Book Review: Healing is a Choice~Ten Decisions That Will Transform Your Life &Ten Lies That Can Prevent You From Making Them by Stephen Arterburn

Healing is a Choice~Ten Decisions That Will Transform Your Life & Ten Lies That Can Prevent You From Making Them by Stephen Arterburn

Healing is a Choice by Stephen Arterburn 
This is an incredibly well written, meticulously organized, extremely powerful book!  This work has the potential to bring about authentic change in your life. 

Healing is a Choice by Stephen Arterburn is a beautifully written book on the complex subject of pain.  I chose this book for two reasons.  First, I am a nurse, and as such, I am always on the look out for material about our health.  Secondly, the title’s claim of healing being a “choice” immediately sparked my curiosity.  What one of us would not chose healing over sickness? 

The book is methodically laid out into ten chapters.  Each chapter defines what decision we must make to embrace the healing that we long for in our lives.  That determination is then countered with the lie that, if believed, can prevent us from making that particular choice which will in turn block a life centered on health.  This book is filled with more than a few quick suggestions to make your life rosier, but rather it is full of concise directives that if applied consistently over time, could have a lasting positive impact on the reader.   

 

The author encourages the reader to give up their old ways for God’s ways.  He asserts that emotional, relational, and spiritual healing is available to us if we will apply the ten choices to our lives.  Each chapter is followed up with a workbook section that is provided to reinforce the truths and help the reader with application of those said truths.  The final chapter of the book addresses the issue of differed physical healing in a very compassionate and sensitive manner, for which I was thankful to see.

 

The recurring theme present throughout this book is that healing is ultimately God’s choice for us, but we have an opportunity and responsibility to be an active partner in that process.  In my estimation, this book is actually about ten books for the price of one!  The length of the book is approximately 450 pages each of which hold important words of tangible wisdom, sound advice, and Godly encouragement from not only the author, but other esteemed colleagues in this field.

This is an exceptional piece of work that I found to be a privilege and honor to read.  It is obvious that Stephen Arterburn's heart is to provide accessible resources to hurting people.  He consistently throughout the book, offers a number that the reader can call for live assistance.  I feel compelled to include it in this review.  That number is:  1-800-NEW-LIFE (639-5433). 

There is also a website offered:  www.newlife.com  

Thank you to BookSneeze (where “reading is contagious”) and Thomas Nelson Publishing Company for this complimentary review copy of Healing Is A Choice by Stephen Arterburn.  The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.