If we are all being honest with ourselves (I’m talking to myself here too), we could all use a little help strengthening and growing our relationship with God. The most obvious way to grow your relationship is by praying and reading your Bible daily but sometimes we still need more than that. Listed below are five books that will truly change your life if you read them and apply the messages they address. These authors are some of my all-time favorite, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

1. Not A Fan - Kyle Idleman

I first read this book in high school and it completely changed the way that I viewed my relationship with God. Kyle Idleman challenges you to consider what it truly means to call yourself a Christian. Idleman is very direct and straight to the point, he isn’t afraid to call you out and make you realize what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

2. Jesus Is ___. – Judah Smith

I’m bias to this book because Judah Smith is my favorite person in the world. I listen to his podcasts daily [I highly recommend them], and so it’s no surprise his book made the cut. The book consists of six chapters that fill in the blank at the end of Jesus is ___. This book exploits Jesus as more than a man that came to die for our sins but as a loving savior who is also our friend, who is grace, and who is alive.

3. Jesus > Religion - Jefferson Bethke

This book rocked my world. It is as simple as that. My entire life I grew up not realizing there is a difference between my religion and my God. This book will open your eyes to the fact that while religion is great, it is not what it’s about, it’s about Jesus. I strongly recommend this book for the simple fact that many people have it backwards and try to live by the rules of the church when you should be living by the rules of Jesus, and his teachings. [Linked below is the spoken word that inspired this book, give it a watch]

4. Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World - Joanna Weaver

Life is busy, life is hectic, but that doesn’t mean we should neglect the time we should be spending with God. Weaver writes to those people who have ever felt you are not godly enough, loving enough, or doing enough. It’s a book full of wisdom and will boost your relationship with God because you find that you don’t need to be “enough”, Jesus is so that you don’t have to be.

5. Jesus Calling - Sarah Young

This is unlike the previous books because this is a daily devotional. I have never been good at keeping up with the devotionals that have specific passages for specific days. This is in fact the only devotional book I have ever completed. I found myself excited to wake up every day and read a passage from this book. The passages are full of wisdom, and will truly change your life is you let them. This devotional is slightly different than others because it is written as if Jesus is speaking directly to you, it’s truly powerful.

Happy Reading & God Bless