Welcome back to Five Fall Favorites 2025! It has already been an exciting few days as we have discussed one of my favorite things: books! I hope you’re having fun too.
Today, I’ll be sharing five of my favorite non-fiction books. Please note that while I enjoyed each of these books, my listing them here does not mean that I agree with everything in them. Oh, and this is my second time participating in FFF, and I tried not to repeat any books I chose the first time, with one exception on today’s post.
Are you more of a fiction or a non-fiction reader? I love both, and it is exciting to get to share with you some books that are very special to me!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
1. Holy Bible
The Bible includes the Old and New Testaments, 66 books, and is God’s inspired Word.
Yes, as a Christian it should be a given that the Bible is my favorite book of all time. But I decided to include it anyway! And this is actually a picture of one of my Bibles. I love many books, but this is the only that is alive and is God’s Word spoken to me to direct my life, give me comfort, and help me grow closer to Him. I’m so blessed to have access to Scripture at all times.
2. The Indwelling Life of Christ by Major Ian Thomas
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” —Colossians 1:27
Why do we keep failing even in our best efforts to live the Christian life? Because no one other than Jesus Christ can live it, for the simple reason that He is the Christian life! And only He can live it in our lives as well.
Major W. Ian Thomas takes a refreshing look at the pure thrill of living victoriously as you embrace the living Savior’s presence within you. The more you become genuinely and relentlessly available to Christ, the more He can take over so that your Christian walk becomes vibrant and effective!
Some good friends gave my family a copy of this book. We started through it in family devotions and promptly ordered more copies so we could each have one to read. This book had a profound impact on my life. Once you realize that living the Christian life isn’t about trying harder but about admitting your inability to Jesus and asking Him to do it, it changes the lens in which you view things. Passages of Scripture come alive in new ways. I highly recommend this book!
3. Humility by Andrew Murray
When Jesus “made himself nothing…taking the nature of a servant,” He modeled for all believers true humility. Andrew Murray calls this “our true nobility” and “the distinguishing feature of discipleship.”
With insightful, penetrating clarity, Murray calls all Christians to turn from pride, empty themselves, and study the character of Christ to be filled with His grace.
This was another book that my family and I did for family devotions, though we didn’t get all the way through it. Then last summer, my sister and I went to a music camp, and we went through this book for team devotions. It was so good, and I’ve gone back at times to read sections I highlighted. Humility is a fundamental need to all of us, since it is how we access God’s grace. So I recommend this book to anyone wanting to grow in their relationship with God.
4. Alway and in Everything by Gabriel Cleator
Do you long to walk in constant fellowship with God all throughout the day? Do you desire to experience the Lord’s joy in the midst of pain? In God’s simple command to give thanks in everything, we are given a powerful key to walking in unbroken fellowship with Him and experiencing the joy only He can give!
In Always and In Everything, Gabriel Cleator explores the theme of giving thanks in everything throughout the Scriptures. Using illustrations from the lives of Christians in the past, testimonies from Scripture, and stories from his own life, Gabriel shows how rejoicing in all circumstances can revolutionize your walk with God.
This book is another great read and a good followup to Humility. One chapter is about how gratitude is the key to humility. I have enjoyed listening to this speaker in person many times, and his book was also such a blessing to me. Oh, and by the way, this is the one and only book that I repeated from last time I did FFF.
5. Hope When It Hurts by Kristen Wetherell and Sarah Walton
Suffering is real. But so is hope. Kristen and Sarah have walked through, and are walking in, difficult times. So these thirty biblical reflections are full of realism about the hurts of life—yet overwhelmingly full of hope about the God who gives life.
This book will gently encourage and greatly help any woman who is struggling with suffering—whether physical, emotional or psychological, and whether for a season or for longer.
Each chapter contains a biblical reflection, with questions and prayers, and a space for journaling.
I listened to this audiobook earlier this year, and it would definitely go on my list of top 5 books of 2025—except for the fact that it made my top 5 favorite non-fiction books of all times. I honestly didn’t have especially high expectations for it when I started it, but it was what I needed at the time when God brought it into my life. It was encouraging, convicting, comforting, and such a blessing.
It’s giveaway time! A lot of the bloggers participating in FFF have contributed books. Since there were so many books donated, this year we have not one but two giveaways! And yes, one of the books in the second place prize is Willow, by yours truly. (Please note that I have not read all of these books, so this is not an endorsement of their content.)
Are you ready to continue the party? There are a lot more books being recommended today! If you’d like to find links to guide you to all of the participating blogs, you can do that at Kate’s blog, where she is co-hosting FFF. And please check out the other blogs on my team and see what books they’re recommending! I’ll be joining you over there.
Let’s Chat!
Have you read any of the books I mentioned in today’s post? Do you prefer reading fiction or non-fiction?
Until next time, keep trusting in the Lord and letting Him direct your steps!
In Christ,
Bethany
Bethany, thank you for this beautiful list of books. I love that you included the Bible. I think I have read Humility by Andrew Murray, but his books always deserves a re-read. The Indwelling Life of Christ and Always and in Everything will definitely be added to my reading list.
While I like fiction and non-fiction, usually I read fiction (except for the Bible) but would like to incorporate more non-fiction into my reading.
Good list here, Bets! Thanks for sharing.
I haven’t read any of these yet (except for the Bible, of course!) but they look good!
You had a great list of books today! And once again we’re recommending the same book! 😉
Thanks for the recs, Bets! I need to look up some of these! ❤️
*Goes to add all of the above to TBR* Thank you for the recs Bets!