Unafraid: 365 Days Without Fear (A Daily Devotional) by Gracie Malone Review and GIVEAWAY!

The title of this books makes me sing the hymn “Be not afraid, I am always with you” in my mind every time I pick it up.  Author Gracie Malone has a wonderful introduction to this devotional where she discusses how one Sunday a preacher said that the phrase most often repeated in the Bible is “do not be afraid.”  Malone was wondering if this was really true and using our great computer technology of today she discovered 426 verses on fear in the Bible.

Malone took 365 of these instances where this phrase appeared in the Bible and starts each devotional with a phrase, has a wonderful and sometimes humorous and other times thought-provoking discussion of it and then ends with a biblical conclusion.  As Malone states, “the Word of God gives us the imperative not to fear and brings us light.”  The devotional is broken up into the four seasons and also by date through the year.

I love, love, love this devotional.  I have enjoyed reading the entire devotional, but look forward to reading it now at a more leisurely pace throughout the year.  I loved all of the different verses and the story behind them.  I found them to be very inspirational and another way to deepen my spirituality.

Here is one of my favorite devotionals (September 22^nd):

“The one who fears is not perfected in love.  1 John 4:18

Have you ever loved someone with the 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love?  Maybe you can say, “I know that chapter, and I have tired, but it seems impossible!”  Perhaps you have managed to get it right on a few counts but failed miserably on others.  You may have been successful in controlling your anger a few times and can honestly say you did not keep score.  You may be able to claim you haven’t given up – at least not yet.  But on other points, you admit failure.  Is it even possible to love another person like that as long as we live on this fallen planet?  Still, most of us are trying.

Have you ever been loved that much?  You may have been loved well by someone special – a doting father, an adoring husband, a close friend, a soul mate.  But others cannot make that claim.  Most people are looking for love, some in the wrong places, and others fear they will never find it.

To all who are searching for love, it is found in Jesus.  Jesus loves you!  There’s nothing you can do to keep Him from loving you – not your bad attitude, confusion, hurt, or problems.  Nothing, and I do mean nothing, will ever separate you and me from the everlasting love of Christ.  Aide in His love and be Unafraid.

[Nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is the in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:39”

Overall, Unafraid is a wonderful and unique devotional and I highly recommend it.

Book Source:  Review Copy from Hachette Book Group – Thanks!

Giveaway

  One lucky winner will receive a copy of  Unafraid by Gracie Malone courtesy of Hachette.  If you would like to win Unafraid, please leave a comment on why it sounds interesting or a favorite Bible verse on fear.

 

As part of your comment, you must include an email address. If I can't find a way to contact you I will draw another winner. 

 

For an additional entry, blog about this giveaway or post it on your sidebar. Provide a link to this post in your comment.

I will be using random.org (or a Monte Carlo simulation in excel) to pick the winners from the comments. 

 

This contest is only open to US  residents (Sorry!). 

 

No P.O. Boxes. 

 

The deadline for entry is midnight on Friday October 30th!

 

Please make sure to check the first week of November to see if you are a winner. I send emails to the winner, but lately I've been put in their "junk mail" folder instead of their inbox.

 

Good luck!