“I wish thy way. And when in me myself should rise, and long for something otherwise, Then Lord, take sword and spear And slay” (Amy Carmichael).

As much as I love a lot of current Christian books, I think everyone should read something old, preferably by someone dead. I think those old classics by authors like John Owen, John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, Oswald Chambers, Amy Carmichael, and Watchman Nee really are spiritually beneficial.

Even writers more current like Elisabeth Elliott and Corrie ten Boom can give insight and wisdom gained from lives filled with hardship and suffering. Those are the kind of writers who will be honest with you and talk about things like dying to self, denying myself, taking up my cross, and being willing to sacrifice everything on the altar for Jesus.

Elisabeth Elliot was famous for saying, “Let thy will be done even if it means my undoing.”

Again, I have no problems with books about the unconditional love of God, but I do think that everyone of us needs people who will always tell us the truth and point out our blind spots and faults (in a loving and not legalistic way of course) so that we can continue to mature and grow into Christlikeness.

I also relish finding new writers (and new to me old writers), so if you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments.