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Book Review: 40 Loaves – Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day by C. D. Baker

The book 40 Loaves: Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. I’ve spent the last 3 weeks now participating in the daily readings in 40 Loaves. Let me share a summary from the back cover of the book before sharing my own thoughts; the daily readings ask questions such as these…

“Why don’t I have more faith?”

“Why am I so bored with Jesus?”

“Why are Christians so hard for me to like?”

There are many questions we’re not supposed to ask when playing by the religious rules. It makes people uncomfortable. So why is it that Jesus invited questions and even asked some of them himself? What is it that you’re afraid to ask God? It’s a risky prospect to begin asking–but far riskier to continue simply trying to get by without knowing. Author C. D. Baker asked himself 40 soul-searching questions which started a conversation in his heart and ultimately showed him more about God than He ever expected.

Can we become more honest with who we really are and find who God says He really is at the same time? Come indulge yourself in daily readings with an honest exploration of your secret fears and thoughts, and know that you will always be welcomed in God’s unconditional love.

Search me, O God … and know my anxious thoughts. (Psalm 139:23 NIV)

The book is written in a very manageable format. The daily reading begins with a question, followed with some devotional-experiential-anecdotal thoughts from C. D. Baker (author) and completes with a few introspective questions and a prayer. The actual reading and devotional time takes under 20 minutes…very doable for the active and busy person.

Personally, I’ve had a “love-hate” relationship with this little devotional book. At first glance, I thought (assumed) that the book would be “fluffy and shallow.” I was wrong. I’ve found many of the readings and subsequent meditations to be very provocative and challenging. On several accounts I was downright disturbed, and subsequently, spent most of the day pondering the questions posited from the reading. There have some occasions where I was pressed to consult Scripture to reinforce my position or find affirmation to what the author, Baker, was pushing at me. I think this is the sign of a worthy read. The subtitle reads; “Daily Readings to Renew a Hungry Spirit.” I think this rings true. This 40 Loaves is “good bread” and worthy of the 40 or so days of investment. Check out a sample from Waterbrook Multnomah. Your soul and your mind will be enriched.

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