Bookaholic

Out of all the posts that I have written so far, I haven't said anything about the books I'm reading! You would think that with a blog title like "Book Hugger" I would write more about the books I'm reading! haha

The book that I just finished reading is "Thinking Spiritually" by John Owen. Owen was an amazing man of the who had a rough and hard life but kept his focus on the work and hope of Jesus Christ. To learn more about him, listen to John Piper's presentation on him here.

I really enjoyed this book and was convicted as I was reading it. The first sentence that caught my attention was this "Just because someone listebs to good preaching doesn't mean they are thinking spiritually". When I saw that sentence, I was like "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on here! Please explain to me where you are going with this, Owen, because I'm not sure I agree". But as he unfolded what being spiritually minded is not which shows then what it is. I began to understand and to feel really convicted because I was realizing that I, myself, am not so spiritually minded as I thought I was.

So here is the list that he wrote of what thinking spiritually is not like:

• Is Not- people who enjoy listening to good preaching. Anyone can listen to good preaching, but it can go in one ear and out the other.
• Is Not- people who can pray fluently. Eloquency doesn't mean that their minds are filled with thoughts of God.
• Is Not- talking with others about spiritual things. Conversations with others shouldn't be the only thing initiates spiritual thoughts; they should spring up from within, not from without.

Here is what spiritually thinking looks like:

"Do Spiritual thoughts flow in those times when we are quiet and free from our usual activities? We can test oursleves by asking whether our spiritual thoughts are like guests visiting a hotel, or like children loving at home. There is a temporary stir and bustle when guests arrive, yet withina little while they leave and are forgotten. The hotel is then prepared for other guests. So it is with religious thoughts that are only ocasional. But children belong to the house. They are missed uf they don't come home. Preparation is continuallybeing made for their food and comfort. Spiritual thoughts that arise from truue spiritual mindedness are like the children of the house- always expected, and certainly enquired for if missing." ~John Owen