Surrender to Love: Discovering the Heart of Christian Spirituality

By David G. Benner

Book Overview

A Personal Growth Finalist in the 2004 Word Guild Canadian Writing Awards "Only God deserves absolute surrender because only God can offer absolutely dependable love." In our self-reliant era, most of us recoil from the concept of surrendering to a power or authority outside ourselves. But surrender need not be seen as threatening, especially when the One to whom we surrender is the epitome of goodness and love. God doesn't want his people to respond to him out of fear or obligation. Rather, he invites us to enter into an authentic relationship of intimacy and devotion. And so God calls us to move beyond mere obedience--by surrendering to love. In this profound book, David Benner explores the twin themes of love and surrender as the heart of Christian spirituality. Through careful examination of Scripture and reflection on the Christian tradition, Benner shows how God bids us to trust fully in his perfect love. Writing with mature wisdom gleaned from many years of integrating psychological and spiritual insight, Benner demonstrates keen perception and sensitivity to the realities of spirtitual formation. In each chapter he includes meditative exercises to guide you into a greater experience of trust and spiritual transformation. God is love, and he intends for you to live in his love. Surrender to Love will lead you to an unexpected place, where yieldedness to God frees you to become who he created you to be.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0830823026
• ISBN13: 9780830823024
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: IVP Books
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Its All About Love

One of the Ministers at my church did a Bible study with this book. I enjoyed it so much but was glad I did it with others the conversations we had discussing the book was amazing. This small insightful book of Christian spirituality is a straightforward way which will forever bless me. The book will capture your attention from the first page and draw you into a well guided reflection on our relationship with God. Continually I kept coming to the same conclusion L-O-V-E. I truly enjoyed this book.

Required textbook

This book was a required textbook for two college classes at Talbot. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyway seeking the deeper life with Christ.

Awakening My Heart

This book saved me from so much pain. It re-awakened me to the God who loves me like a father. While the words were easy to read I had to take the time to let them sink in because what he was writing about is so powerful. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs their heart re-awakened to the Father who loves them perfectly.

Full of truth!

Good presentation of the true heart of God. Good especially for anyone who has difficulty believing how deeply God really loves you.

A Must Read

Benner does it again. This book, along with "The Gift of Being Yourself," highlights what we most need to learn. Benner illustrates the Need to surrender and explains the connection between surrendering to love and the experience of genuine intimacy. Benner most aptly stated "There is nothing more important that learning love, because this is learning that counts for eternity.... Learning to love is therefore the core task of the human psychospiritual journey." This book facilitates such learning!

Please, Please, Please Read This Book

For anyone who desires to learn more about the unconditional love of God and how that love can be experienced daily: Please, Please, Please read this book. Dr. Benner has presented the love of God in such a straight forward way. God's love for us is what truly makes transformation possible. Apart from Christ we can do nothing. His love opens various possibilities. I will say that anyone who truly wants to mine the treasures within this work must read it more than one time. I want to thank Dr. Benner for presenting such a wonderful book on God and His love for us.