Helps put life in perspective and makes you think. I recommend to anyone that is tired of being tired. Great resource!

This is an amazing book, perfect for anyone and everyone! Saundra Dalton-Smith gives solid medical and spiritual advice to help one learn to rest and restore.

Eye- opening view of what rest really is and why it is so important. Many people confuse rest with sleep and they are not the same thing. True rest is more than just going to bed earlier or sleeping in. Instead, Dr. Dalton-Smith asserts there are seven different areas of our lives in need of proper rest: physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, sensory and creative. And the first step is to figure out ‘what kind of tired are you’. Breaking down the different types of rest deficits and some practical ways to be intentional about rest in each of those areas was really eye-opening for me. Beautifully well written with examples that are easy to relate to.

The most amazing book I have read 2017 of my goodreads challenge is without a doubt Sacred Rest!
You owe yourself the privilege and honor of discovering Sacred Rest!
I joined the launch team because I had enjoyed the author as a Facebook friend for some years and because I was truly inspired with the title of her book.
I have had a most difficult year with my niece having a baby boy who was born prematurely at the end of January, diagnosed with Edwards Syndrome 4 days later and had his heavenly Birthday the morning after Mother’s Day. So needless to say our family has been a mess this year and I have not had time to consider myself.
Sacred Rest could not have come at a better time in my life personally!
One of my absolute favorite parts which this year I can relate to with absolute passion is in Chapter 13 The gift of Boundaries: Soul Care: another well intended day devoured by too many yeses.
Rest is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
What steals your rest?
Answering this question helps reveal the benefits of having boundaries and the gift we have in setting boundaries within our lives. Personal boundaries are not about being selfish. They are about self-care and understanding your own limitations and accessibility. Be sympathetic to your soul and have mercy on yourself by enforcing your best boundaries.
Well I could truly go on for days about how I love this book and I almost did not finish in time as I could not stop already with taking copious notes. But truly do yourself a favor an indulge in Sacred Rest!
Sacred Rest is for those who _Seek the Lord_.

I personally loved Sacred Rest because __it helped me understand sacred rest is vital in my intimate growth with my Lord Jesus__.

Sacred Rest will transform your life because _you will grow in love and your relationship with our Lord Jesus_.
I read Sacred Rest as an e-book and I was not required to write a positive review.

Fabulous title. Having read several titles on the importance of sleep, rest, and meditation, this is a comprehensive title on all three. The gentle writing and encouragement to take care of ourselves is a lesson we all need to have. I'll be purchasing a personal copy for future reference!

I learned so much from this book. I love that Dr Saundra approaches this book in both a Biblical and scientific manner. I will definitely be reading this one again.

Thoughts:

Author Bonnie Gray takes a hard look inside our must get it all done motivations, as one who experiences this dash that we all put ourselves through. To gain the rest that is already ours, we must take His hand, lean into Him, and recharge.

I am touched immensely by this devotional, as I had to face some difficult facts.

In order to give of ourselves to others, we must take care of ourselves, and it’s not about getting everything done or about twisting ourselves into a pretzel shape to accommodate everything in need of our attention. We must rest. It is not wrong to put something down, to set boundaries, and to say no.

In fact, sometimes, it is what He wants us to do to draw closer to Him and rest in His embrace. It is about making time for a relationship with Jesus. Easily, we receive peace, shelter, and strength, but we do this by taking His hand and letting Him lead rather than us charting our own path.

Through this devotional, we start with one word, one action, and one goal. Beloved. Stop. Rest.

From seeing Him through your daily lens to journalizing as little or as much as you need, you set down your own story. Scripture carries you through each challenge with prayer prompts, God Stories, and His peace.

I highly recommend the soul searching, mending, and healing of WHISPERS OF REST: 40 Days of God’s Love to Revitalize Your Soul by Bonnie Gray!



***This opinion is my own.***

Preview:

WHISPERS OF REST: 40 Days of God’s Love to Revitalize Your Soul by Bonnie Gray is a devotional that leads to healing.

Through Scripture, affirmations, reflections, prayer prompts, journalizing, and challenges, the devotions guide you to rest, peace, renewed faith, powerful hope, and joy. The Soul Care tips and trail notes help with stress reduction and nurturing you in godly ways, bringing true intimacy with our Savior.

These guided steps can mend heart and soul to increase well-being through meditation and creativeness!

I just finished reading Sacred Rest by Saundra Dalton-Smith a book given to me by NetGalley. I was astounded by the insight that Dr Dalton-Smith has when looking at the everyday challenges of life. She told thoughtful stories about her own life and her patient's lives Then applied suggestion of how to improve my life. She called her ideas a way to find rest, I think she gave me ideas of how to find peace. Dr Dalton-Smith talks about physical, emotional, and spiritual adjustments that I can make to help me find a restful life. I highly recommend this inspirational book.. Thank you NetGalley and Saundra Dalton-Smith.

I never knew there was so many types of rest till I read this book. Thank you Saundra Dalton-Smith for writing such a helpful book. Everyone can benefit from this book.

When I think of the word "rest" I usually only think of physical or mental rest but in the book Sacred Rest I have learned so much about the different kinds of rest we need in our lives to live a full life. Dr Dalton-Smith teaches about rest in the areas of mental, emotional, sensory, social, spiritual, physical, and creative rest and how when we take the time to rest in these areas we will find a renewing of our energy, restoring of our sanity and recovering our life. My eyes have been open to how I have not been taking care of myself by only focusing on mental and physical rest. I am looking forward to enjoying the change that is coming through the things I have learned.
As a Christian Counselor I will be better at helping others in the future because of how this has changed my perspective on rest.
I would recommend this to anyone who's life is so busy they can't find a moment to stop and rest. A healthy full life includes so much more than making sure we sleep well at night. We all need to slow down a bit and enjoy life differently.
I was blessed to receive an advanced copy of this book and am thankful I have the opportunity to recommend it to others.

Many of us are aware we need more rest, but even if we allow ourselves permission to rest, I’m not sure we know or remember how to get meaningful rest. You see, resting well means more than just vegging out in front of the television or computer. It’s also not as easy as logging an extra hour or two of sleep. Luckily, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith has taken her own personal burnout, as well as her experiences treating exhausted patients, added some research, and healthy doses of spirituality and encouragement to write a guide book of sorts, Sacred Rest.

I can’t think of a more universally needed book right now than Sacred Rest. It’s especially auspicious that Sacred Rest was released last month and is being promoted right now. With each new January, folks examine their lives, trying to find ways that they can do something better and more productively (work, success, money and investments) or squeeze in more of this or that into their day. Or maybe they are looking to do something less (destructive habits like overeating, being sedentary, drinking to excess, smoking, etc). Either way, I’ll wager they rarely think about rest. Since by now many well-meaning individuals have already reneged on their promises to themselves, hopefully they are finding their way to Sacred Rest and discovering there is another way – a better way.

Dr. Dalton-Smith (a doctor of internal medicine) uses the first part of Sacred Rest to examine rest through a practical lens using anecdotes and research to explain each of seven kinds of rest – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, sensory, and creative – guiding readers through self-evaluation and application with each succinct chapter.

In Sacred Rest‘s second part, Dalton-Smith looks at rest through spiritual eyes, showing us twelve gifts of rest (boundaries, reflection, freedom, and acceptance to name a few). I hadn’t considered it until now, but it’s no accident that there are more gifts of rest than types of rest.

Finally, in part three of Sacred Rest, Dr. Dalton-Smith invites us to join her off the page in a free 30-day Sacred Rest challenge. This is key. She’s aware that our journey into discovering the why (the value) and the how (the personal application) of rest has not ended with our turning the last page of her book. Rather, we have only just begun. And thankfully, she’s willing to be our friend and guide us with daily tips and affirmations in our inbox. I signed up immediately, and I invite you to join us at ichoosemybestlife.com

Dalton-Smith understand her readers. She purposely keeps her chapters brief, but warns that we shouldn’t rush through the book. Rather, we should take it one bit at a time. Here she helps us break our ingrained notions of life being a race. She quiets our urge to find a quick fix, and reminds us to take our time. She even gives her readers permission to break the unwritten rules and read part two of the book first if that feels better. Furthermore, her two-pronged approach – practical and spiritual – will help every unique mindset find solid footing and a happy place to land.

Verdict:5 of 5 Hearts. Refuge for Your Unrest: Not Just Recommended — Required Reading!

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith’s Sacred Rest shows us why resting is not optional, but essential. A life well-rested will lead to a life well-lived. The path to living well and resting well is about finding your own pace and your own rhythms. No matter where you are on your journey, Dr. Dalton-Smith’s Sacred Rest will meet you right where you are and give you just what you need.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I would like to thank LitFuse Publicity Group for providing me with a copy of Sacred Rest in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sacred Rest is a very informative book on what it means to truly live a life that has purpose and meaning. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith thoroughly explains why you need rest in various areas of your life, (mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, etc.) and gives thoughtful and detailed examples of ways you can achieve rest in your life.  This book is not a quick and easy read.  You will be challenged to really think about how you are living and spur you on to make some tough decisions on whether or not you are really living to your full potential without the unnecessary stress and chaos of trying to be accomplished and successful.  Although I found this book to be slightly tedious, I would recommend it to everyone who is tired of the stress and need a way to find rest.

"A life without periods of rest will not endure the daily grind."

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own, based on my assessment of this book.

I have read several books about rest in the last year or two. This is the first one that spoke to me right where I am. It wasn’t really about the author’s perspective of herself like so many other books about rest are. She talks to YOU. She wants you to hear her, right where you are. I love the Rest Quiz and other resources she offers to figure out where you are deficient so you can move forward. The way she breaks down the seven different kinds of rest gave me a new perspective that felt very manageable. I’m signed up for the 30 day rest challenge so I can start putting some of these great thoughts into action. I've already started recommending to friends who can benefit from this. I know a lot of moms just like me who need to hear this message.

Much love to this book that gave me so much peace. Highly recommended.

A good self rejuvenating book.

It was a great read, not something I typically would read in my own. The author had some great advice

Took me a while longer to read since it was not my typical genre, but was excited to read “outside the box”.

A lot of good information in this book. However it required more brain cells then I had to give it so I sadly only made it half way through. Felt more like a textbook at times. Just too much information for me to take in at this stage of life.

I found the book's tone and applications approachable, implementable, and -- frankly -- convicting. It encourages interaction, suggesting that the reader start with a (provided) self-assessment prior to deep-diving. (Hence the convicting descriptor, as I found several areas I could stand to seriously rest!) An encouraging read for men and women alike. I believe everyone can find multiple takeaways to implement.

A Rejuvenating Must-Read

I found Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity by Saundra Dalton-Smith to be a book that showed me how to create balance through true rest, not more sleep; ways to slow down, reconnect with myself, and enjoy life again.
When I began reading this book, I was expecting ideas for time management, better life habits, and ways to get more done faster. But I was definitely surprised! Sacred Rest is about taking your life back through paying attention to what your body, mind, emotions and spirit are "saying", symptoms such as fatigue, low energy, depression, restlessness, headaches, and more. As I notice these types of symptoms, I can learn to respond to my own needs, and rest in ways that will work best for me. By taking time for myself, to do things that are enjoyable to me, where I can really relax, and feel better all over. Instead of finding ways to do more and be more, Sacred Rest explains the importance of making time for yourself through rejuvenating self care.
Saundra Dalton-Smith writes from her own personal experience. Her own needs pointed her to find true rest, to discover what would help her feel renewed and restored. Sacred Rest is her story, but it's so much more! It's the guide for truly living your best life.
I very highly recommend Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity. This is most definitely a life changing book! If you're sick and tired of being sick and tired, then Sacred Rest is the guide to getting your life back. An excellent resource!

*I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review. The opinion stated is my own. I have not been compensated in any way.*

Sacred Rest is a book that does just that, offers you just that Sacred Rest. Just immediately in the forward it says, "45% of Americans say that poor or insufficient sleep affected their daily activities at least once a week. This epidemic has lead to poor job performance, depression, and overall dissatisfaction with quality of life and productivity." I found that so interesting. Does this pertain to you? This book is definitely for you, even if you don't have those symptoms you need this book. The author is not afraid to be personal which makes this book even better. The author hits on your physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects in your life and I have to tell you how wonderful you feel when you are done as she says - "This Book is like a buffet not a Happy Meal "- she really brings you closer to God with peace.

An amazing book filled with encouragement and ways to help renew your life with God's rest. We all have busy lives at times and staying rested is vital to our mental, physical and spiritual welfare. This book is wonderful to give as a gift, too. I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my personal honest opinion.