When Susie Larson says that she’s “never written a more raw book”, her readers take notice. Almost from the moment I picked up her newest release from Bethany House entitled “Fully Alive: Learning to Flourish – Mind, Body & Spirit”, I could sense that this was a powerful work, and as I began reading this feeling was solidified into fact. Susie holds nothing back, as she pours her heart and soul into the pages. It is overflowing with what can be nothing less than God speaking through her, and the result is a book that I think will be transformational in the lives of many.

The foundational idea behind “Fully Alive” is this: “Spiritual difficulties can have physical consequences, and physical illnesses can have emotional and even spiritual ramifications. So in order for true healing to occur, it must happen holistically – mind, body, and spirit.” Susie is like a close friend who takes our hand and leads us along the path of wisdom that God has shown her through the years, giving us a a powerful jumpstart in our own journeys towards the wholeness that Jesus wants to give each one of His children.

“Fully Alive” is organized into a ten-week (ten-chapter) journey. Each chapter opens with a Scripture verse and a quote, followed by the central reading of the chapter which describes Susie’s experience with that topic using narratives from her life. A Put it Into Practice section follows, which includes scientific data, suggestions for pursuing healing in the specific area of discussion, and a prayer-starter for a miracle of healing. Next comes a Soul Searching section, with life reflection questions, and then the Spiritual Reset, where we learn the practice of PRAISE (Praise, Remember and Repent, Ask, Intercede, Stand, and Eternity). And finally, at the end of each chapter, is the Digging Deeper section, with open-ended questions designed to be answered in a journal format. As you can see, each chapter contains a TON of information and room for deep reflection!

This is not a light or easy book to read. Instead, it is challenging, thought-provoking, and time-consuming. It was written from a place of openness and depth, and I believe the best way to read it is very s-l-o-w-l-y, no rushing allowed. If we take the truths taught within the pages of “Fully Alive” and, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, apply them to our own lives, our own pasts, our own dreams, we can truly begin to step into the fullness that God invited us to live in each day, with Him at the center.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.”