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Finding the wisdom of classic Christian books has been made a bit easier with a beautiful paperback book released from Bethany House Publishers. The Essential Andrew Murray Collection consists of three works from the 19th-century South African minister. The three inspirational works include:
- Humility
- Abiding in Christ
- Living a Prayerful Life
Each work focuses upon a different aspect of life for a Christian. From the topic of humility to a 31-day devotional to prayer, this book has something for everyone.
Humility
The first book included in The Essential Andrew Murray Collection is one that examines humility – the lack of it in our church, our leaders, and our lives – and where we can see examples of humility in the Scriptures. Each chapter begins with a general quote and a quote from Scripture. And I found one of the best parts of the book to be the overall organization. Murray presents his thoughts clearly and reminds us that we should humble ourselves before the Lord. God provides us with grace and exalts us when we show our humility.
"And so pride - the loss of humility - is the root of every sin and evil" (20).
Abiding in Christ
Murray reminds us of the words of Jesus in the second book – "Follow Me" and "Abide in Me." In this 31-day devotional, readers are reminded to spend daily time with Jesus and the Father to grow in their relationship. Each of the 31 days begins with a Bible quote and looks at the different ways in which we can Abide in Jesus. In Day 10, Murray speaks of Jesus as our redemption, our sanctification, our righteousness – if we abide in Him, we are redeemed. As beautiful and necessary are these ideas, this book was difficult for me to work through and read.
Living a Prayerful Life
Being a prayer warrior is so important, especially in today's world. But where does one begin? First, Murray states we must see prayerlessness as a sin. He examines the cause of it and how to fight prayerlessness in our lives. Living a Prayerful Life is divided into three sections to help readers move past the stumbling blocks of prayerlessness, develop a relationship with God, and look to Jesus as an example. Through Bible quotes and examples, Murray helps readers reach a life of prayer.
My Thoughts
I found The Essential Andrew Murray Collection to be a very well-written book that presents a lot of weighty ideas. As I worked my way through each of the three books, I often made notations and went back to reread parts – to make sure I understood the ideas being presented by Murray. Of the three, I enjoyed Humility the best, but I was struck by this passage in Living a Prayerful Life about Jesus praying at Gethsemane:
"He was able to meet the Enemy, full of courage, and in the power of God gave himself over to death on the Cross. He prayed." (360)
What a powerful reminder to pray! God will give us the strength we need when we are full of humility, abide in Him, and pray. These are three wonderful ideas to walk away from this wonderful collection of classics.
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