I set out to create a list of books that have deeply shaped and strengthened my relationship with God.
But as I started writing, I realized—there are so many good ones. Books that move you. Books that stretch you. Books that rearrange your soul like furniture in a room you thought you knew.
These are my top picks for now, but something tells me this won’t be the last list I make.
So here’s my encouragement to you: read. As much as you can.
Read books that stir your faith.
Read books that challenge and inspire you.
Read books that call you to more.
And if you’re not much of a reader—but you want to be—this is a great place to start.
Tell me in the comments which ones you’re adding to your cart!
Ordering Your Private World
My friend Nancy introduced me to this book several years ago, and it changed me to my core. I read it once a year because the material inside never gets old or tired. Every time I open it, I find something new to reflect on.
What’s crazy about this book is that it was written in the 80s, but it reads like it was meant for our current times. It’s wild to think social media wasn’t even a thing when he penned these words, because WE NEED THIS BOOK IN SOCIAL MEDIA TIMES.
This book digs deep into the exhaustion that comes from constantly trying to keep every plate spinning on the outside. What is the result? Exhaustion and a depleted inner world.
This book is for:
The person who is looking to cultivate spiritual disciplines, recharge their faith in God, and get serious about cultivating a private world.
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness
Warning: Only read this book if you are ready for a good kick in the faith. That’s what Keller delivers in just 44 pages. You can read this book in one sitting, but you will be forever marked by it.
Keller writes about the true meaning of “gospel-humility” and how we can become free from an inflated ego, self-condemnation, and the need to people-please
This is a book I make a point of reading once a year as a refresher. Every time I read it, I feel convicted in the best possible way and take something new that points me back to Jesus.
This book is for:
The one who wants to please every human they come across. The one who condemns themselves often and needs a reminder to stop comparing their race to the races of others.
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
“Long” and “obedience.” Two words we typically feel uncomfortable hearing when it comes to our faith. But I think we have to be willing to go there, and this book is taking us.
This book outlines the Psalms of Ascent as my guy Eugene Peterson breaks down what it looks like to be a disciple in an instant society. Get ready to highlight every other sentence. This book is rich, deep, and powerful and it’s one of those books I am consistently pulling from my shelf just to read a few pages and be inspired.
This book is for:
The person who is ready for a bit of soul demolition. Yes, that seems dramatic, but I’ve watched this book change so many people. If you are exhausted but desire to make an impact, pick it up and let the words inside refresh you.
Anonymous
I feel like this book should be required reading for anyone who is a Christian. It’s insanely well-written, and the first time I encountered it, it was the balm my soul so needed. Alicia Britt Chole takes on an uncomfortable topic: what does it look like to operate in obscurity when you find yourself in a season of being unseen? I think this is the kind of season we want to rush past to get to the other side, but Alicia handles the topic with such grace, tact, and poetry. You’ll find yourself looking at your unseen season through a different lens.
This book is for:
Anyone who is struggling with an anonymous season. You feel lost. You feel a bit hidden. You can’t really tell if God is working or not. This book will place you at the feet of Jesus and remind you why the anonymous seasons are often the most fruitful in our lives.
Life of the Beloved
Confession time: for years, I struggled to know if God really liked me. I felt like it was his obligation to love me, but did he really like me? This book shifted my perspective on how God sees me and why I am considered the Beloved, and so are you.
I recommend this book to all my friends who need some simple reminders: God is for you. God is with you. God is equipping you. It will all be okay in the end.
This book is for:
The person who needs to know about the love of God. We rattle on about sin and condemnation, but this book is just straight love. Straight gospel. Dig in and know you are wanted in these pages by a God who will never stop pursuing you.
Draw the Circle
I’ve read this book almost a dozen times, and it has been the fuel I’ve needed to pray unceasingly for different things in my life.
There is an actual chapter book called The Circle Maker, but this book I’m recommending is the 40-day prayer challenge. It’s a reboot for your faith, and it will help you grow another level deeper with God.
My solution for getting stuck in a faith rut? Pray your way through it. This book will take you on a deep journey of prayer (and an encouraging one).
This book is for:
The one who wants to become a prayer warrior. Like, James-style. Set aside 40 days as you read this book and get ready to experience some breakthroughs in your faith life.
In the Name of Jesus
I actually don’t know if this book is one I would recommend to all people. However, if you are someone who considers yourself to be a leader, then it’s a must-read. You should have multiple copies to give away to other leaders you encounter.
It’s a call to put down the need for power and approval and pick up the things of the gentle and lowly things of Christ: prayer and forgiveness.
This book is for:
The one who can’t help but desire popularity and approval. If you are struggling to feel relevant in today’s world, this book will shift your mindset back to the greater things of God.
The Practice of the Presence of God
If you read one book on this list, let it be this one. I can’t begin to express how this book has changed my life, but I want everyone to read it, know it, and understand it. Next to the Bible, I think this is the most important piece of work I’ve ever read.
Brother Lawrence was a dishwasher in a monastery who found a way to live in constant communion with God while operating in the mundanity of life. He’s a 17th-century teacher on how to see God in the good. In the hard. In the sacred. And the ordinary. There is something here for each one of us, even 300 years later.
This book is for:
The one who feels overloaded by social media and needs to get back to their faith (and the present moment). For the one who is tired of boxing God up into a perfectly planned quiet time and wants to move to a new level in their faith.
Hannah Brencher’s list is a soul-stirring collection of books that invite readers into deeper intimacy with God. Each title is chosen with heart and purpose perfect for anyone craving spiritual renewal, gospel truth, and a richer prayer life.