Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23

Life Without Lack is a book to be savored. One could read straight through it quickly, as I did for the sake of reviewing it, but I wouldn't recommend that. I will definitely be rereading it and this time slowly, taking the time to meditate on the wisdom presented and to implement some of the ideas. For example, Dallas Willard started out by recommending that readers memorize and meditate on Psalm 23. I honestly wasn't sure I was interested in a book on Psalm 23. I felt overly familiar with that Psalm, but this book really has.a lot to offer whether you are a person who memorized the Psalm as a child or whether its your first time reading it. Dallas Willard's gentle wisdom is refreshing and encouraging. In chapter 8, Dallas helps the reader plan to spend a day with Jesus. But he isn't helping the reader plan a retreat. This is a day with Jesus in your very ordinary schedule, inviting Him along with you and spending the day together. These are just some of the ideas with which I would like to spend more time and actually implement in my life.I also had concern over whether I could offer this book to the men and women at the homeless shelter where I served. Their lives are filled with palpable lack. How would this book play there? Dallas is aware of these concerns for all of us who experience lack in one way or another in our lives and he addresses these concerns adeptly. From chapter 1, "Whereas King David wrote, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," Paul wrote, "not that I speak in regard to need." They both knew the provision of God that became for them a life without lack."But how could Paul say that? This man has been dragged through every jailhouse in the Roman Empire. Several times we find him bobbing in the ocean, trying to survive shipwrecks. It makes me want to say, "What do you mean, you don't have any wants? Couldn't you use a boat?" He would respond, "Well sure I'll take a boat, but I don't really have to have it, you understand?""I'm not there yet, but reading this makes me eager for the day when I can say that I'm living a life without lack. I'm looking forward to implementing Willard's suggestions for growth in this area of my life.*I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. (and then purchased a hard copy because I liked it so much)

"Life Without Lack" takes up the teaching of Dallas Willard on Psalm 23. It was a teaching given in the early 90s and apparently Dallas Willard allowed Larry Burtoft to use the material to develop what turned out to be this book. The beauty of this is Burtoft's name doesn't appear anywhere when it comes authorship. It is a tremendous tribute to Dallas Willard, but I am so deeply impressed by Burtoft's humility.Dallas continues to feed my soul. Psalm 23 is a psalm I regularly use when I wake up each morning. This book gives incredible depth to what I am reciting each day. I really do lack nothing in my life. All I truly desire is the presence of the Lord.The last chapter of the book is a game-changer for me. Dallas lays out the thought that my "day" should begin in the evening. He then walks through some ideas of how to structure each "day" so God is always before us and we realize his presence in a sweeter way day by day.It is yet another Dallas Willard book that is marked up and ready to be utilized over and over.

I loved this book & highlighted so many parts of it! I can’t share all, but here are a few favorite quotes:The most important thing about your mind is what it is fixed upon . . . Proverbs 23: 7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he,” and 1 Chronicles 22: 19 (NRSV), “Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God.” . . .The ultimate freedom we have as individuals is the power to select what we will allow or require our minds to dwell upon and think about. By think we mean all the ways in which we are aware of things, including our memories, perceptions, and beliefs . . . The focus of your thoughts significantly affects everything else that happens in your life and evokes the feelings that frame your world and motivate your actions.The surest way to realize the full potential of your God-designed self is to live in eternity while you are in time, conscious of the loving gaze of your all-sufficient Shepherd, in whose care nothing of the good you do is lost. It is stored up in your own self and in the lives of others you have touched.Ideas are subtle things. As with the motion of the earth, which occurs without our noticing it, we are normally unaware of the ideas moving us . . . The ideas that govern our lifestyles are even more disconcerting, for they cause people to behave in ways that undermine their own well-being. In the words of Paul, without knowing it, people are “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” . . .“I’ve seen God, and I’ve seen myself.” We cannot truly see ourselves until we see God, but as long as our eyes are fixed on ourselves, we cannot see God.Grace is opposed to earning, but it is not opposed to effort, because effort is action and earning is attitude.Besides being pure, heavenly wisdom is also “peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” What a list! These beautiful qualities are marks of persons who have learned in their heart of hearts the great freedom of death to self, and out of their peaceful lives comes everything that is right and good: “Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Such people no longer promote themselves; they no longer exalt their wants and their way as the condition of getting along with them. They are not trying to dominate others. They are ready to simply stand for the truth, to speak what they see to be right in a peaceable, pure, gentle way, and to let it rest with that. As a result of that, God gives them a life of beauty and power that is obvious to others.

This is a most profound book. I don’t often read a book and then decide to read it again. But I will read this one again because I want the truths in this book to become embedded in my heart.

Challenging and rounded application of psalm 23 based around a series of talks by Dallas Willard. Very helpful and encouraging but also challenging on the core subject of the title taken from verse 1.Well worth the read!

Profound yet practical. Dallas clarifies the meaning of taking up our cross to follow Jesus. It may be a challenge, it has its difficulties, but it sets us free. The only way to become truly human is to trust, die and rise.

To read.... ? I have only just started to read this book.

A gentle thoughtful read

Ainda não li o livro todo, porém ele parece ser extremamente útil e inspirador. Ele se baseia na ideia desenvolvida por Dallas Willard (em forma de uma palestra/aula) de que se olharmos com atenção o salmo 23, veremos que ali temos toda a explicação e também todas as palavras de que precisamos para vivermos uma vida sem nenhuma falta. O próprio Dallas Willard não escreveu o livro, que foi escrito por um de seus alunos, baseando-se nos ensinamentos por ele dados nessa palestra/aula do salmo 23. Muito bom!

Is it possible? Can I discover such a life? Questions asked before reading this book. Within the pages I discovered the possibility of living with all that I need! I will return to this book often so I can learn to spend my days in the awesome presence of my Shepherd.

Has a lot of useful information on how to live free in Him. I really liked the beginning, the rest, had to work at a bit harder.

Very important fundamental truths for every person who seeks God, wants to relate to people and explores for truth on earth.

Another great book by Dallas Willard. Very thought provoking.