ago @moisom was writing another book I immediately put it on my reading list. I’ve read her other two books and both of them are books that have stuck with me over the years. This one is no different.
Matthew 7:22-23 is one of those verses that is tough for me to swallow. “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name and do many works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (ESV)
I admit, of all things, nurturing an intimate relationship with God is what I struggle with most. Good works I can do, being kind comes natural to me, giving brings me happiness-but being vulnerable and daring to be fully known? That is a struggle. There are dark parts of me I don’t want to look at, much less bare naked and hand over to God.
This book invites us to do exactly this. I wrestled with myself while reading this book and there were moments of discomfort-but stronger than that emerges the desire to be sanctified and to rest in His arms with all laid out, unashamed and unburdened. There is a beautiful peace in being fully known by Him.
Mo, this is your best work yet!
It is full of Scripture and truth. Mo uses marriage as a framework to describe God’s love and desire to have a relationship with us. Her unique communication style shines through and makes what could have been heavy pages easier to read and digest. I will go back to this and read it again when I need reminders and encouragement to first nurture this covenantal love with Christ before anything else.
“It is by the marriage covenant of His blood that we are justified, and in the unseen, wrestling place that we are not only sanctified but also receive tastes of what is to come-tangible encounters with His glory. Experiential waves of what it will be like one day when we are glorified in Christ forevermore.”
5/5 ⭐️ - incredible book, love it 👏🏼
Happy pub day! 🎉 Thank you to @readbakerbooks for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Matthew 7:22-23 is one of those verses that is tough for me to swallow. “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name and do many works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (ESV)
I admit, of all things, nurturing an intimate relationship with God is what I struggle with most. Good works I can do, being kind comes natural to me, giving brings me happiness-but being vulnerable and daring to be fully known? That is a struggle. There are dark parts of me I don’t want to look at, much less bare naked and hand over to God.
This book invites us to do exactly this. I wrestled with myself while reading this book and there were moments of discomfort-but stronger than that emerges the desire to be sanctified and to rest in His arms with all laid out, unashamed and unburdened. There is a beautiful peace in being fully known by Him.
Mo, this is your best work yet!
It is full of Scripture and truth. Mo uses marriage as a framework to describe God’s love and desire to have a relationship with us. Her unique communication style shines through and makes what could have been heavy pages easier to read and digest. I will go back to this and read it again when I need reminders and encouragement to first nurture this covenantal love with Christ before anything else.
“It is by the marriage covenant of His blood that we are justified, and in the unseen, wrestling place that we are not only sanctified but also receive tastes of what is to come-tangible encounters with His glory. Experiential waves of what it will be like one day when we are glorified in Christ forevermore.”
5/5 ⭐️ - incredible book, love it 👏🏼
Happy pub day! 🎉 Thank you to @readbakerbooks for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2021
Wow! SO good. It is hard to fully describe the impact of this book on me so far (as I’m digging in again!) but to put it simply, the truths Mo shares are encouraging AND challenging. Edifying AND sanctifying. Intimacy with Jesus is something that has been on my heart for a long time and even more so in the past year. When I saw what Mo’s new book was about, I knew I needed to jump in and read - not just read, but dig into what God was wanting to teach me. I was expecting to learn more about intimacy with God, the Creator of the Universe, which I definitely did! What I wasn’t expecting, was uncovering wounds of shame and warped views of God that needed brought to light and needed deep healing. God is so faithful to continue the work He started in us (Philippians 1:6) and I know without a doubt that for me, this book was a divine appointment with Him to help me sort out confusing concepts and wrong ideas about Him and His ways. He is is so faithful to take us deeper with Him when we desire it and ask, but going deeper often takes learning hard truths and understanding areas of brokenness and shame that have held us back. The work and the sanctifying process is so worth it.
We live in such a noisy culture and a very disorienting time. It is so vital that we place intimacy with Jesus as our main focus and become more and more confident in the truths found in His Word. Then we can more fully know the Good Shepherds voice leading us through a chaotic world and time. I know Fully Known is going to help so many believers deepen their intimacy with Jesus and sort out untruths so they can get to know His leading and hear His voice more clearly. For others who pick this book up, I pray that they see that there is so much more beauty and kindness and mercy and love and intimate friendship with God than the church portrays.
Thank you, Mo, for your faithfulness and submission to follow the Spirit’s leading in writing this book and letting the Father use you to point us into right-natured intimacy with Him!
We live in such a noisy culture and a very disorienting time. It is so vital that we place intimacy with Jesus as our main focus and become more and more confident in the truths found in His Word. Then we can more fully know the Good Shepherds voice leading us through a chaotic world and time. I know Fully Known is going to help so many believers deepen their intimacy with Jesus and sort out untruths so they can get to know His leading and hear His voice more clearly. For others who pick this book up, I pray that they see that there is so much more beauty and kindness and mercy and love and intimate friendship with God than the church portrays.
Thank you, Mo, for your faithfulness and submission to follow the Spirit’s leading in writing this book and letting the Father use you to point us into right-natured intimacy with Him!
July 29, 2021
Aiken uses the analogy of marriage in a powerfully written message centred around realising intimacy with God. I enjoyed this analogy and how she presented the different seasons of marriage and connected them with growing connection with God.
There really is a lot to like about Aiken's passion for her message. I found I was quite hyped up and inspired throughout the first half of the book. However, I tired during the second half as I felt I was in the locker room being continuously pumped up by my coach with long stretches of Scripture and passionate pleas. Unlike most non-fiction self-help books Aiken doesn't use the short paragraph/section style but rather lengthy sections of what often felt like sermon messages.
Don't get me wrong, Aiken's content and message is critical to the life of the believer and really important for the Church community to hear. Yes, intimacy with God is both His desire for us and is possible in this life. There are many great soundbites in this book and I've highlighted much of it.
I was surprised that there were no reflections on the importance of community. We're not supposed to do this alone, and we've been made for connection with fellow believers in order to discover true intimacy with God. One of these important connections is from people who've gone before us and once again, I think Aiken's message would have been even stronger if she'd made reference to others who've explored the topic.
This is a passionate piece of work which has many strong elements on an essential attribute of relationship with God that we need to read and hear more about.
I received an early ebook copy from Baker Books via NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review.
There really is a lot to like about Aiken's passion for her message. I found I was quite hyped up and inspired throughout the first half of the book. However, I tired during the second half as I felt I was in the locker room being continuously pumped up by my coach with long stretches of Scripture and passionate pleas. Unlike most non-fiction self-help books Aiken doesn't use the short paragraph/section style but rather lengthy sections of what often felt like sermon messages.
Don't get me wrong, Aiken's content and message is critical to the life of the believer and really important for the Church community to hear. Yes, intimacy with God is both His desire for us and is possible in this life. There are many great soundbites in this book and I've highlighted much of it.
I was surprised that there were no reflections on the importance of community. We're not supposed to do this alone, and we've been made for connection with fellow believers in order to discover true intimacy with God. One of these important connections is from people who've gone before us and once again, I think Aiken's message would have been even stronger if she'd made reference to others who've explored the topic.
This is a passionate piece of work which has many strong elements on an essential attribute of relationship with God that we need to read and hear more about.
I received an early ebook copy from Baker Books via NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review.
April 7, 2021
Sexual immorality is something that has taken on a life of its own over the past few decades. Mo (Isom) Aiken has previously shared a Holy-Spirit filled take on that difficult topic in her first two books Wreck My Life and Sex, Jesus and the Conversations the Church Forgot (both highly recommended!). You can follow her spiritual maturity progression as she now takes those thoughts and transforms them beautifully into her new book, Fully Known, which takes us on a journey of intimacy with God.
She listens so well to the One True God and discerns His voice, through which she is able to tie His ultimate purpose for us into what is going on in our individual hearts, dismantling what we, as humans, have long perverted. Using scripture as God intended, she points the readers to the intimacy that He longs for with us. And if you want to be sure she is real and authentic, just start with the About the Author section, you'll fall in love with her heart for God!
She listens so well to the One True God and discerns His voice, through which she is able to tie His ultimate purpose for us into what is going on in our individual hearts, dismantling what we, as humans, have long perverted. Using scripture as God intended, she points the readers to the intimacy that He longs for with us. And if you want to be sure she is real and authentic, just start with the About the Author section, you'll fall in love with her heart for God!
April 5, 2021
I read this book as a pre-release copy and was drawn to it because Mo Isom is an excellent writer and very in touch with the Holy Spirit. I wanted to draw closer to the Lord and hoped this book would help me better understand the Lord and His Word. This book is amazing and really draws you into God. I love how she used marriage and giving birth as analogies for being intimate with the Lord. Honestly, these analogies aren’t her idea and truly are Biblical. This book has helped me see many similarities God talks about in His Word where marriage is the physical representation of God and the church. Mo was able to put this explanation in every day language for her readers to better understand what God is really calling His people to. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a true authentic relationship with God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit!
April 20, 2021
Wow. After reading “Sex, Jesus, and other Conversations the Church Forgot”, my world was changed. My level of intimacy with God went so much deeper, so much so I didn’t think it could get any deeper. After reading “Full Known”, I now realize just how shallow my level of understanding of the intimate nature of the Lord still was. Mo wrote a book that I believe needs to be a staple in every Christian’s bookshelf. She reminds us of the intimate levels of the Lord and just how much he desires to know us, fully and deeply. If you are longing for living water, for deeper relationship, for a stronger love, this is a must read.
April 8, 2021
God wants to have a true intimacy with us and that is the focus of Mo Aiken's book. I'd seen her speak and read her first book (not read the second yet--oops) and knew I wanted to read this book when it came out. This challenges you personally to develop a more intimate relationship with God and to develop a strong walk with him. She doesn't mince words but wants all to know what that intimacy is truly what matters and worth doing the work for it. Thank you to the author and her publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2021
This is the 3rd book written by Mo and I believe it is her best. She challenges the readers to be honest and vulnerable about how they feel about intimacy with others and God. She is not afraid to speak Biblical truth in order for someone to move closer to God. The pages of this book will inspire, encourage and help others to develop the intimacy with God that we all long for. I recommend it for any person who has a lack of understanding of what intimacy is with both other people and with God.
"Physical fruition is a manifestation of the spiritual condition" (pg. 32)
"Physical fruition is a manifestation of the spiritual condition" (pg. 32)
June 2, 2023
This is my first book by Christian author Mo Aiken. I like the way she presents her viewpoint. She draws parallels between creating an intimate relationship with Christ similar to the various stages of a romantic relationship. At first, I was a bit taken back but when we understand that Christ is the bridegroom and we, the church, are his bridegroom, it makes sense. The chapters build on one another. This was an enjoyable book read with my Willow South Lake Morning Book Club.
May 24, 2024
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, as it was a recommendation on IG. And to my great surprise it was better than I could have imagined.
The connection and deep thoughts that came from each chapter left me realizing where life wasn't making sense and how intimacy with God was a missing piece.
I will be reading this book again and would love to do it as a small group to discuss with others.
The connection and deep thoughts that came from each chapter left me realizing where life wasn't making sense and how intimacy with God was a missing piece.
I will be reading this book again and would love to do it as a small group to discuss with others.
April 17, 2021
Why do we settle for less than what God has intended for us? Mo’s insightful and scripture filled book with challenge, equip and lead you on a journey that will bring you closer to Jesus than you were before. This book will be one of those I keep on hand to refer back to as I continue to grow and draw nearer to Him.
April 20, 2021
I’ve read all three of Mo’s books and they each have shifted my view of God and helped redefine my relationship with Him through spirit and truth. Intimacy with others, myself, and God is scary because society and sin throw so many lies at us. In this book Mo does a great job of declaring the truth, drawing us into a pure intimacy.
May 12, 2022
In this book, amo explains why Gods plan for sexuality actually brings us closer to him by being an example of hour our relationship with him should act. She discusses how we need to make sure our love for God is first in our lives and something we should base everything around. This is a good book about how we should be showing God our love.
June 7, 2024
So much useful information. I appreciate knowing the history of something, especially when discussing biblical truths because our society has transformed so many of these topics. I read a chapter a night and didn't want to stop reading, but needed time to digest all of the info and how best to implement it for me personally. I would absolutely recommend this book to EVERYONE.
March 29, 2021
I want to say Fully Known is an easy read, but I don't want people to think it will not challenge them personally. There are many gut punches and hard truths to swallow, but every analogy, paragraph and chapter has so much biblucal truth in it. Everyone should read Fully Known.
April 21, 2021
Soul-stretching. Fully Known is not a light read, and I mean that in the best way possible! This is a book I’ll be coming back to every couple years, as well as gifting to many friends. So thankful for Mo and her intimacy with Christ, as it’s helping deepen mine
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April 27, 2021This past year has been a struggle. I have definitely been both mentally and physically burnt out. This book was both energizing and motivating. We are created for deep connections and this book helps you get there. I plan to read this again with friends. There is so much goodness here!
June 22, 2021
“The day you stand before the Father will not be unfamiliar, but rather the finished work of His great love.”
What a well written book. Straight scriptural truth. Love to see Mo Isom’s progression through her books.
What a well written book. Straight scriptural truth. Love to see Mo Isom’s progression through her books.
September 16, 2022
It was kind of hard to continue paying attention to at times but I do think that it's a good book. There's nothing particularly ground-breaking that it shares, but it is a good reminder and study book for those seeking to develop their intimacy with the Lord.
July 15, 2024
As I am growing in my Christian faith, I really wanted to like this book. However, about 25 pages in, the book starts taking on some pretty heavy sexual undertones; the entire book was giving me an ICK feeling. Do not recommend this book. AT. ALL.
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