The Beauty of an Uncluttered Soul by Carla Gasser Illustrated by Vivian Kammel

About the Book:

Allow God's Spirit to Transform You from the Inside Out

Then the world seems chaotic, extreme, and out of control, we sometimes find ourselves wishing for order and simplicity in our personal lives, hoping to gain a sense of peace and purpose. Scroll through social media, read bestselling self-help books, or watch any DIY television show, and you will discover there are plenty of ways to transform your home, your body, and your life.

But how do we care for our souls?

The Bible teaches us how to apply the principles of self-care and minimalism to the clutter within. Using the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) as a guide, this nine-week devotional will help you cleanse yourself from the inside out by allowing God's Spirit to come and produce the soul qualities you're longing for.

Purge your past.

Shake out worry.

Open your heart.

Cleanse your mind.

Declutter your attitudes.

We all want more love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control. Let this book be your guide to soul transformation.

You can read an excerpt from the book and see some of the amazing artwork here.

 

My Review:

What a refreshing idea: deep cleaning the soul, detoxifying it, getting rid of all the clutter it contains. Gasser helps us do that by searching the Bible, observing soul habits, using the knowledge we gain, and leaning on God to allow the Spirit to transform us within. Each weekly exercise includes good teaching, Scripture references to read, and several questions to answer.

A couple of the studies really impressed me. On peace, Gasser emphasizes we need to have peace with God before we can have peace with others. I was surprised that meant I needed to surrender by faith to God, completely trusting Him. Another surprise was the need to purge past mistakes, those things that keep me from experiencing peace with God. I liked her teaching on gentleness, that it may not be our normal disposition but it can become our attitude through the inner work of the Holy Spirit.

I had not really thought of the order the fruit of the Spirit is listed in Galatians and appreciated Gasser's insight. The first three are attitudes (love, joy, peace), the next three are intentional actions (patience, kindness, goodness), and the last three are soul attributes (faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). There is a reason they are listed that way.

An added aspect to the teaching is the wonderful artwork. Visual images have an impact on our emotions and thoughts and the watercolors are a visual incentive to relax.

I highly recommend this study on developing the fruit of the Spirit.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Authors:

Carla Gasser is a speaker, teacher, blogger, and writer. She is passionate about communicating truth and grace, connecting passion and purpose, and championing others to share their stories. She is the proud mother of four young adults and lives in Hudson, Ohio, with her husband. You can learn more about her and join her on the journey by visiting www.carlagasser.com. Photo: © Andrew Jordan Photography.

Vivian Kammel is an artist and graphic designer based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. When not designing or creating, she spends her time exploring the city with her husband. View more of her work and story at www.viviankammel.com or Instagram @viviankammel.

Bethany House, 144 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)