As I was perusing new releases on NetGalley I was intrigued by John Eldridge's latest book. What believer doesn't want to experience more of Jesus more authentically, after all? I've read one of Eldridge's earlier and found it impactful in my prayer life and spiritual journey. I hoped for the same from this book, and while that may yet be the case, I do have a few hesitations.

First, at the onset of the book, Eldridge mentions the difficulties believers might have in connecting with Jesus due to our high connection to the interwebs/apps/technology and while I wholeheartedly agree with this, I expected that to be a theme running through the book with, perhaps, suggestions on disconnecting so one can reconnect with Almighty God. That was not the case although there were a few passing mentions throughout the rest of the narrative.

Next, Christian mysticism. For many, this is quite a foreign concept in their spirituality. I did appreciate Eldridge's gentle introduction to this idea and how a continuously flowing connection with God is both beneficial and frankly the goal of the Christian life, however towards the last third of the book, things got a little too "woo-woo" for me. Eldridge is without a doubt a passionate individual in terms of his realtionship with Christ, but some of his ideas may feel a little challenging for some readers.

All that said, what I appreciate about Eldridge through all his books is the way he models his personal prayer life. He puts it all out there which for many can be helpful. A prayerful life can be challenging and, more than anything, most who pray desire a deep connection with their God. While one may not agree with or connect with all of the concepts presented here, Eldridge provides a powerful prayer resource for anyone looking to enhance their prayer life.

This book is a must-read for anyone longing to break free from stale, surface-level faith and step into a real relationship with Jesus. While some elements may not connect with all readers, Eldredge offers powerful, practical guidance for those willing to take the journey.

Recommended for:
✔️ Christians who feel spiritually stuck
✔️ Those seeking a deeper, personal experience of Jesus
✔️ Anyone longing for more than routine religion

If you’re looking for encouragement, practical tools, and a fresh perspective on faith, Experience Jesus. Really. is a book worth reading.

Full Review at https://www.thejoyousliving.com/john-eldredge-experience-jesus-really/

ohn Eldredge has an uncanny ability to articulate the deep longing of the human soul, and Experience Jesus Really is no exception. This book is more than just words on a page—it’s an invitation. Eldredge doesn’t just talk about Jesus in theory; he guides readers into an active, ongoing relationship with Him in a way that feels tangible, personal, and deeply transformative.

What sets this book apart is its practicality. It’s not just about knowing more about Jesus—it’s about encountering Him in everyday life. Eldredge offers simple yet profound ways to tune our hearts to His presence, breaking down the barriers that often keep us at a distance. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your faith or like you’re going through the motions, this book will breathe fresh life into your walk with Christ. Highly recommend for anyone longing for a real, personal, and experiential faith.

In the book Experience Jesus. Really, author John Eldredge, writes about spiritual formation and how our internet driven society is teaching us we don’t have to wait. Eldredge writes: “we are, all of us, Disciples of the Internet…. You are a disciple of the system that tutors you, where you turn on a daily basis for guidance on living. For most people, that makes them Disciples of the Internet, even if they call themselves disciples of Christ. If you have a question, you go look it up—new developments for children with ADHD; how often normal married couples have sex; memory care for aging parents; the proper temperature to bake a potato. We do this all day, every day. However, I’m not referring to whatever content it is you search for online. I’m talking about what we have learned from years of the process itself. For one thing, the Internet has discipled your soul to expect immediate answers. You inquire and you are answered— immediately. Three million results in 0.003 seconds; there is no waiting. The saints of ages past would be aghast at that. Waiting was considered formational for the soul. They planted crops in the spring and harvested in the fall; there was no rushing things. If you wanted something from the market, you walked there and then you walked back, moving at a pace of about three miles an hour. But now, when you turn to Jesus and you are not answered in the way the Internet answers, you feel he isn’t listening or that you can’t hear from him. You sadly believe the two of you are distant from one another, because your soul has been programmed for immediate responses. The notion of lingering before God doesn’t fit with the pace we’ve come to expect….”
Eldredge writes that we need to regain a “holy mysticism” or “Christian mysticism, which…. is simply the regular experience of the one true God as revealed in Jesus Christ….”
I would highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to go deeper in their relationship with Jesus. Eldredge challenges us to communion with Christ and capture the wonder of the relationship. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read John Eldridge’s books before and really enjoyed them. This one was unexpected, in that I didn’t think the book was going in the direction it did. I didn’t get as much out of it as I hoped but I think that’s partly because I had false expectations. Thanks for the E-Arc from the publisher and NetGalley. 3 stars.

I have long adored John Eldredge's books and always jump at the chance to read the latest and greatest. So, when I spotted this one on NetGalley, I requested it straightaway. This was not my favorite book of his, but it was still a good read. The intro where he spelled out how we are disciples of the internet (the expectation of immediate information) and how that impacts our spirituality, I was nodding my head and craving more. And I enjoyed the ongoing reference to Psalm 91, a Psalm of refuge. I know that some reviewers have taken issue with the terminology of Christian mystic, which was not my struggle. I followed along with that train of thought when Eldredge defined mystic as someone who does not require understanding all things and allowing God to be a bit of a mystery. I think that if God is God, He should not be able to be fully understood by our finite minds and I believe that is the point that was made here. I lost focus in some of the details surrounding the mysticism, however. Nonetheless, this book was packed full of tools to use to help with one's prayer life, working through trauma and overall seeking to encounter Jesus regularly. Though the exact wording of the prayers felt a bit uncomfortable to me, I recognize the need to alter my prayer life and hope to use some of the pattern provided in this book. If you are looking for the means of coming to see Jesus in a more concrete way and seeking refuge in God, this is the book for you. Special thanks to Nelson Books and Netgalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

This was such a wonderful guide in experiencing Jesus in daily life and actual practices to implement day to day. John is always so encouraging to read, always reminding his readers that there is more to life in God and that we have access to Him. Overall, I gained perspective on the spiritual war and tools to defend myself. John is one of my favorites to read for practical spiritual wisdom.

Honestly, I almost gave up on this book BUT GOD...I’m so glad I didn’t miss this blessing ! It really made me think about how much our constant connection with the internet affects our lives. I loved learning about ordinary mysticism, daily experience/communion/abiding with God and his kingdom.

Jesus is our safe place. The book talks a lot about how the battle for our attention is real, and how important it is to take refuge in Him every day. The prayers throughout the book were beautiful and left me with ways to stay connected to God and call on the name of Jesus on all situations life brings.

The wisdom within these pages is something I know I’ll return to again and again, finding new revelations with each reading.

3.45⭐️ Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I felt very torn on this one. I went into it thinking that we were going to be discussing how to seek and find God’s presence in a technology and distraction-driven world, which the author did start with, but that was only a fragment of the book. We focused on what a mystic in the faith is and how they differ from the majority of Christians today. Since the Enlightenment and Age of Reason, we as a society are driven for data and science and empirical proof. The author discusses how being a Christian is more than just that, which I definitely agree with, but I don’t think logic and reasoning are antithesis to faith. Some of the ways that things were phrased almost felt as if the author was telling us his opinions and his suggestions were completely true and we should follow accordingly, something which often rubs me the wrong way. Also, the fact that the author kept calling God Papa felt derogatory.

That being said, this book did have some solid chapters here and there, especially as it pertained to seeking God over distraction. I still felt as if I learned something from it, which is what I find important.

This is a book for every church to hand out- it was just phenomenal. Each community group should do this together. The conversations to follow this are life changing.

John Eldredge in his uttermost raw, reflective, and emotional real self guiding us on a deeper journey with our creator. His writing is poetic, deep and meaningful. His story is divine. Not to be missed.

Definitely different than what I'd hoped. May be more useful to others.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.