Book Review: 40 Days of Decrease

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I pretend that Alicia and I are on first name basis because her real life BFF is a good friend of mine. I have heard her speak numerous times and always walk away amazed and full, like after a truly wonderful Thanksgiving meal. 

40 Days of Decrease is no different from any of her other books, as far as quality of content. It is packed full of wise words, beautiful word pictures and deeply rooted thoughts. She is a heavy hitter with a gentle heart. I am reading 40 Days for the second time and finding it as helpful and insightful as I did the first time. This will be on my repeated-readings shelf. 

40 Days of Decrease, a different kind of hunger, a different kind of fast is a meaningful experience with a Lenten fast, although it can be used at any point in our calendar year. Instead of fasting our favorite drinks, tv shows, or tasty chocolates, Alicia asks us to fast different kinds of things like neat and tidy faith, artificial light, regret and other things that cause blockages to our faith. She gets real with fasting. Each day’s reading includes a short teaching and little reflection point, then an explanation of the fast for the day. She also gives deep history of Lenten practices and places to journal as you read each day. 

I would recommend this book to anyone desiring to learn about fasting and Lent, but also to those who’ve become complacent about a temporary surrender of self in order to hear from God. And I would especially recommend this book to my friend who was looking forward to her New Year’s 40 Day fast so she could drop a few pounds. But that’s another story. 




I was given a free copy of 40 Days of Decrease in exchange for an honest review....but because I love Alicia so much and I love support my friends in ministry, I’m going to drop a gift card to Starbucks in the mail to her. 

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