Review: I Exalt You, O God by Jerry Bridges

 Jerry Bridge's book,  I Exalt You, O God:  Encountering His Greatness in Your Private Worship is a month-long devotional written to facilitate personal worship.  The book begins with an introduction that highlights the importance of personal worship, in addition to weekly worship.  The remainder of the book contains 31 days of devotional readings, divided into four focal areas.  The first set of readings focuses on God's greatness, while the second set focuses on God's holiness.  The third group of readings focuses on God's wisdom, and the fourth focuses on God's love.
     Each day's reading begins with a short reflection, and concludes with a scripture-based prayer.  These prayers are the highlight of the book, leading the reader through a focused prayer that draws deeply from several Bible passages.
     I Exalt You, O God is somewhat counter-cultural, as it leads the reader primarily through focusing on the greatness, holiness, and wisdom of God, rather than on one's own personal needs.  The final section ties together the attributes of God's greatness with His love for His children.  Bridges writes,
There should always be a healthy tension between the confidence with which we come before God as His children and the reverential awe with which we behold Him as our sovereign Lord.  There's a difference between holy familiarity and unholy familiarity with God.  We have indeed received the Spirit of adoption, the Spirit by whom we cry 'Abba Father' (Romans 8:15).  This expression conveys the warmth and confidence with which we may come into His presence.  At the same time, we should remember that this One whom we're invited to address as our Father is still the sovereign and holy God.  He is still the King who is eternal, immortal, and invisible, and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see (1 Timothy 1:17, 6:16). (109)
     This devotional is infused with scripture, and is recommended for anyone desiring to establish habits of personal worship.

I received a complementary review copy of this book from the publisher.

I Exalt You, O God: Encountering His Greatness in Your Private Worship