The Music of His Promises: Listening to God with Love, Trust, and Obedience

by Elisabeth Elliot

Life offers us a series of trials and hardships, and how we react to these battles depends on what we take into them. Elisabeth Elliot shows readers how to take the armor of God's love with them into the fray. Through the proper training and equipment, and with God at our side, she says, we can weather all of life's storms with faith and soul intact.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Devotional, Nonfiction

212 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2000

About the author

From the Author's Web Site: My parents were missionaries in Belgium where I was born. When I was a few months old, we came to the U.S. and lived in Germantown, not far from Philadelphia, where my father became an editor of the Sunday School Times. Some of my contemporaries may remember the publication which was used by hundreds of churches for their weekly unified Sunday School teaching materials.

Our family continued to live in Philadelphia and then in New Jersey until I left home to attend Wheaton College. By that time, the family had increased to four brothers and one sister. My studies in classical Greek would one day enable me to work in the area of unwritten languages to develop a form of writing.

A year after I went to Ecuador, Jim Elliot, whom I had met at Wheaton, also entered tribal areas with the Quichua Indians. In nineteen fifty three we were married in the city of Quito and continued our work together. Jim had always hoped to have the opportunity to enter the territory of an unreached tribe. The Aucas were in that category -- a fierce group whom no one had succeeded in meeting without being killed. After the discovery of their whereabouts, Jim and four other missionaries entered Auca territory. After a friendly contact with three of the tribe, they were speared to death.

Our daughter Valerie was 10 months old when Jim was killed. I continued working with the Quichua Indians when, through a remarkable providence, I met two Auca women who lived with me for one year. They were the key to my going in to live with the tribe that had killed the five missionaries. I remained there for two years.

After having worked for two years with the Aucas, I returned to the Quichua work and remained there until 1963 when Valerie and I returned to the U.S.

Since then, my life has been one of writing and speaking. It also included, in 1969, a marriage to Addison Leitch, professor of theology at Gordon Conwell Seminary in Massachusetts. He died in 1973. After his death I had two lodgers in my home. One of them married my daughter, the other one, Lars Gren, married me. Since then we have worked together.

Reviews

[Josette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read this book in the bathroom, so it will probably take me a while. Elizabeth Elliot is a spiritual giant, as far as I'm concerned. She doesn't mince words and I am challenged by nearly every one of these devotionals.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was more casual and journal like than her other books, but it was no less encouraging and convicting. There weren't really chapters just little devotional type snippets of several paragraphs. I'll definitely be reading this one again.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, as Elisabeth Elliot's books always are. This works well as a devotional book and isn't the sort of thing you would sit down and read pages on end... that's why it took me over a year to finish it. The short articles are well worth pondering.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally finished this book. I really enjoy the little bits of encouragement that Elizabeth Elliott writes and find her books work really well as bathroom books :)

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Listening to God with Love, Trust, and Obedience* Grace notes for your life* Take strength from these reminders of the loving sovereignty of the God who has called us His own.* Bracing and calming at the same time* This book will soothe your soul and give you strength! It's wonderful as a daily devotional and I never wanted it to to end! :) I could read it over and over again. It was very encouraging, strengthening and soothing to my Heart and perfect for what I was going through at the time. It also had a handy topical index which I used on occasion. If you haven't read this... you need to!

[Annalee · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a few very nice devotions in this little book.

My favorite, which sticks with me years later, is the one that discusses our "bad days." It had never occurred to me before Elisabeth plainly said it, that we are not "entitled" to be in a bad mood! It changed my perspective on my own behavior.

[Natalya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me nearly a year to finish this-not because it is slow or boring, but rather it is overflowing with wisdom. It is not always a comforting book. It is challenging and convicting and yet it is filled with hope and joy.

[Jennah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading each of the short paragraphs, that encourage and reminds you of the promises of God. I used this as a little side book for my devotions. Each one is worth to reflect on, but I read 10 pages a day. This is a must read if you are a fan of Elisabeth Elliot.

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Every encouraging!

[PMiddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely. I read it as a devotional. I adore Elisabeth Elliot.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much wisdom in such a little book! I want to read this again someday, but include it as part of my quiet time. It was great as a "bathroom read" (each section is perfect length but with so much depth!) but I can't believe it took me two years to read it. Also, there were so many bits that I wanted to write in my commonplace journal but I didn't keep any book darts nearby. So I'll re-read it someday!

[Emanuela Gdn Ridcodubschi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mi-a luat mai mult timp să citesc această carte excelentă, nu ca ar fi plictisitoare sau lentă, ci din potrivă este plină de înțelepciune. Este o carte devotional, cu mici paragrafe care le citești încet și meditezi asupra lor. Fiecare din aceste paragrafe îți aduc speranță și bucurie, și te provoacă să trăiești o viață cu încredere deplină în Dumnezeu.
Ca întotdeauna cărțile lui Elisabeth Elliot sunt minunate.

[Denise Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Offered practical suggestions on how to trust and obey God. I wish the passages were combined in one chapter to make it more organized. I got confused with some of the randomness. Or it could have been broken into sections:love, trust, obedience. Read more like a devotional. Great insight on constantly dying (dying to self) and resurrected with breakthroughs. Felt convicted on different topics

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a treasure. These vignettes of Elliot's wisdom cover a lot of ground (topical index included in the back). Already planning to revisit.