**I received a complimentary copy of this book for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.
Our hearts are made for unswaying allegiance to a king and a kingdom, a concept that Jesus talked about more than any other. Yet every day, the false kings of anxiety, approval, comfort, image, escape, power, accumulations, self-sufficiency, supremacy, and shame plot to reign over our hearts instead. Their lies about the true king are so subtle and insidious that we rarely recognize them, and we go on living with divided loyalties that stall our spiritual growth, infect our relationships, and hinder our witness.
If you want to find freedom from the forces vying for your heart, let Christine Hoover equip you for the fight. In this approachable yet provocative book, she helps you root out your own misplaced allegiances so that you can live wholly as a subject of the king who made and redeemed you.
Christine Hoover is a pastor's wife, mom of three boys, host of the By Faith podcast, and author of several books, including Searching for Spring: How God Makes All Things Beautiful in Time, Messy Beautiful Friendship, and From Good to Grace. Her work has appeared on Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and For the Church. Originally from Texas, Christine and her family live in Charlottesville, Virginia, where they planted a church in 2008. Find her at her home online at GraceCoversMe.com.
Allegiance. Have you ever given much thought about this word? For me, when I hear it my mind of course goes to the Pledge of Allegiance, as I'm sure holds true for many others... but when was the last time we truly thought about what it really means? And more importantly, where our allegiances truly lie?
Per the Oxford dictionary, allegiance is defined as, 'loyalty or commitment of a subordinate to a superior or of an individual to a group or cause'. As Christians, reading that of course we want to believe that our allegiance lies with God and His kingdom. That is our goal, that is what we strive for most... but are our lives reflecting that...or are false kings getting in the way and taking our attention? In her newest book Christine Hoover addresses that issue in a practical way that I feel all Christians can relate to. She breaks down some of the false kinds that can sneak in and distract our allegiance such as anxiety, approval, comfort, image, escape, power, accumulation, self-sufficiency, supremacy and shame. How many of us see ourselves and our struggles among that list? Most of us at one point or another likely do...and the author is among us too. I always much prefer books that are coming from people who DO understand the struggles and don't pretend to be perfect, as that makes them so much more relatable. This book will help us take a look at our hearts, and give us practical ideas to help keep our minds on the kingdom... and not at these false kings.
I will also add that I am often apprehensive about books that take on the topic of anxiety, as some Christians don't differentiate from worry to anxiety as a medical condition and as such can send a negative message to Christians struggling with the latter to believe that they just are not faithful enough. I did appreciate that in the notes in the back, she DID note that there is a difference and that this particular chapter referred to the more general anxiety (interchangeable with worry), and encouraged those dealing with physiological anxiety to consult a doctor.
Overall, an interesting read that many Christians can benefit from.
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"Pleasant words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24