Book Review: Audacious

“When did you buy that book?”

“I didn’t…”

“Then why did it arrive in the mail today?”

“I have no idea.” I flipped through the pages of Beth Moore’s most recently released book, Audacious, hoping to find a note or explanation for how this book arrived in my mailbox. Nothing. I shrugged off the confusion and moved to excitement because I had heard about this book on Twitter (maybe I won it in a contest?? or a give-away?)

Beth Moore has had one  mission statement that has shaped her ministry: To see women come to know and love Jesus Christ through the study of Scripture.

One of her friends handed her a book that asked these two questions: What is your dream? What is your vision for the future?

After facing these two questions, she added two words To see ALL women come to know and AUDACIOUSLY love Jesus Chris through the study of Scripture.

Those two small words launched this book.

Let’s get first impressions out of the way – the font of this book is … well … audacious. More specifically, the font color is green with brown page numbers. At first, I kind of liked it. But as I kept reading, I found my eyes grew tired quicker and that it was more difficult to read in the dim light of my bedside lamp. But these are very superficial comments.

As for the content of the book, I’ll use Beth’s own words to explain how I feel as a reader:

…I believe God can use a book to mark a life. It doesn’t even have to be a great book. It can just be well-timed.

Audacious was well-timed in my life. Beth asked us to think about all the emotions we feel when we consider our love for our spouses. For me, I’m blessed to say that, almost 5 years into marriage, I still feel tremendously in love with my husband. He’s my best friend and my co-conspirator in everything. When we’re apart, I think about what he’s doing. When he celebrates, I want to celebrate with him. When I’m upset, I want to lay my head on his shoulder and simply be near him. My love for Kevin affects every aspect of my life.

Does my love for Jesus do the same?

Or has my love gone stale?

I’m ashamed to admit that my love for Jesus has felt like it is on simmer recently. I remember days in college when I felt a love for Him bursting me apart, driving me to spend more time with Him and serving Him.

Beth doesn’t chastise those of us who feel this way. She challenges us to take one simple step – pray.

Ask God every morning to reignite our driving passion for Him. Ask God to give us an audacious love that causes us to boldly follow His will.

Beth puts it this way:

The love Jesus longs for us is not just devotion. It’s also emotion.
It’s not just volition. It is also affection.
It is not just discipline. It is also passion.
It’s not just routine. It is also romance.

For the past year, I’ve excelled at devotion, volition, discipline, and routine. Now, I’m asking God for emotion, affection, passion, and romance.

I highly recommend this book to you. It’s a great length – only 192 pages. Though I haven’t gobbled up every word that has ever come from Beth’s pen, this book would make a terrific group study. I would love to discuss what audacious love would look like in the lives of women in my church.