In Pursuit of Peace: 21 Ways to Conquer Anxiety, Fear, and Discontentment (Meyer, Joyce)
In her introduction to this candid and passionate, if at times preachy, offering, prolific author Meyer (How to Hear from God; Seven Things that Steal Your Joy) admits that the first 40 years of her life were miserable. "I lived without the blessing and benefit of peace," she writes, asserting that without peace, "we live in turmoil—always worried, anxious, and upset about something." Drawing on the lessons she learned through personal experience and from the Bible, Meyer supplies readers with 21 "peacekeeper" tips—some more practical than others—such as "Trust the Lord of Peace," "Stay Supernaturally Relaxed," "Avoid Financial Pressure" and "Beware of Idle Talk." Above all else, however, she emphasizes that peace can be found by staying in good standing with God, accepting oneself and making peace with others. In her usual can-do style, Meyer challenges her fellow Christians to be courageous, confident and discerning, and she invokes Bible passages to drive home her message. She’s also brutally honest about her own weaknesses, which lends further credence to her teachings. While Meyer doesn’t offer much advice that hasn’t been covered by countless other self-help books, her tale of personal growth should inspire her countless fans.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.