Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23

I'm a bit tough on Christian books because most of them are so padded it's kind of sad. Not to say they're bad, anyway it's a genre I suppose. (Not really talking about more classical works) Now within that genre well what I would consider Christian and spiritual books there are always writers who stand out. In this case I think this was posthumously written by someone based on Dallas Willard's notes if I remember correctly. Dallas Willard was a professor of philosophy so the critical thinking is at a very high level which I think everyone can appreciate. This book is very accessible and I think that is an amazing job with the 23rd psalm, which is a small portion of scripture that you can unlock for the rest of your life. I recommend most of Dallas Willard stuff. The contemplative level of writing and thinking is very enjoyable.

Life Without Lack is a book to be savored. One could read straight through it quickly, as I did for the sake of reviewing it, but I wouldn't recommend that. I will definitely be rereading it and this time slowly, taking the time to meditate on the wisdom presented and to implement some of the ideas. For example, Dallas Willard started out by recommending that readers memorize and meditate on Psalm 23. I honestly wasn't sure I was interested in a book on Psalm 23. I felt overly familiar with that Psalm, but this book really has.a lot to offer whether you are a person who memorized the Psalm as a child or whether its your first time reading it. Dallas Willard's gentle wisdom is refreshing and encouraging. In chapter 8, Dallas helps the reader plan to spend a day with Jesus. But he isn't helping the reader plan a retreat. This is a day with Jesus in your very ordinary schedule, inviting Him along with you and spending the day together. These are just some of the ideas with which I would like to spend more time and actually implement in my life. I also had concern over whether I could offer this book to the men and women at the homeless shelter where I served. Their lives are filled with palpable lack. How would this book play there? Dallas is aware of these concerns for all of us who experience lack in one way or another in our lives and he addresses these concerns adeptly. From chapter 1, "Whereas King David wrote, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," Paul wrote, "not that I speak in regard to need." They both knew the provision of God that became for them a life without lack. "But how could Paul say that? This man has been dragged through every jailhouse in the Roman Empire. Several times we find him bobbing in the ocean, trying to survive shipwrecks. It makes me want to say, "What do you mean, you don't have any wants? Couldn't you use a boat?" He would respond, "Well sure I'll take a boat, but I don't really have to have it, you understand?"" I'm not there yet, but reading this makes me eager for the day when I can say that I'm living a life without lack. I'm looking forward to implementing Willard's suggestions for growth in this area of my life. *I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. (and then purchased a hard copy because I liked it so much)

Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23, by Dallas Willard, is a wonderful, devotional that is worth regular revisits. I highly recommend it. Its goal is that you “may know increasingly, by joyful experience, a life abundant in rest, provision, and blessing—a life without lack.” The author provides practical insight in applying the principals and truths of Psalm 23. A few quotes to whet your appetite… “God is an ineffable reality so much greater than anything we ordinarily see around us or come to deal with in human life; he simply has no comparison. We are blessed to live in a world where there is a fully self-sufficient, generous God who wants to provide what is best for us and loves us more than we could ever imagine.” “…The most important thing about you is your mind, and the most important thing about your mind is what it is fixed upon. So the object is to have your mind always fixed on the Lord.” “As you practice living your days in the sufficiency of the Good Shepherd, you will make tremendous progress in experiencing the Psalm 23 life that Christ came to provide. You will see remarkable growth, and all the good things Jesus desires to give us—a rich life of joy and power, abundant in supernatural results, with a constant, clear vision of your never-ending life in God’s world and an abiding sense of your work day by day—will become the common, yet extraordinary, realities in your life.”

As a pastor, I give away my copy of this book constantly. I make all my new staff team members read it. It is truly a wonder and a God send. Now, I have read and love all of Willard's books, but this one is the most approachable for the average reader and Christian. This one has a unique difference in that it was delivered orally to a class of ordinary Christians, and not penned by Willard himself as a Magnum Opus of the topic at hand like with The Divine Conspiracy and The Spirit of the Disciplines. Life without Lack is easy to read and drives home the most important aspects of spiritual growth from an in depth look at Psalm 23. I've read it several times, and will continue to read it again and again throughout my life. I will have my children read it, and if I live to see my grandkids, I will read it to them as well. This is truly a gem, and worth a good slow read.

It seems like people have lost confidence and hope in God and his word and part of that is because people have lost the ability to read well. Dr. Willard did an excellent job at looking at all the different ramifications behind the 23rd psalm from various different standpoints and shows how the text of the 23rd psalm is more than just poetry. he shows us how we can actually have grounded confidence in the truth claims found in the 23rd psalm as well as the rest of the scriptures. this book has deepened my faith and confidence and given me several tools to use in my daily quiet times with my father. I think this book will be an encouragement to you and your walk with your father as well.

Has a lot of useful information on how to live free in Him. I really liked the beginning, the rest, had to work at a bit harder.

Very important fundamental truths for every person who seeks God, wants to relate to people and explores for truth on earth.

As usual Dallas has some excellent teaching in this book. I’ve finished reading the book and I’ve harvested some very useful information that I can use to develop a deeper and more intimate relationship with my LORD.

One of the best books I've read on Christian living. Clear and pratical. Dallas Willard at his best.

A good book leaves you remembering one thing a long time later. What I'll remember - 3 stages of faith - asking and receiving, a dark night of the soul, and then a surrendered faith. Family and friends of DW have compiled this great book posthumously from his teaching. Thank you