Len Woods - Spiritual Life Hacks: Uncommon Solutions to Common Challenges

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT SPIRITUAL LIFE HACKS

Len hits upon issues in this book that everyone can identify withexhaustion, fear, complacency, doubt, and more. His use of humor and wise, biblical insights will keep readers coming back for more, page after page. This book is a fun read that will help everyone who reads it grow spiritually.

Stephen Arterburn,

Bestselling author, founder of New Life Live and Women of Faith , teaching pastor, and, most importantly, dad and husband

Len Woods is a master at offering practical suggestions, specific insights, and helpful applications. Spiritual Life Hacks challenged me to find realistic ways to refocus my day and to cling to God and His truth. Im incredibly grateful for Lens pastoral heart, and I pray this book will be an encouragement to others.

Christopher D. Hudson,

General editor of the NIV Bible for Men

Len Woods makes my life better. Spiritual Life Hacks is fresh, interesting, and filled with truth. Best of all, its not just a long list of burdensome instructions but a warm collection of reminders that spiritual growth is a normal, joyful part of a relationship with Christ. This one is easily recommended.

Mike Nappa,

Bestselling and award-winning author

Len Woods has a gift. Its the ability to simplify how we can act (or react!) to the way things stack up. Much like MacGyver constructs creative solutions, Len ties ordinary words together that yield extraordinary solutions to our stressful situations. Are you ready to use the spiritual life hacks hes forged for you to find uncommon solutions for common challenges? I am.

Susan B. Mead,

Award-winning author of Dance with Jesus and Dont Go Through Life Naked

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Verses marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Verses marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Verses marked ESV are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Verses marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright 1993, 2002, 2018, by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Cover design by Bryce Williamson

Cover photos bsd555, LokFung, Kayocci, Yevhenii Dubinko, pseudodaemon, Maljuk / Getty Images

Published in association with The Steve Laube Agency, LLC, 24 West Camelback Road, A 635, Phoenix, Arizona 85013

Spiritual Life Hacks

Copyright 2019 by Len Woods

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97408

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-7850-7 (pbk)

ISBN 978-0-7369-7851-4 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Woods, Len, author.

Title: Spiritual life hacks / Len Woods.

Description: Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019000516 (print) | LCCN 2019009128 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736978514 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736978507 (pbk.)

Subjects: LCSH: Christian lifeMiscellanea. | BibleMiscellanea.

Classification: LCC BV4501.3 (ebook) | LCC BV4501.3 .W659 2019 (print) | DDC 248.4dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019000516

All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The authorized purchaser has been granted a nontransferable, nonexclusive, and noncommercial right to access and view this electronic publication, and purchaser agrees to do so only in accordance with the terms of use under which it was purchased or transmitted. Participation in or encouragement of piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of authors and publishers rights is strictly prohibited.

I WANT TO HELP YOU TO GROW AS BEAUTIFUL AS GOD MEANT YOU TO BE WHEN HE THOUGHT OF YOU FIRST.

THE MARQUIS OF LOSSIE, GEORGE MACDONALD

To Cindi

You remind me every day that God is good and grace is true.

You make life funeven the parts that need a lot of hacking.

It takes a good-sized village to create authors and make books. Consequently, I want to thank:

Mrs. Burlew and Mrs. Slattery for teaching me to read.

Mom, for taking me to the library week after week.

Mrs. Charlotte Rogers, for patiently teaching me how to type.

Professor Howard Hendricks, for encouraging me to be creative.

Frederick Buechner, for showing me how piercing and powerful words can be.

Dave Veerman, for giving me so many chances and opening so many doors.

Steve Laube, for introducing me to Todd Hafer.

Todd Hafer, for believing in this idea and guiding this project.

Harvest House, for the opportunity to partner in such a fun endeavor.

Kim Moore and Jean Kavich Bloom, for all the editing expertise and encouragement.

My family and friends, near and far, who encourage me every day to keep tending and tweaking and hacking my soul.

CONTENTS

I ve known Len Woods for almost 40 years.

A gifted writer, Len pulls you in and keeps you engaged, communicating profound truths in ways that almost anyone can understand. A minister since his college days, he has worked with people of all ages in lifes joys, struggles, challenges, and growing pains, helping them mature in the faith. A practical practitioner, he knows how to help readers see themselves in the Bible and understand how to apply its principles.

Spiritual Life Hacks brings it all together: Lens passion for Gods truth, his sensitivity to people and their life issues, his practical wisdom, and his writing ability.

These hacks begin with real issues faced by real peopleand you may find that some of these situations will make you say, Thats me! Then Len gives intensely practical and hopeful suggestions for helping resolve these common problems. His answers are simple but not simplistic. Theyre clear and concise.

So many of these hacks spoke to me, but I was especially challenged by the last oneWhen Youre Wondering, How Long Will I Need to Keep Hacking My Heart? and Lens powerful conclusion. situation and the next and then the next. Keep pen and paper alongside as you readyoull want to keep a list of hacks to take with you through the day. As you do what Len suggests, Im convinced you will experience life change.

ENJOY!

Dave

Dave Veerman is a cocreator of the bestselling Life Application Study Bible and award-winning author of more than 70 books, including Tough Parents for Tough Times, 365 Pocket Morning Prayers , and Unwrapping the Bible .