50 BOOKS THAT IMPACTED MY LIFE

“I LOVE TO READ”

I am an avid reader.

I love to read.

In fact my mother told me that as a baby, she would give me cloth books to read and would lay in my crib “reading”, never once holding any upside down.

In primary school I recall feeling restricted by the library’s policy that only two books could be borrowed at a time because I would usually finish reading them very quickly and want to borrow more…….okay, I confess that sometimes I would sneak out more than two books, but I did make sure to return them.

I often bought books from the school’s book shop and borrowed them from the public libraries.

I often visited bookstores (and still do) just to see what books were available that I’d like to buy and read, or that the Lord directed me to buy and read.

As early as I can remember, I travelled with one or more books wherever I went; even as a corporate manager, I carried a stash of books to work in my brief case, for when I got a chance to read during lunch or after hours before going home.

In 1987 when I re-dedicated my life to the Lord, He told me to focus my reading on books that would edify my spiritual life and deepen my relationship with Him; not that I could not read others, but He made it clear that the majority of the books I read from that point on needed to be of that genre.

Some 26 years and well over 1000 books later, I am glad that I obeyed the Lord’s instruction because I came to realize that in doing so, He “enrolled” me in a “spiritual university” of sorts that fostered a great deal of spiritual knowledge, understanding and growth in my life and I truly thank Him for that. 

Of course the most important, influential and only constant book in this journey has been, still is, and will always be the Bible, the greatest book of all and because it is God’s Truth, I sift all other writings, including those of fellow Believers in Christ, through the grid of its teachings, principles and standards for nothing transcends God’s Word. His Word is Truth (John 17:17), it will always stand (Isaiah 40:8), and is forever settled in the heavens (Psalms 119:89).

Having said this, today I want to share a list of 50 of the books I’ve read that have made a significant impact on my life.

It is definitely not an all-inclusive list, but comprises books that I believe stand out above the others because they come to the forefront of my mind as do this exercise.

So, in no particular order, here’s the list:-

1)   “Make Me Like You Lord” – Colleen Townsend

2)   “Going Places” – Elizabeth Goldsmith

3)   “God Chasers” – Tommy Tenny

4)   “Good Morning Holy Spirit” – Benny Hinn

5)   “The Anointing” – Benny Hinn

6)   “Jesus Freaks” – D. C. Talk & The Voice of the Martyrs

7)   “Practicing God’s Presence” – Brother Lawrence

8)   “Audience of One” – Jeremy & Connie Sinnott

9)   “In Pursuit of Purpose”- Dr. Myles Munroe

10)  “Understanding Your Potential” – Dr. Myles Munroe

11)  “Releasing Your Potential” – Dr. Myles Munroe

12)  “Maximizing Your Potential” – Dr. Myles Munroe

13)  “Rediscovering the Kingdom” – Dr. Myles Munroe

14)  “The Most Important Person on the Earth” – Dr. Myles Munroe

15)  “The Purpose and Power of Vision” – Dr. Myles Munroe

16)  “The Purpose and Power of Authority” – Dr. Myles Munroe

17)  “The Principles and Purpose of Change” – Dr. Myles Munroe

18)  “I Quit” – Gerri Scazzero

19)  “The Spiritual Man” – Watchman Nee

20)  “The Character of God’s Workman” – Watchman Nee

21)  “Sit, Walk, Stand” – Watchman Nee

22)  “Let Your Life Speak” – Parker Palmer

23)  “The Day of the Saints” – Dr. Bill Hammon

24)  “Anointed for Business” – Ed Silvoso

25)  “God at Work” – Rich Marshall

26)  “Dealing with the Rejection and Praise of Man” – Bob Sorge

27)  “Women of Destiny” – Cindy Jacobs

28)  “Possessing the Gates of the Enemy” – Cindy Jacobs

29)  “The Power of a Praying Wife” – Stormie Omartian

30)  “The Power of a Praying Parent” – Stormie Ormartian

31)  “Commanding the Morning” – Cindy Trimm

32)  “Prayer Rain” – Dr. D. K. Olukoya

33)  “Intercessory Prayer” – Dutch Sheets

34)  “Divine Nobodies” – Jim  Palmer

35)  “Wide Open Spaces” – Jim Palmer

36)  “The Point of No Return” – Rick Renner

37)  “Dream Thieves” – Rick Renner

38)  “Dressed to Kill” – Rick Renner

39)  “The Making of a Leader” – Frank Damazio

40)  “Purpose Driven life” – Rick Warren

41)  “Secrets of the Vine” – David Wilkerson

42)  “The Prayer of Jabez” – David Wilkerson

43)  “Reposition Yourself'” – T. D. Jakes

44)  “The Assignment Series” – Mike Murdock

45)  “Radical” – David Platt

46)  “He Came to Set the Captives Free” – Rebecca Brown

47)  “Boundaries” – Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend

48)  “The Hidden Power of a Believer’s touch” – Mahesh Chavada

49)  “Battle Field of the Mind” – Joyce Meyer

50)  “Pigs in the Parlor” – Frank & Ida Mae Hammon

These 50 books have definitely blessed me and I believe if the Lord directs you to read any of them, they will bless you too.

Be encouraged to keep growing in your faith and relationship with God and to do whatever He instructs you to facilitate the process.

Shalom!

Kim

Copyright © 2013 by Kim Sweeting, Author of “Unwalled” Blog, All rights reserved.

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