Enjoying God (Personal and spiritual growth. Discipleship. Explore how the Father, the Son and the Spirit relate to us in our day-to-day lives.)

I’ve been a Christian for quite a while and this book is immensely helpful and practical to my enjoyment of God. Enjoying God is the whole point of life, why God created us and the best gift he gives us is himself! Although as I read, many of the concepts felt familiar and simple, they were profound in the ways that the author explains them. Just a tiny shift in my perspective or practice of some of these things can greatly increase my enjoyment of God and deepen my relationship with him daily. I loved that each chapter had a different focus, the practical action steps or habits to begin building, the theology and scripture behind them and included in each chapter, as well as the little scenario story that was revisited each chapter.I highly recommend to new and “older” believers!

Tim Chester is a pastor and author (more than 40 books) and he lives in England. Back in July of 2009 Tim accepted my invitation and came to do a seminar at my church in New Jersey about the gospel, community and mission. Most of what he taught us was based on his book, “Total Church“. It was neat to get to know Tim just a little bit and see up close his love for God and God’s people.I believe it is fair to say that in my theological circle we have the tendency to emphasize knowing about God over experiencing God in daily life. I love to read and learn and so I know, unfortunately, this tendency is alive and well in me. That is the reason that I love “Enjoying God” so much.Michael Horton wrote this endorsement for “Enjoying God”:We talk a lot about knowing and glorifying God, but what about enjoying him? And not just as an abstract Being, but as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit-enjoying each Person in all of his difference as well as divine unity? And not just in happy times or at church, but in every circumstance in life. It just keeps getting better and better as you turn each page of Enjoying God. This book will life you into the presence of the Source of all joy.So how does Tim go about helping us to enjoy God in everyday life? Here is the table of contents:1. More (Do we ever wonder if there is more to the Christian life?)2. Joy (What does it really mean to taste and know that the Lord is good?)3. In every pleasure we can enjoy the Father’s generosity4. In every hardship we can enjoy the Father’s formation5. In every prayer we can enjoy the Father’s welcome6. In every failure we can enjoy the Son’s grace7. In every pain we can enjoy the Son’s presence8. In every supper we can enjoy the Son’s touch9. In every temptation we can enjoy the Spirit’s life10. In every groan we can enjoy the Spirit’s hope11. In every word we can enjoy the Spirit’s voice12. In one another we can enjoy God’s love13. In daily repentance and faith we can enjoy God’s freedom14. Under the hoodWhat Tim has done is look at all the ways in everyday life (pleasures, hardships, failures, temptations) that we can experience and enjoy the presence of God.I have already purchased a bunch of these books and plan to use them to teach an Adult Sunday School class here in Watertown, South Dakota. As a pastor I believe strongly that one of the greatest things I can ever do for my people is guide them towards enjoying and worshipping God.Excerpt from Enjoying GodI wonder if some of us don’t “feel” the work of the Spirit because we’re not on the frontline-we’re not on the frontline of the battle against sin or we’re not on the frontline of the battle for mission.Imagine you’ve been driving a small car with a beat-up engine which struggles to go much over 30 mph. Then one day someone gives you a powerful new car with a large turbo-charged engine. A week later you shock them by saying, “I haven’t really noticed much difference.” But then they discover that you’ve never driven it over 30 mph. You’ve got this car that can accelerate to 70 mph in three seconds. But you don’t notice the difference because you’ve never hit the accelerator. Don’t make your life so safe that you never have cause to notice the Spirit’s work.How do we live in communion with the Holy Spirit? We rely on him. We expect him to work. If you want to see the Spirit at work in your life, then attempt things that you feel you can’t do without his help. Everything we do for God is done with the Spirit’s help, whether we feel it or not. But if you want to feel the Spirit’s help, then attempt things that feel beyond you. Do not complain that God never does anything dramatic in your life if you never attempt anything outside your comfort zone. P.118-119

Great reminder of the the Lord's presence and work in a believers life. A must read!

Tim Chester has another excellent book on the Trinity, so this adds even more application for prayer, devotion, and help to grow in our relationship with God in three persons. Excellent. Some sections have been on my mind for weeks after I read it and God has used that to help me pray and walk by faith.

Currently using this as a study in a Sunday School class. Sound theology supported with Biblical references.

Our daughter wanted this book for Christmas to help to grow in her Christian living.

What a simple comfort this little book is! Going to read it once a year.

loved this book. I finished it feeling equipped to not only enjoy God more in my daily living (Chester gives practical ways to do this!) but to look for the myriad ways He has expressed His love to me. The chapter on repentance and sin was so good, as was the one on fellowship within the church. If you enjoyed Dane Ortlund's book, Gentle & Lowly, you might also enjoy this book, written a few years prior to Ortlund's. They're really different books but covering a similar topic. (And I loved them both!)Chester writes in an engaging and humble manner, which makes it so relatable. He closes each chapter with a personal challenge, some reflection questions, and an ongoing story about a couple named Mike and Emma, which helps illustrate the teaching from each chapter.

I could not put this book down and learned a great deal from it. I love the way in which it is written. The author made me think 🤔. Am I that person? It is well written and informative and my aim is to read it again and be grateful for all He has done for me and who He is to me.

Written in modern and very accessible English, this little book opens your eyes to the love of God in the midst of the struggles of modern and often dreary Christian everyday life. The love the author has for God, the clarity of the view he enjoys of the wonderful grace of God, runs through every line he writes. If you are struggling with a lack of joy or a gloomy vision of God's presence in your life, this book will open your eyes again to the perfect character of God the Father, the completed work of God the Son, and the faith and love-inspiring work of the Holy Spirit as they unfold during an everyday day in your life; right before your eyes. A true jewel.

Loved this book which I read cover to cover in preparation for our studying it as a home group from my church. It really is so clearly written and so is easy to read and certainly very pertinent to our lives as followers of Jesus. I particularly loved how the author speaks of the trinity so an emphasis is clearly on the the three persons of God; Father, Son and Spirit. I’m looking forward to reading more of Tim’s books in the future as part of my faith journey. Thank you!!

I devoured this book and have referred to it many times since. Such a practical encouragement to look for God in the small and mundane things bringing my relationship with Him to a new and precious level. I’ve bought more copies as gifts.

I like how there are actions, questions for reflection and also an example from Mike & Emma's life. Thankful to God for Tim & this book.