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Help is Here: Finding Fresh Strength and Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit
Help is Here
by Max Lucado
In the way Max Lucado presents information in all of his writings, he tells us in Help is Here about the Holy Spirit—with lots of Scripture as the basis to which he adds humor and anecdotes to make his point clear and personalize it for the reader. I never realized how many verses of the Bible, especially the New Testament, talk about the Holy Spirit: who He is, His job description, and how we can access His power and help. As always, Max points the reader to God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
When you are in such despair that you don’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit will intercede and pray for you. When you have a task that is too big for you, you can have the Holy Spirit walking beside you, empowering you. Nothing is too big or too hard for Him. When you need direction, the Holy Spirit is there. When you feel totally undone, the Holy Spirit can breathe new life into you. If you have never investigated the role of the Holy Spirit, I urge you to read Help is Here. Max explains His role in the world and urges you to welcome the Holy Spirit into every part of your day. Practical and inspirational, Help is Here is a treasure for Christians whether you have been walking with Jesus for a lifetime or you have just met Him. If you are a seeker wanting to know more about God, this is a good book for you too.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Nonfiction, Inspiration
Notes: Help is Here ends with “Questions for Reflection” prepared by Max’s daughter Andrea Lucado. There is a set of questions for each chapter. The book concludes with a few pages of footnotes.
Publication: September 13, 2022—Thomas Nelson
Memorable Lines:
…your Father is more than willing to release blessings in abundance. You have the Spirit as your advocate and your Father as your provider. You may feel weak, but you’ve never been stronger.
We have a helper, a divine instructor. He will save us from the cul-de-sac of confusion and the dead end of doubt. He does this by enrolling us in the primary course of his university: Jesus Christ.
The chief aim of the Spirit is to escort you into the Sistine Chapel of Jesus and watch you grow wide-eyed and slack-jawed. He will enchant you with the manger, empower you with the cross, embolden you with the empty tomb. He will infect you with his love for the Savior.
The help you need is here. Ask the Spirit to infuse you with his power. Throw open the door! Swing wide the gate! Stand on the threshold and say “Come in!”
Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World
Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World
by Max Lucado
Written and published three years before the Corona Virus pandemic, Anxious for Nothing reads like it was penned for these desperate times. Author Max Lucado, by his own admission, is not perfect; he has experienced many of the same problems you have. You will enjoy his writing style which is simultaneously down to earth and exquisite in his turn of phrase. This book is filled with Scriptures that will encourage you during life’s difficult times. In it you will find examples from Lucado’s life and encounters with others in the form of anecdotes that illustrate Biblical principles. There are many references to the wisdom and guidance found in the book of Philippians in the New Testament, but Max’s wording makes them easy to remember. He shares them as practical steps that will lead to a life with more calm and less chaos.
If I had to choose one book I would encourage everyone to read this year, it would be Anxious for Nothing. I usually include in my blog posts three memorable lines from the books I review. Never have I had a harder time including only three. Having heard Lucado’s online video study of this book, I can mentally hear him patiently, enthusiastically, and with understanding encouraging his readers. I can see the twinkle in his eyes as he shares one of his “secrets”: “God’s anxiety therapy includes a large, delightful dollop of gratitude.” I am grateful for the opportunity to share this book with you.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Nonfiction, Self-Help
Notes: Included at the end of the book are “Questions for Reflection” which could be used for individual or group study. There is also a useful guide that includes, by chapter, the Scriptures that are referenced by Lucado in the text. It would be very handy to use it to bring to mind God’s promises and truths as you are working through your personal times of chaos and daily struggles.
Publication: September 12, 2017—Thomas Nelson
Memorable Lines:
The Lord is near! You are not alone. You may feel alone. You may think you are alone. But there is never a moment in which you face life without help. God is near.
Find a promise that fits your problem, and build your prayer around it. These prayers of faith touch the heart of God and activate the angels of heaven. Miracles are set into motion.
No more “if only.” It is the petri dish in which anxiety thrives. Replace your “if only” with “already.” Look what you already have. Treat each anxious thought with a grateful one, and prepare yourself for a new day of joy.
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