Dealing with Anger

 

Anger: Handling a Powerful Emotion in a Healthy Way, by Gary Chapman

 

As with his other books, Gary Chapman offers excellent insight and spiritual wisdom, yet it is written with very practical tips and application to every day life.

 

 

 

Grief, Loss & Transition

 

Recovering from the Losses of Life, by H. Norman Wright

 

I highly recommend this for those looking to understand the emotional and spiritual effects that life’s unexpected changes have on us all. Writing from his own experience, Wright covers such issues as the meaning of grief, blaming God, and learning how to express and share in times of loss

 

 

 

Forgiveness

 

Forgiveness is a Choice, by Robert Enright

 

Written by Dr. Enright, a local UW-Madison researcher in the study of Forgiveness, this book is a top resource for those wanting to experience the power of forgiveness. By helping you focus on a particular area of unforgiveness in your life, Forgiveness is a Choice promotes deep reflection and personal application of the research proven concepts.

 

 

A Forgiving Life, by Robert Enright

 

A follow up to Forgiveness is a Choice, this book offers detailed examples of real people who have undergone and completed the research based steps of forgiveness outlined by Dr. Enright.

 

 

 

Developing Healthy Spiritual Attachment & Intimacy

 

God Speaks Your Love Language: How to Feel and Reflect God’s Love, by Gary Chapman

 

Written with a similar perspective as his “Love Languages” books, Gary Chapman helps the reader connect with the specific ways in which we give and receive love from God the most. This book has been very helpful for many people to ignite a deeper and more personal experience with God on a daily basis.

 

 

God Attachment: Why You Believe, Act, and Feel the Way You Do About God, by Joshua Straub

 

Based on scientific research that support biblical truths, this book introduces the theory of attachment and integrates the concepts on a spiritual level. Filled with self-assessments and specific challenges, you will likely find this book to be a great eye-opener to identifying key patterns in your relational and spiritual life.

 

 

The God Shaped Brain: How Changing Your View of God Transforms Your Life, by Timothy Jennings

 

Christian psychiatrist Dr. Tim Jennings uses up to date neuroscience research which reinforces Scripture teachings to explain how healing and transformation in our brain, body and spirit can transpire. Dr. Jennings helps challenge many fear based beliefs of God that cause an imbalance and unsettledness in our lives and relationships. Written in a straightforward yet easy to understand format, I have found this book to challenge old concepts and nurture the heart of Christians. 

 

 

 

Codependency in Relationships

 

Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life, by Cloud & Townsend

 

Among my personal top three recommended books, Boundaries is an essential for healthy Christians to integrate into their lives. Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend offer biblically-based answers to these and other tough questions, showing us how to set healthy boundaries with our parents, spouses, children, friends, co-workers, and even ourselves.

 

 

Love is a Choice: The Definitive Book of Letting Go of Unhealthy Relationships, by Hemfelt, Minirth & Meier

 

This is a must read for those working through the effects of unbalanced relationships. The authors both clinically and spiritually describe the causes of codependency, pointing out the factors that perpetuate it, and lead readers through their ten stages of recovery. I highly recommend the workbook that supplements this read as well.

 

 

Making Peace with Your Past, by H. Norman Wright

 

Writing from a personalized Christian perspective, this book helps readers to identify the impact negative experiences have on their current mental, emotional, relational and spiritual balance. More importantly, Norm offers a scriptural path to work through past issues and allow us to grow in spiritual character.

 

 

The Search for Significance: Seeing Your True Worth Through God’s Eyes, by Robert McGee

 

As per the title, this book is aimed to help you to connect with God’s true view of you, and encouraging you to let go of basing your self-worth on your accomplishments or the opinions of others.

 

 

 

Love and Logic Magic for Lasting Relationships, by Fay and Hawkins

 

 

If you are familiar with the Love and Logic approach, or if you are looking for simple yet effective ways to practice healthy communication and boundary skills in adult relationships, this book will be a good resource for you. Co-authored by David Hawkins (Christian author) and Jim Fay (Love and Logic co-founder), this book will focus on eight specific skills that are similar to the Love and Logic approach for children, yet used in the context of a respectful, loving adult relationship setting and will help you create a personal plan to apply and practice mastering each skill.

 

 

 

Healthy Self-Talk

 

Battlefield of the Mind, by Joyce Meyer

 

Written in a very powerful and personal style, Joyce Meyer directly addresses the common negative interpretations we can allow to consume our thoughts, feelings and choices in life. This is a great resource for those fighting to find truth in their lives, despite the difficulty of their current reality.

 

 

Telling Yourself the Truth, by William Backus and Marie Chapain

 

Learning to make sense of the thoughts, feelings and experiences we have as Christians is a vital skill. I highly recommend this book as a guide to challenge anxiety, depression and unhealthy relationship patterns that you may be experiencing in your life.