The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People

by John Ortberg

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2009

Ignite a deeper, more vibrant relationship with God that impacts not just your spiritual life but every aspect of your daily life.

John Ortberg calls readers back to the dynamic heartbeat of Christianity--God's power to bring change and growth--and reveals how and why transformation takes place.

The Life You've Always Wanted offers modern perspectives on the ancient path of the spiritual disciplines. But it is more than just a book about things to do to be a good Christian. It's a road map toward true transformation that starts not with the individual but with the person at the journey's end--Jesus Christ.

As with a marathon runner, the secret to finishing a race lies not in trying harder, but in training consistently--training with the spiritual disciplines. The disciplines are neither taskmasters nor ends in themselves. Rather they are exercises that build strength and endurance for the road of growth. The fruit of the Spirit--joy, peace, kindness, etc.--are the signposts along the way.

Paved with humor and sparkling anecdotes, The Life You've Always Wanted is an encouraging and challenging approach to a Christian life that's worth living--a life on the edge that fills an ordinary world with new meaning, hope, change, and joy.

Contents

Top Highlights

“There is an immense difference between training to do something and trying to do something.” (source)

“When morphing happens, I don’t just do the things Jesus would have done; I find myself wanting to do them. They appeal to me. They make sense. I don’t just go around trying to do right things; I become the right sort of person.” (source)

“Spiritual transformation is not a matter of trying harder, but of training wisely.” (source)

“A disciplined person is someone who can do the right thing at the right time in the right way with the right spirit.” (source)

“This was the great irony of his day: The ‘righteous’ were more damaged by their righteousness than the sinners were by their sin.” (source)

Product Details

• Title : The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People
• Author: Ortberg, John
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Publication Date: 2009
• ISBN: 9780310565895

About John Ortberg

John Ortberg is an evangelical Christian author, speaker, and senior pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California, an evangelical church with more than 4,000 members. Ortberg has published many books including the 2008 ECPA Christian Book Award winner When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box, and the 2002 Christianity Today Book Award winner If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat.