Saint Augustine (AD354-430) is one of the most influential Christian thinkers of all time. Even if you’ve never read him, you’ve almost certainly heard modern preachers quote him – the most famous example being: “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.”
For many Christians today, sitting down to read a fourth-Century Church father can feel a bit daunting. That’s where God Above All comes in.
Each of these 90 devotionals is made up of a short paragraph from Augustine, and a brief thought to accompany it. This format allows the compiler, Steven Watts, to choose the pithiest and most insightful quotes from Augustine, giving the reader easy access to ancient nuggets of truth.
Watts’ own thoughts are extremely well-written and cover a broad range of subjects including friendship, money, our emotions and creation.
The only downside to this beautifully presented hardback book is the lack of scripture. Anchoring each daily thought around a quote from a theologian – even one as respected as Augustine – as opposed to a Bible passage has serious downsides. God Above All is therefore best used as an accompaniment to a Christian’s existing Bible-reading habits.
Sam Hailes is editor of Premier Christianity – the UK’s leading Christian magazine. Before joining Premier he worked as a freelance journalist and social media manager. He’s married to Stacey, lives in London and is a keen traveller, reader and tweeter.
