I am SO enjoying a new book that I’m reading called Shift, by Abby McDonald. I want to tell you a little bit about it, and also we will be giving away a copy to one of our readers. Yay!
Shift, Changing Our Focus to See the Presence of God, explores the life-changing practice of adjusting our lens to focus our eyes on God himself rather than on what we wish we were seeing in our lives. When we do this, God reveals himself to us and to those around us.
McDonald writes:
As I searched the Scriptures, prayed continually, and thought about you, dear reader, I became convinced that we don’t have to wait until we’re on the other side of the struggle, the wilderness, or the tired monotony of our days to know God. We can know him right here, right now. In the middle of the trouble and the confusion.
And then McDonald goes on to show us HOW. Through studying the Psalms of David, examining the lives the first twelve disciples and then investigating the life of Jesus, she leads us readers to use a new lens to view how God is with us through it all.
I especially love what McDonald writes about Psalm 139 in her chapter called “His Glory in the Grind.”
Has you ever read these verses? Psalm 139:1-3 says, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all of my ways.”
Hearing those words David penned years ago, I realized God not only saw me: he treasured me. He saw placed I didn’t date to reveal to anyone. Placed that longed for acknowledgement, meaning, and purpose. Placed where i questioned my worth and wanted someone to simply pat me on the back and tell me I was doing okay.
The extras in this book are powerful. I think it would be especially fun to go through the Adjusting Our Lens sections with a bookclub or Bible study group. Take a look at these snapshots of what’s inside:
So if you are looking for more of God’s presence in your life, if you are going through really tough time and just need to be able to know that he is there, or if you are wanting to see God- right here and right now, I encourage you to pick up Shift!
To enter to win this book, simply leave a comment below! We’ll pick a random winner on February 25th, 2020. Thanks!
Love this blog!
It is so easy to focus on the circumstances around us and forget to focus on the One Who is in control of the circumstances. This book would be a great read, to remind me and make me more aware of where my focus is and should be. My daughter-in-law just lost her mother, I would love to share this book with her.
Thanks for the snap on the book. How it opened my eyes to focus on the Lord, he knows us and we need to ask!
Thanks
This looks like a book worth reading. I’m thinking of hosting a summer book club so even if I don’t win I will probably purchase one. Thank you so much for sharing!
That verse in Psalm 139 is one of my favorites. A great reminder of how God cares for me and knows my anxious thoughts. One of my favorite verses is Ps 46:10…Be still and know that I am God.
This looks like an eye opening book to the gifts and wonderful things God has given us and has yet in store for us. I am super excited to read this book!
Looks powerful! What a perspective!
This book sounds like exactly what I need to read right now. I would love a copy!