Give it to God and Go to Bed by Laura Harris Smith

I have mixed feelings about this book. I appreciate Smith advocating us exchanging our worries for God's weapons. I appreciate that, while much of this book is about spiritual issues, there are some practical teachings about receiving necessary sleep. I appreciate her teaching about spiritual warfare. This is a book for Charismatic Christians and there is much in the book about demonic spirits and how they act. I like her teaching on dreams, how God communicates through them, the kinds of dreams, etc. I like her teaching about dealing with those pesky voices in our head. I like her emphasis on prayer and appreciated her insight of watching the news as gathering wartime intelligence for prayer.

But I felt there are some very odd aspects included in this book on sleeping well. Smith includes much political commentary. She is free about her very pro-Trump views although she prays for all presidents, regardless of party. She believes the claims of voter fraud and irregularities, even mentioning Mike Lindell and his claims. This book seems to have gone to print before the many court decisions against those who claimed voter fraud. I find it odd that someone who advocates insight into spiritual issues was taken in by the false and unprovable claims made by those unhappy with the results of the 2020 US presidential election. I also found it odd Smith mentions her oils and books so often. Having been a retailer myself (owning a Christian bookstore for 33 years) it seemed like some of this book was a sales pitch for readers to buy her other products. But then, she also has a sales pitch for her good friend, Mike Lindell's pillow, and spends pages detailing his story. I found it also odd that she includes much about her ordination as a woman, the criticism and her defense. There is also teaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues and a section on how the US states got their borders.

If you want information on getting a good night of rest, you'll find some here. You will also find material that, to my mind, didn't have much to do with sleeping at all.

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

Laura Harris Smith is a certified nutritional counselor and naturopathic doctor with three degrees in original medicine. She and her husband are the founding co-pastors of Eastgate Creative Christian Fellowship near Nashville, Tennessee. She has been in television for more than fifty years and is the executive producer and host of theTHREE, her body, mind, and spirit show. She is the CEO and inventor of the company hosting her patented essential oil blends. She is the author of more than 25 books. She and her husband have six adult children and many grandchildren. You can find out more at https://lauraharrissmith.com/.

Chosen, 256 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley 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.)