I did not do a marvelous job of keeping track of the books I read in 2018. I’m guessing I read less than last year’s number of 35, considering we moved this year and I spent a good deal of time completing my book, Come to Jesus.

Regardless, as I looked back through the list of books I read in 2018, I found myself muttering a lot of, “oh yeah, that was a good one” comments, so as a result, I just couldn’t whittle it down to five favorite books like last year’s list.

Related: How to Read (when you don’t have time)

I greatly benefited from all eight books mentioned below, but I have saved my two favorites for last: 

 

1. Humility by Andrew Murray

“Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.”

2018 was a year where God repeatedly showed me the destructive nature of my pride. I found myself regularly challenged throughout this book and I know God used it to further his work of humility in my heart.

 

2. All That’s Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment by Hannah Anderson

“When we encounter someone who holds a viewpoint we don’t agree with, we can begin to view their whole existence through the lens of our disagreement with them. Instead of getting to know them and engaging their ideas, we assume that we already know them because we know where they stand on a certain political or religious question. And the degree to which we disagree with them on this question becomes the degree to which we will disrespect and disregard their humanity.”

“The only way we can let go of our need to win is if we know that Jesus already won for us.”

I appreciate Hannah Anderson’s writing because it comes from a place of thoughtfulness, so it makes me think as well. She doesn’t spell out the answers, but rather makes me think through the process of discovering the answers. All That’s Good is her newest book and is quite perfect timing for our society today.

 

3. Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi

The testimony of a Muslim who encounters and eventually believes in Jesus Christ. This book is a strong argument for loving, consistent witnessing over many years and will help and encourage you as you witness to those around you, whether or not they are Muslim.

 

4. John Calvin’s Little Book on the Christian Life by John Calvin, edited by Parsons and Denlinger

Two of my favorite quotations should convince you to read this little book:

“Desire is bridled when we acknowledge that all things given to us are given in order that we may know their author.”

“We shouldn’t run away from all the ways in which our heavenly Father shapes us.”

 

5. The Conviction to Lead by Albert Mohler

“You are going to discover that Christian leadership cannot be separated from passionately held beliefs. Only if you are deeply committed to truth will you be ready for leadership.”

I surprised both myself and my husband with how much I loved Mohler’s book on leadership. But what I love about it is that it stems completely from conviction. Leadership, like the rest of our lives, must stem from our convictions about God, his world, and ourselves. If the very core of who we are doesn’t come from our convictions, then we will change given the correct circumstances.

 

6. This Is Our Time: Everyday Myths in Light of the Gospel by Trevin Wax

Are you ready for a bold statement? I think this book should be read by every Christian alive today. I’ll tell you why.

In this book, Trevin Wax explores different myths our society believes and tell us. The myths cover topics like smartphone habits, entertainment, and our views of shopping, sex, marriage, politics, and life’s purpose. Here’s the thing: I went into this book with a pretty good grasp on truth. But as I read the book, I realized there are some lies I’ve been believing that I didn’t even realize. I am so surrounded by the lies (from the world, my relationships, and my very own heart) that they have infiltrated my mind and soul without me even realizing it.

This is a great book that addresses a smattering of topics and beliefs, all in the light of Gospel truth. I highly recommend it to you.

 

7. Mere Hope: Life in an Age of Cynicism by Jason Duesing

This book hit me right between the eyes, which was excellent and needed. A great little book on the sure, steady hope we have in Christ and how Christians can (and must!) live with hope in their everyday lives.

 

8. The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller

“The essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.”

“Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next person. We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or cleverer, or better-looking than others. If everyone else became equally rich, or clever, or good-looking there would be nothing to be proud about.”

And this one is my favorite:

“Gospel-humility is not needing to think about myself. Not needing to connect things with myself. It is an end to thoughts such as, ‘I’m in this room with these people, does that make me look good? Do I want to be here?’ True gospel-humility means I stop connecting every experience, every conversation, with myself. In fact, I stop thinking about myself. The freedom of self-forgetfulness. The blessed rest that only self-forgetfulness brings.”

As God would have it, I “just happened” to listen to this book on our moving day from Virginia to New Hampshire and let me tell you it is one of the best timed books I’ve ever read. Remember I told you God has been teaching me the destructive nature of pride? Well, here’s another book on the topic. This is a short little book, but quite potent.

 

And because apparently, I can’t keep it to just 8 books, here are four more books that I read and loved in 2018:

Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray
Searching for Spring by Christine Hoover
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (this was a re-read, but oh my goodness, I just love this one. the character development is brilliant.)
Profiting from the Word by Arthur W. Pink

 

What books did you read and love in 2018?

P.S. here’s a book I want you to read in 2019.