Grace Walk, Dr. Steve McVey

My Review Of This Book

Dr. Steve McVey decided to leave Alabama with his family and accept a Pastoral position at a struggling church in Atlanta. In Alabama he was recognized as an "outstanding young religious leader," and he was confident in his ability to get this church turned around. However, after one year this church had declined in attendance. He learned that despite what we are taught in our culture, trying harder doesn't work in our relationship with God or in His service. God works through our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9-10). Dr. McVey was brought to a place of brokenness and complete surrender (the valley of the shadow of death). It was in this place that he began to trust God and quit trying to be a Christian. He gave up trusting in his own abilities and discovered that the only One who could live the Christ life is Christ. He found his new identity in Christ; as Paul told the Corinthians (2 Cor. 5:17). He came to understand that he was no longer a sinner but a saint. He recognized his old nature was dead and he now had a new nature. The sin nature died with Jesus Christ on the cross (Gal. 2:20). Dr. McVey learned that the Christian life is easy when we let Jesus do it. We have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) and don't have to fret over trying to figure out what God's will is.

I loved this book. It is more of a book to study with questions on each chapter in the back of the book. I did the questions and didn't rush through the book. I have learned three things from Dr. McVey's teachings in Grace Walk:

1) My relationship with God is based on an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ-it's a love affair.
2) My identity is in Christ-He lives in me and expresses His love through me.
3) I have the mind of Christ. I abide in Him and no longer have to fret about knowing His will. His will comes naturally.