He Is!: Knowing God through Fifty Scriptural Meditations

by Mark R. Worden

“But without faith it is impossible to please for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”

That passage comes from Hebrews 11:6 in the New King James Version of the Bible—and it’s a powerfully challenging verse.

In his deepest trials of life, Mark embarks on a quest to know God more fully and intimately through prayerful meditation on the Scriptures. He observes that there are three main groups in this those who believe in God, those who don’t know if there is a God, and those who deny that God exists.

Each meditation includes reflection questions that ask readers to consider topics such as whether they find comfort in sometimes not understanding God, how they feel about awesome truths regarding God, and how knowing a particular attribute of God might change the way they think and act.

Ignite your faith, learn more about who God is, and help spread the Word with this book of devotional meditation by inviting others to join you in a group study.

Genres: Devotional

258 pages, Paperback

Published July 29, 2022

About the author

Mark R. Worden is a lifelong learner and a student of God's Word. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Bible and Teaching Bible. He has served as youth pastor, missionary, and teacher at a Bible institute in Manaus, Brazil, and pastored a local Montana church for six years. Along with being a licensed property manager, he is a self-employed handyman and enjoys woodworking on the side.

Reviews

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

“He Is!” is a soul-enriching devotional that explores the essence of God and guides readers to deepen their communication with Him. With 50 devotions, the book combines central verses, thoughtful readings, reflection time, Scripture meditations, and even offers space for notetaking.

The devotions are versatile, catering to either group or individual study. If you are like me and don’t like to write in books, I encourage you to keep a separate notebook nearby for additional notes or journaling.

The author’s writing style makes this an easy read and the opening question, “Have you ever heard someone testify about that God moment when they realized God was real?” immediately draws you in.

This is an easy read and provides edifying and gratifying worship time. If you’re looking for a guide for personal growth, this book displays who God is, what He says, and how we can better seek Him.

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.

[Mary Hake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This spiritually meaty devotional is more like a Bible study. It could be used personally by oneself or in a group study where you discuss the topic of each chapter—enough for a whole year read weekly. The book focuses on who God is and how He ministers to people through each characteristic. Every entry begins with a key Scripture. Then the author discusses the subject of the day and shares incidents from his own life along with pertinent Bible verses. Following the reading are questions for reflection and suggested Bible passages to read for further meditation. Each chapter title begins with the words from the book title, “He is,” such as “He Is Beyond Us.” I found the meditations scripturally sound and they presented different ways to think about the truths they expounded. It’s a great took to get to know God better, as Chapter 3 says: “He Is Knowable.” I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

[Mark Worden]

HE IS! Knowing God through Fifty Scriptural Meditations can probably be considered devotional theology that is inspirational in nature. I share from my own stories of life and ministry like a grandpa would tell his grandchildren to make the devotionals relatable to life and practical. At the end of each devotional there are reflection questions and more suggested Scripture to read for one’s personal meditation and spiritual growth.

I took the challenge of Hebrew 11:6 to seek God seriously by looking for all the God is statements that I could find in the Bible and discovered that God clearly reveals who HE IS throughout the history and stories of the Bible. Each chapter is a HE IS statement about God that helps us to know Him better as we mediate on each attribute of God. I suggest that readers do a slow reading of the book through the year by taking one chapter each week, so they have time to really pause and think about who God is. However, a quick read can also be enlightening as one is exposed to approximately 800 quoted verses of Scripture through the fifty, HE IS meditations.

Of course, I like my grandpa stories that are spread throughout the meditations, but the meat of the book is the Bible Scriptures that tell us who God is being pulled together in each chapter to focus on one particular attribute or work of God. Each chapter can be read independently, however there is a flow to the order of the chapters and A few chapters build upon the proceeding chapters. After reading the book after publication in preparation for a speaking engagement I realized that there is a sub theme of God being our Heavenly Father and we His children through faith that ties it all together with a crescendo in Chapter 47, HE IS OUR FATHER.

I believe for the one who takes the time to read this book slowly it could be life changing. My life changed in the research and writing of it and this happened over many years as shared in the Preface. Blessing to anyone who chooses to read this book and take the Hebrew 11:6 challenge.

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

“He Is!: Knowing God Through Fifty Scriptural Meditations” by Mark R. Worden is a landmark volume and a one-stop believer’s guide, well-choreographed and presented to elucidate the character and personality of God, backed up with over eight hundred biblical scriptures and well-researched phrases.

An inward sense of despair and hopelessness caused by life trials leads Mark to seek God’s consolation and intervention and right there, a call to produce this most influential and inspirational devotional is born. Captioned with rich biblical quotations, references, and personal experiences, “He Is” adds to the list of exemplary and authentic faith-based Christian daily guides, whose transformative agenda and impact cuts across the globe.

The author, whose life story is a true definition of “gold refined through fire,” successfully takes his followers on an adventurous journey, where they not only hear about God but also meticulously interact and learn about His character and personality. Worden highlights the recognition of human weakness and limitation as the best way to experience God’s awesome power, explains what fear of God entails, His language, and the doctrine of the Trinity, among other dazzling/cardinal truths, necessary for the growth of Christian faith. Each page serves freshly-brewed wisdom, insight, and encouragement reminding us again and again of the all-sufficiency grace of God and His unquenchable love for His children.

The author incorporates the Hebrew language in this devotional, an ancient Biblical language that gives readers a deeper and original insight into Biblical language diversity, meaning, and history. He also tackles unpopular and confusing attributes of God like His righteous anger and its position, helping a lot of Christians who get lost when trying to figure out His other side.

“He Is!: Knowing God Through Fifty Scriptural Meditations” by Mark R. Worden is a precious read and is a stunning tool that leaves you meditating on God’s word. It is not a “feel good” devotional, rather it is blissful with substance and content challenging the followers to dig deeper into their relationship with the Creator. It is truly a resource that edifies and liberates your heart.

[Kendra Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devotionals are a part of my daily life. He Is! Knowing God through Fifty Scriptural Meditations by Mark R. Worden is the latest Devotional that I have read.

I know for me that I am always looking to grow in my faith and Daily Devotionals are a great way to help me grow. I REALLY LOVE the layout and topic of this devotional book. Mark R. Worden written a wonderful Devotional on getting to know WHO God is! He does this with 50 days of Meditations of the Scriptures that talk about WHO God Is! Each chapter covers 1 day and each chapter has questions of reflection to help the reader really understand that days Meditations and help them really dig deep to understand WHO God is!

Mark has written this book with his own experiences and stories and they are very encouraging.
I really enjoyed the Personal Stories and how strong this book is filled with Biblical Teachings and Scripture. I feel this book would be GREAT for Individuals and also for Small Group Studies. I have been encouraged and challenged while reading this Devotional. I HIGHLY recommend this devotional for all! ENCOURAGING BOOK!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

He Is!: Knowing God through Fifty Scriptural Meditations is a wonderful devotional by Mark R. Worden. It is broken down into fifty devotions. Each one includes scripture, commentary, questions, reflections, recommended Biblical verses to look up for further meditation, and space for notetaking. I found the book to be inspiring and encouraging to read. I thought all fifty devotions were great. Each one can be easily fit in to a busy and stressful life.

I am giving He Is!: Knowing God through Fifty Scriptural Meditations a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for those who were looking for more ways to find some encouragement and motivation. I believe it would, also, make for a great gift.

I received a paperback copy of Mark R Worden’s He Is!: Knowing God through Fifty Scriptural Meditations from the publisher but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good collection of writings helping us to better know God through meditation and devotions. I like the progressive nature of the “God is” Scriptures Worden explores. He begins with the fact that God exists and that He is beyond us yet we can know Him. Worden then looks at most of God's attributes. I really like the reflective questions he asks at the end of each reading and suggested Scriptures for further study.

The most convicting devotion for me was the one where Worden reminds us God is our witness. He is witness to everything we think, say, or do.

This is a good book for new Christians or seasoned Christians wanting to renew their understanding of God and His character. Have a notebook nearby to record thoughts on the meditations and the insightful reflection questions Worden asks.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Worden’s path was a bit of a challenging one, which makes him seem more real, more like the average American. His introduction contains some very helpful hints for using He Is!.
Each devotional explores an attribute of God and includes: scripture references, some thoughts from the author, and reflection questions.
I really liked the layout as it helps readers to focus on the topic at hand and really spend time meditating on God. The author relates stories from his own life and asks questions to help readers relate the passages to their own lives.
There are 50 meditations in the book. I’d recommend taking as much time as needed to really let each meditation really sink in. If you are short on time - take several days to go through a meditation, maybe reading the author’s thoughts one day, journaling about the reflections on another day, and journaling about the questions as many days as you need to.
I received a complimentary copy of He Is! This is my honest review.

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book written by someone with many years of following God. I like how the author draws from his own experiences to teach us about knowing who God is. He also references people from the Bible that enhance the study. We all have had a moment when we weren’t sure God existed. Going through trials it can be hard to keep strong and not have doubt of His existence.

As I began this study, I realized this is one I want to slow down and absorb every nugget of wisdom. The author takes us through fifty chapters where we study who God is such as “ He is our Guide”, He is our shield” and many others that reflect who God is. I liked the scriptures used and the questions at the end of each chapter. Great tool to use as a Bible study to help you grow to know Him better.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[Patti Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

He Is! Knowing: Knowing God through Fifty Scriptural Meditations by Mark R. Worden is a devotional for personal growth and Devotional Theology. Mark R. Worden provides fifty devotions that draw on over forty years of studying God’s Word.

Whether you are just starting out on your Christian walk or have been a believer for a while, you will find something to take away from this book. With Scripture references and questions to help you dive deeper into the word of God, this devotional provides the perfect balance to keep you learning and growing.

So, if you are looking for a devotional, check out He Is! Knowing: Knowing God through Fifty Scriptural Meditations by Mark R. Worden for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of 50 scriptural meditations based on learning who God is. Each meditations starts with a Biblical scripture and ends with questions for reflections and then ends with a list of more scriptures for study. I have not read all fifty days but will continue to read and in fact i am going to buy a notebook or journal to write down the answers to these questions and other breakthroughs that I have and more that I will make when I restart reading this book in the new year. Whether we are a new believer or been a believer for a while we can always learn and know who God Is more intermittently and personally.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

[Nicole Gauder · Rating 5 out of 5]

HE IS, is a very inspiring book, leaving the reader open to spiritual growth through keeping their awareness on God and HIS word. The author provides lots of guidance for you to benefit from the book. He also includes many references from the bible to relate to his points making the book a smooth read. The book is well-written, and its contents are very well-researched. I especially enjoyed the areas for guided reflection included after each chapter. The reflection questions helped me to understand what I learned from the chapter and relate the lesson(s) to my own life. Thank you Mark for such an inspiring book.

[Connie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

HE IS! Knowing God through Fifty Scriptural Meditations is a devotional that is written by Mark R. Worden. This is written by someone who has been following God for a long time. He draws from his personal experiences.

This has been a rough year for my family - I loved that I was able to meditate on who GOD is. What He can do. There are 50 mediations in this book - I suggest letting each one set in - and pray over it. Each chapter is a different characteristic of who HE is.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful daily devotional. It can be read straight through as a general book, but I’m using this book now for my daily Bible time and really enjoying it. The meditations are all on the nature and character of God, drawing from a plethora of Scriptures. Great book for those new to the Christian faith to get them grounded in basic doctrines of theology, but it also has enough depth to appeal to those with a lifetime walk with God.