5 Inspirational Books That Are Top Influences in My Life

This little book came to me as a young girl. My dad didn’t often suggest reading choices for me, however, he made me aware of this one. Just at a time he knew my soul needed it.

It sounded like heavy lifting to a young person who mostly wants to have fun. But the day came when I read it. And wondered why I waited so long. The words are simply pure gold for a new Christian wanting to know how to walk with God.

This book is packed with ageless inspiration. This is a description of the book: “I said, “The desert is so wide!” I said, “The desert is so bare!” What springs the quench my thirst are there? Where will I from the tempest hide? In a barren wilderness, L. B. Cowman long ago discovered a fountain that sustained her, and she shared it with the world. Streams in the Desert–her collection of prayerful meditations, Christian writings, and God’s written promises–has become one of the most dearly loved, best-selling devotionals of all time since its first publication in 1925.”

And still published today!  This link is a copy written in modern language by James Reiman.  While the original version is harder to read, it is so worth it.  Which is what I have, a gift from a best friend for my 16th birthday. After that, I read a little article every day for many years, getting through it once, waiting awhile, then starting over. For a teenager, who still was looking for fun, it was a little touch of homecoming each time I read in it.

In the early years of our marriage I could tell I had issues I needed to deal with. Insecurity. Where “carefree” had gone. How to raise children. Learning to know a new Church family. And in-laws.

We picked up a lot of self-help books in those years. There were so many published by the 1980s, besides the Dr. Spock or The Peter Principal our elders had learned from.

While looking around for help with all the hard stuff in my life, I found this book.  And Gary Smalley gives the message loud and clear.  Even if you didn’t receive the blessings you thought you needed, God can give them to you if you ask.  It does take forgiveness, a clean slate, and the willingness (drive) to start over with a clean heart. Of all the books still collecting dust on my book shelves, “The Blessing” made the most sense to me. It answered needs in my life, and helped me through some tough times.

“You can live a happy life—blessed, assured, and victorious! First published more than 130 years ago, this uplifting classic has inspired and encouraged generations of believers.”  Book Review.

This book was such an influencer that I looked for a reprint with all the good solid teaching, but in simpler, modern language. I even started to paraphrase it myself, so my children could enjoy it.

The biggest take away for me from this book was finally uncovering the fact that a good Christian can have fun. With eyes wide open, I was ready to tackle The Walk in a whole new way.

You know how it is. When your children are small, you have small problems. Then as they grow, the problems get bigger. I didn’t adjust well or quickly to our daughter’s autism, and felt clueless about how to help her, or fix it. (Parents always think they can fix life for their children. Sigh). Yes, I thought if I read enough and studied the Aspergers bibles enough, we could fix it. Of course, no one got fixed, except my attitudes and expectations.

And I credit a lot of this healing to a little book called “More Than Conquerors.” The author takes us from vicious to victory with easy to understand explanations. No heavy lifting; just my style. With mastery of the scriptures, he breaks life down into something we can not only conquer, but be “more than.” This book is now my go-to when life needs handling.