Desiring God

Just the best book ever. You can read or hear this again and again and you learn more each time and are challenged anew each time.

This is one of those classic books that make a difference to the world, perhaps like “Pilgrims Progress”, or “Mere Christianity”, and anyone who has not read it and applied its teaching is missing out.

The main thrust of this book is that God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him. That everything we do as Christians needs to be motivated by our desire to seek pleasure in God, and in doing so, we will fulfill the requirements that God has placed on us. Christian living is not about emphasizing our duties as Christians, or for the sake of being obedient, but for the sake of our love for God, out of the joy found in the delighting on Him. Piper explains that we don’t love God and bring sacrifices because that is our duty – husbands would our wives be happy if we brought them flowers because that is what we are supposed to do? No, rather we bring them flowers because we love them and we get joy from serving them and pleasing them.

Grover Gardner does a fine job reading the book, although there are a few errors in pronunciation. The book is not difficult to read or listen to, nor is it difficult to comprehend, and Piper's exposition is especially convincing. However shorter audio file would be more convenient, as there is a lot of information to take in and over a 60 – 90 minutes session, I found my attention wandering.

very neededjust like me, who cannot afford to buy this kind of materials. t..y.

This book was an eye-opener, because I have never seen it taught, or at least emphasized, that God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him. Most books I've read on Christian living emphasize our duties as Christians, and Piper argues that this is off-balance. We obey God and His Word not merely as a duty to be fulfilled for the sake of being obedient, but for the sake of our love for God, and the joy to be found through and as a result of that obedience. Piper effectively illustrates the lacking of the duty-bound mindset by comparing it to a husband giving his wife flowers out of duty rather than out of love. This teaching seems to be largely overlooked in the church today, despite its Scriptural basis as John Piper effectively demonstrates, and it is a blessing to have him proclaiming it. Grover Gardner does a fine job reading the book. He isn't too slow and isn't too fast, and he is very easy to listen to. I was a little disappointed, however, that he did not read the footnotes unless absolutely necessary. The book is not difficult to read or listen to, nor is it difficult to comprehend, and Piper's exposition is especially convincing. I am grateful to have listened to this book. The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.

Current Reviews
Spirituality

DESIRING GOD
John Piper
Read by Grover Gardner

The title of this work may raise red flags with those of a more pious bent. However, Piper, who openly credits (after Jesus and St. Paul) Jonathan Edwards and C.S. Lewis for his inspiration, maintains that it is our duty to delight and be happy in God. This thoughtful work on the joy and happiness inherent in our relationship with God is ably read by Grover Gardner. His resonant voice is deliberate in delivery; it is a careful and thoughtful presentation by one who considers his words well. This carefulness is by no means an indication of a boring recitation. This is an expression of joy, reverent joy, from the heart. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]