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Review: A Beautiful Defeat: Find True Freedom and Purpose in Total Surrender to God by Kevin Malarkey with Matt Jacobson

Review: A Beautiful Defeat: Find True Freedom and Purpose in Total Surrender to God
Kevin Malarkey with Matt Jacobson
Nelson Books
2014

I have to say that I requested this book for review because someone else said they didn’t like it, not for any more worthy reason.  So did I like it or not?  I liked it, but didn’t like the implications for my life.  

The defeat that is beautiful is of course the total surrender to God.  That requires all of me, mine, and whatever else I have become attached to.  Malarkey puts out the challenges straight and without any fancy foot work trying to sidestep what the biblical text says.  His final word resembles the Nike™ slogan we all know.  

His ten steps are discussed clearly and with examples that are even more clear.  The appendices provide a review and a list of the Bible verses pertaining to each step.  While I am not a fan of dividing things into ten steps, or twelve steps which some programs use, it does make it easier to look at and even follow which is the point.  So if you are looking for some easy-peasy methods, this is not the book for you.  If you are looking for a way to hedge your life and clean it up a little, again, this is not the book for you.  

The author knows and makes clear that the surrender he has discussed is not easy, clean, or a onetime deal.  It is just the opposite of all that and more.  I appreciate his honesty and openness as well as his encouragement.  His years of counseling have not been wasted.

This book was provided by the publisher in return for a review.

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