Every Day Spiritual Habits, by Hannah Seymour 

'Well written, encouraging book that aims to help you cultivate sustainable spiritual practices amid the demands of life' 

Every Day Spiritual Habits - Small, Simple Ways to Transform Your Faith, Starting Now 
By Hannah Seymour
Ebury Vine
ISBN: 9781911764045               
Reviewed by Martin M’Caw Baptist minister 

 
Every Day Spiritual Habits is a very well written, encouraging book. It makes a very practical guide to encourage new Christians and those struggling with the heavy demands of a hectic life who feel depressed because their spiritual growth and development is being pushed to the backburner. 
 
If your life is as hectic as Hannah Seymour, a busy working mum with three young children, finding and making time for regular devotional Bible reading can make its scheduling a tricky or impossible task. Every Day Spiritual Habits is testimony to her motivation and experience of giving Bible reading a significant devotional role within the many and sometimes conflicting demands that can arise from a hectic and demanding family and business lifestyle. Fitting in Bible reading and prayer time when routine allows makes adaptability the name of the game. As she puts it: ‘making small continual habits that fit into our everyday lives fuelled by God’s spirit.’ 
 
Her review of prayer sets it within the hectic daily busyness by accepting God’s invitation to be in his presence, entrusting him with the things that worry us because God cares about us. She makes a lot about the frequency of using our mobile phones and concludes the section by saying we can replace the instinct to constantly check our phones by checking in with God, which will radically change our life.
 
Christian joy grows through celebration and gratitude, because in spite of our circumstance and outward appearances biblical celebration brings us gratitude for God’s goodness and faithfulness in all circumstances. We are reminded that we are not just on our own, and the development of Christian friendship can become a source of God’s love and care through Christian fellowship.
 
The climax of developing spiritual habits comes through practising the presence of God and being aware that he never deserts us. While we may be self-occupied in domestic chores, and business routines, we are in the presence of the loving God who brings us joy.
 
The book ends with three appendices. The first is a useful self-assessment of where we are at. The second is a basic summary of how we study the Bible and where we are at.  

The third is presented as small group questions relating to each of the chapters in the book, but they can also be related individually to one’s own growth and perceptions. For example, regarding practising the presence of God: ‘what gets in the way of your ability to notice or enjoy God’s nearness?' For the final chapter: ‘how has your perception on spiritual  growth changed since reading this book?' 
 
In my view it is an easy to read, a good book to give to new Christians, and it’s worth its place in every church library.
 

The Revd Dr Martin M’Caw is a retired Baptist minister, and Wing Chaplain to No2 Welsh Wing RAF Cadets, also retired