Biblical Solutions for Daily Living
Developing a Vital and Personal Relationship with God
This intelligent book weaves classical philosophy and literature into an understanding of how the Bible reveals the nature of God.
In Biblical Solutions for Daily Living: Developing a Vital and Personal Relationship with God, Aleta You, PhD, provides a well-researched and accessible guide for practical uses of the Bible. Through personal testimony, prose, and exercises designed for additional study, You successfully demonstrates the importance and relevance of the Bible for everyday life.
You begins with a personal narrative. At an early age, she starts on a quest to understand the nature of God. As an adult, she studies philosophy and different religions and also faces personal challenges. Through these experiences, she comes to the conclusion that the Bible is a gift provided by God to understand God’s true nature. In the text, You presents this argument with support in the form of scripture.
Subsequent chapters describe the attributes of God, the competition between good and evil on the personal and spiritual plane, the importance of the Holy Spirit, and the usefulness of the Bible for good health and creating a mind/body balance. All of the chapters include personal testimony at the beginning and end, as well as a set of thought-provoking questions and a list of biblical passages for further exploration. You also seamlessly weaves in her understanding of philosophy and the classics to exemplify her points.
Biblical Solutions for Daily Living provides a comprehensive analysis of a complex text. You points out that many people feel the Bible is important yet have not read it; as such, the purpose of her book is to encourage biblical literacy. You includes biblical passages from the Old and New Testaments, drawing inspiration from Psalms, Proverbs, and the Gospels and addressing the Book of Revelation. All of the information is presented in well-organized sections.
Though the volume’s language is accessible to a broad audience, its message is specifically for evangelical Christians and others who believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of God. The book would likely not appeal to people who are looking for a more liberal interpretation of the Bible or a critical analysis of scripture. Although You is interested in combating the biblical illiteracy of the American public, the book may fall short of its goal of convincing those who do not read the Bible to begin a regular spiritual practice of reading and meditation. A level of biblical understanding and an appreciation of the Bible are prerequisites for fully embracing You’s arguments.
You presents the culmination of her spiritual journey to form a personal relationship with God. Biblical Solutions for Daily Living provides the tools necessary for the formation of a spiritual practice including biblical study. Clergy, lay leaders, and Bible study facilitators will consider this book an important resource.
Reviewed by
Gabrie'l Atchison
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
