An interesting premise underlies this book, Heather Holleman develops the concepts of a thought-room, a place to draw oneself into to clarify our reactions, feelings and hear God’s guidance. Whilst agreeing in principle with the major theme, God’s guarding of us, described here in her own words, “A person God guards lives with confidence, peace, hope, strength and as crucified with Christ.”, I found the journey meandering and repetitive in places. A fan of Sherlock, I love the concept of a mind-palace built on God’s truth but the building of that palace by Holleman I found confusing. She describes the reader at the centre and then on the exterior catapulting things in, both are to be viewed positively, yet, catapulting my castle didn’t seem the thing! The promise highlighted here is certainly an ideal “I could come and go from any situation, no matter how emotionally distressed, and stay in God’s fortress. Here, I was safe, untouched and unmoved.”. I aim for that joyful place that allows this and this book is full of great scripture and truths to help achieve that. If you overlook the inconsistencies and forgive the repetition of concepts, it’s a 3 out of 5 on the en-JOY-meant scale, it has wisdom to be gleaned from it!

Favourite quotes:

“We can find, through Jesus, maturity and stability, drawing joy from a continual source of intimacy with Him.”

“Whatever you prefer to call this place in your soul, you are building an unshakable building forged form a rich inferiority of knowing God’s word.”

Guarded By Christ is both easy to read and packed with word pictures that describe how to rest in the truth what God's guarding presence is and that His guarding presence never leaves us, no matter what circumstances we may be facing. Heather writes that when we look anywhere other than to God for a source of security or protection or significance, we will never truly have rest in our souls. True rest and peace be found only by looking to God through His Son Jesus Christ. I recommend this book to people like myself, who have been tempted at times to look for security in false places and who need the reassurance that true soul peace and satisfaction can be realized only when we put our trust in God's guarding presence and not in temporal things this world has to offer.