I was not able to finish but I liked what I read.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Baker Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Mo is one of the truest lights with her written words, pointing us to Jesus. Her books always find me at the right time and when I need them. Fully Known leads us into a place of quietness, with holy shouts of what it means to be intimate with God. The invitation is truly there. Welcome it in.

Another great book by Mo Aiken/ Mo Isom, she writes in an easy to red style. As a single I wasn't sure when she started to relate things to marriage etc but it made sense. My biggest problem is that I will need to read it again, maybe a few times - to truly let all those gems of info sink in. I would completely reccommend this book as a desire to Know and Be Known by God is necessary and yes often misunderstood.

Aiken uses the analogy of marriage in a powerfully written message centred around realising intimacy with God. I enjoyed this analogy and how she presented the different seasons of marriage and connected them with growing connection with God.

There really is a lot to like about Aiken's passion for her message. I found I was quite hyped up and inspired throughout the first half of the book. However, I tired during the second half as I felt I was in the locker room being continuously pumped up by my coach with long stretches of Scripture and passionate pleas. Unlike most non-fiction self-help books Aiken doesn't use the short paragraph/section style but rather lengthy sections of what often felt like sermon messages.

Don't get me wrong, Aiken's content and message is critical to the life of the believer and really important for the Church community to hear. Yes, intimacy with God is both His desire for us and is possible in this life. There are many great soundbites in this book and I've highlighted much of it.

I was surprised that there were no reflections on the importance of community. We're not supposed to do this alone, and we've been made for connection with fellow believers in order to discover true intimacy with God. One of these important connections is from people who've gone before us and once again, I think Aiken's message would have been even stronger if she'd made reference to others who've explored the topic.

This is a passionate piece of work which has many strong elements on an essential attribute of relationship with God that we need to read and hear more about.

I received an early ebook copy from Baker Books via NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review.

This book is dense and raw and real. It’s on the heavier side in my opinion. There us so much scripture and truth. A deep dive.

God wants to have a true intimacy with us and that is the focus of Mo Aiken's book. I'd seen her speak and read her first book (not read the second yet--oops) and knew I wanted to read this book when it came out. This challenges you personally to develop a more intimate relationship with God and to develop a strong walk with him. She doesn't mince words but wants all to know what that intimacy is truly what matters and worth doing the work for it. Thank you to the author and her publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

When I found out several months ago @moisom was writing another book I immediately put it on my reading list. I’ve read her other two books and both of them are books that have stuck with me over the years. This one is no different.

Matthew 7:22-23 is one of those verses that is tough for me to swallow. “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name and do many works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (ESV)

I admit, of all things, nurturing an intimate relationship with God is what I struggle with most. Good works I can do, being kind comes natural to me, giving brings me happiness-but being vulnerable and daring to be fully known? That is a struggle. There are dark parts of me I don’t want to look at, much less bare naked and hand over to God.

This book invites us to do exactly this. I wrestled with myself while reading this book and there were moments of discomfort-but stronger than that emerges the desire to be sanctified and to rest in His arms with all laid out, unashamed and unburdened. There is a beautiful peace in being fully known by Him.

Mo, this is your best work yet!

It is full of Scripture and truth. Mo uses marriage as a framework to describe God’s love and desire to have a relationship with us. Her unique communication style shines through and makes what could have been heavy pages easier to read and digest. I will go back to this and read it again when I need reminders and encouragement to first nurture this covenantal love with Christ before anything else.

“It is by the marriage covenant of His blood that we are justified, and in the unseen, wrestling place that we are not only sanctified but also receive tastes of what is to come-tangible encounters with His glory. Experiential waves of what it will be like one day when we are glorified in Christ forevermore.”

5/5 ⭐️ - incredible book, love it 👏🏼

Happy pub day! 🎉 Thank you to @readbakerbooks for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Aiken begins her book with a bold statement. “You were made to know intimacy with God.” (130/2664) Yet she noticed a lack of deep personal relationships with the Lord among professing believers. God has made the intimacy possible, making a way for us to know Him and be known by Him. We have everything we need: the finished work of Christ, the Holy Spirit, His Word. Why is intimacy so lacking in the Christian community?

Aiken explores the roots of why we do not pursue intimacy with God. Perhaps we are so focused on doing for God we have missed being with God. Perhaps we are not willing to count the great cost to that intimacy. Perhaps we are so focused on the world we don't take the time for such intimacy. Perhaps we are not willing to repent, to be quiet, to be small.

Aiken uses marriage as the framework to understand God's covenantal love for us and help us understand our response to Him. She frequently concentrates on the physical intimacy of marriage, such as likening a wife being too tired for her husband's advances to our being too taken by the cares of this world to respond to God's advances. (1692/2664)

There is a great deal of good admonishment and encouragement in this book. While there is no specific strategy to help us on the journey to intimacy with God, Aiken gives many suggestions. She admonishes us to true repentance, to live in an awareness of and submission to the Holy Spirit, and more.

I am not so taken with marriage as a useful example to our intimacy with God. Marriages in this sinful world are faulty. I cannot think of one marriage I know that I would say is a good example of a relationship with God. Just as many Christians have difficulty understanding God as Father because of their own fathers, I think many might have difficulty benefiting from a marriage example because of their own or of others. And then you have the single people.

If you desire deep intimacy with God, this book will give you encouraging suggestions. Just make sure you are willing to count the cost, to engage the Holy Spirit working in you, and to surrender what is required.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.