Hunger for God

Customer Reviews

• 4 out of 5
  
  
  by Chris from Grand Rapids, MI | Mar 14, 2009
  

  My only complaint with Piper is that sometimes he takes 200 pages to say what he could have said in 130. I think this is the case with this book. It was definitely worthwhile and I highly recommend it but I think it could have been shorter. Perhaps the issue was that I didn't have to be convinced as I'm with one mind with Piper on the topic. The only issue I have is that he indicates that fasting can be applied to something other than food and I disagree with that. There are instances when the Bible discusses abstaining from things other than food, but the word "fast" is never used in these instances. Fast literally means "without food." I think we broaden the definition because we want to make it easier. "I'll fast from TV this week (but my TIVO will help we catch up next week)." There is definitely reasons to abstain from other distractions... but this is not fasting.
  
  Otherwise... great book on a topic the modern church seems to be ignorant of.

  
  

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• 3 out of 5
  
  
  by Ryan from Washington, PA | Jan 1, 2009
  

  I was attracted to this book because of the subtitle: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer. Like others who have read some of John Piper's work, I appreciate the way he targets our desires as a true reflection of our relationship with God. I was intrigued to see how he would write about fasting in this light.
  
  Piper does his usual careful, persuasive job in this book, and I enjoyed it. Well, I enjoyed it as much as you can enjoy something that is convicting! He writes that fasting can be used as an expression of one's desire for God as well as a tool to increase that very desire. "The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie." (p. 14) Fasting "forces us to ask repeatedly: do I really hunger for God? Do I miss him? Do I long for him? Or have I begun to be content with his gifts?" (p. 19)
  
  Piper did not write this to be the last word on fasting. He quotes from lots of others who have thought long and hard about fasting. After arguing that fasting has a place in the Christian's life, he looks at Jesus' 40-day fast to begin his ministry. The final two chapters of the book deal with fasting for the poor and fasting regarding abortion.
  
  This is a good book. It is fairly short, and even if one reads it slowly, it doesn't take too long. My only small complaint is simply a complaint about Piper's writing style. For some reason he puts a new heading roughly every other paragraph. I find that this disrupts the flow of his reasoning sometimes. But this is minor. I recommend this book.

  
  

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• 3 out of 5
  
  
  by Adam from Marietta, GA | Dec 30, 2009
  

  Full review at http://www.mrshields.com/?p=372
  
  Short review. This was a good introduction to fasting as a biblical discipline. It veered into politics in the middle, but other than that I thought it was a very good take on the subject. This was much more of a positive tone than Scot McKnight's book Fasting.
  
  Neither this book or Fasting talks about how to fast. If you are looking for practical discussions about how to fast. You need to keep looking.

  
  

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• 5 out of 5
  
  
  by Zack from Knoxville, TN | May 6, 2009
  

  I would highly recommend this book to any and all Christians.
  
  
  Fasting is not practiced or taught in most churches today and the Bible speaks very clearly to subject of fasting. It's so helpful to look at fasting as a privilege and joy, rather than a duty and dread. Whether we eat or don't eat, we should be joyful. Joyful eating and Joyful fasting make up the Christian's life.
  
  God rewards those who fast, but it's important to know that it's not in a meritorious way. The reward that comes from fasting comes from the death of Christ and it's because of Christ that we are blessed, healed, strengthened, etc. Fasting, like prayer, is a means that God chooses to bless his children. I would once again recommend this book to be read by every Christian!

  
  
   1 people found this review helpful
  
  

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• 5 out of 5
  
  
  by Matt from Boise, ID | Aug 7, 2008
  

  This book stems from the basic life principle in the author’s earlier book, Desiring God, which states “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” He fleshes this statement out in the context of fasting and prayer. Piper builds a case for fasting in the church from a biblical perspective as well as addresses many of the modern day concerns with this spiritual discipline. While food fasting is the most common way to fast, he shows the reader other ways that are biblically appropriate. It also includes an appendix with quotes on fasting going back as far Ignatius at the end of the first century. Don’t read this book unless you are prepared to be convicted and spurred on to growth in your walk with Christ.

  
  

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