Ajith Fernando: Spiritual Living in a Secular World.

Ajith Fernando: Spiritual Living in a Secular World. Monarch, UK 2002 (Earlier version in 1993). 192 pages. (Review copy miss-bound after p160).

Ajith Fernando has been national Director of Youth For Christ in Sri Lanka since 1976 and is a widely regarded speaker within south and south-east Asia. His talks and writings typically have a heartwarming godliness, a gritty realism, directness and a great deal of common sense.

'Spiritual Living' is written not so much for Christian workers as for believers whose calling is in the everyday world of professional practice along with the cut and thrust of business and government service. Hence the title 'Spiritual Living in a Secular World'.

The book draws deeply from the Old Testament book of Daniel. Hence the subtitle, 'Applying the Book of Daniel Today'. However, it is neither commentary nor exposition and should not be evaluated as such. Rather it is a series of sequential reflections, responses and challenges drawn from issues raised in Daniel and then applied with vigor to today’s scene.

There are big emphasises on personal holiness, Bible reading, prayerfulness, personal witness and dealing with persecution. While some of this has its most direct applications to the writer’s region, there are plenty of transferrable lessons that should make the book useful elsewhere.

There are the inevitable quibbles to be made here and there but this is a book to be enthusiastically positive about. Above all, it is a book that should motivate and help Christian people to present their whole selves as living sacrifices which are holy and pleasing to the Lord.

Here are a few samples from the chapters on prayer:

‘If you have lost the taste for prayer, begin praying today. It is too important an activity and too joyous an activity to postpone any longer.’ (p135)

‘Prayer is the supreme expression of our love-relationship with God.’ (p140)

‘So when we are faced with a big challenge, it is wise to stop our busy activity and give time to fasting and prayer.’ (p145)

‘Praying is the most powerful thing we do on earth.’ (p153)

‘If you are out of touch with prayer, it is unlikely that you will get back in touch after retirement, unless you seriously repent of your prayerlessness.’ (p153).