Book Review: Strengthening Your Grip by Charles Swindoll

Here's a delightful treat from one of my favorite authors, Charles Swindoll!

"Strengthening Your Grip: How to be Grounded in a Chaotic World" discusses relevant areas of Christianity including priorities, purity, money, and discipleship. If you have gotten to read any of Swindoll's books, you'd notice that his writing style is simple and easy to read. He loads this book with illustrations and practical life applications. I'm just halfway through with this book, but I already had a lot of "Aha" moments here! What I also appreciate about Swindoll is his humility. He's a human; though a preacher, he's not the kind who brags about his service to God, rather he's proud of how God strengthens him in his weaknesses. He isn't condemning or guilt-tripping, but I am definitely convicted from most of what I've already read from this book.

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For your preview, here's an excerpt from this book on his topic on discipleship that struck me to bones:

"For a number of years after I became a Christian, I messed around with spiritual things. Just messed around. I ran around with church folks, I learned the God-talk, I sang the hymns, I even memorized the verses. I prayed pretty good prayers, I carried my bible to church Sunday after Sunday, I sang in the choir, and I added to my schedule a Bible class or two every now and then. But my life was my life. I did not let all that religious stuff interfere with things like my career, my home, my strong will, my pursuit of things, my determination to go my own way, or my own personal plans. I wasn’t a wife-beater, a criminal, an alcoholic, or some awful, notorious sinner. No, I was just a selfish man. I knew how to get what I wanted, and nothing was going to stand in my way. Stubborn and opinionated, I rolled up my sleeves and was ready to slug it out with whoever stood in my way…including God. I was a Christian, but certainly not a disciple.

And then shortly after joining the marines (another evidence of my determination to be tough and self-assured), I was transferred overseas, as I mentioned in the chapter on purity. For once I was faced with a major decision I could not change. Alone and lonely, I was forced to entrust my wife to the Lord, since she couldn’t go to the Orient with me, and to lean on Him for numerous things I had always been able to handle myself.

While overseas I met a man who saw behind my tough mask and was determined to help me come to terms with the Christ I claimed as my Savior. In the words of this chapter, he “discipled” me. Month after month, we met together, talked together, played ball together, laughed together, wept and prayed together, studied the Scriptures and witnessed for Christ together. Like Jesus with His men, this man took the time to help me peel off my mask of religion and absorb the authentic message of Christ. I found myself slowly changing down deep inside. I got to the place where I hated the hypocrisy of my former religious lifestyle. I got into the Scriptures on my own, and they became my bread and meat. I even addressed the priorities, the goals, and the objectives of my life. I opened each door of my inner house to let Christ in, room after room after room. Not suddenly, but slowly. Quietly. “Things” became less and less important to me. My stubborn will came under the scrutinizing eye of the Spirit of God. And I began to meet each day with my Lord, asking Him to deal with my ugly selfishness…and did He ever!

Looking back, I realize now I was in the process of becoming a disciple. Does that mean I have now arrived? Am I suggesting I have a handle on the whole thing? Absolutely not. But in spite of all my humanity (and there is tons of it still with me!), God has really gotten my attention. He has taken me to task about my stubborn will. I humbly praise Him for His patience and mercy as He faithfully stayed on the job and wouldn’t let me go until I surrendered. He replaced a “me-only” mentality with a much broader view of the importance of others. He has tempered my opinionated dogmatism and given me a tolerance that is altogether unlike the me yesteryear.

It is a little difficult sharing this in such detail lest I come off as some spurious saint with wings starting to sprout. Nothing could be further from the truth! I still blow it. I still fight the urge to have my own way. I still have those desires to please only myself. But the big difference between now and years ago is that I no longer defend those urges. I really don’t want them to control me, whereas before I rationalized around it. I want my Lord in control, and I find myself increasingly more embarrassed when those fleshly drives express themselves. The difference occurred in my life when I turned the corner in my spiritual growth and decided I had had enough of the game playing with God.

I have a feeling that many of you who read these words identify with my pilgrimage. The details may be different, but the overall scene is similar, right? For some of you, this represents a risk you want to take, but you’re afraid of the cost. Take it from me, it’s worth it! The Lord God will see you through. All you need to do is get alone with the Master, pour out your fears and your failures, then tell Him you are ready to take that first step away from a world that centers on you and into a new life that focuses on Him. That’s when you’ll begin to strengthen your grip on discipleship and loosen grip on mere religion."

Reading status: ONGOING Rate: 9/10