The Sacred Slow: A Holy Departure from Fast Faith

by Alicia Britt Chole

If yesterday’s word was “simple,” tomorrow’s word will be “slow.”

Our culture is shifting from fast food to health food both physically and spiritually. Self-care, soul-care, life coaches, and spiritual retreats all show our dissatisfaction in quick fixes and fast faith. The Sacred Slow is an invitation to unhurried honesty before God. Formatted as 52 experiences, The Sacred Slow reminds readers on every page that God never wanted to use them: He always wanted to love them.

Experienced devotionally or in small groups, each chapter features a short but unexpected reading and two options for application: a thought focus or a heart exercise. The content is the overflow of Dr. Alicia Britt Chole’s thirty+ years as a spiritual mentor to leaders and learners. The tone is personal, practical, and penetrating. The fruit is sustainable (as opposed to event-based) intimacy with God.

Genres: Christian, Faith, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Christianity

340 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2017

About the author

Whether in person or in print, Alicia's voice carries an invitation to walk with God anew. A former atheist, her love for God and His Word overflows to bring ancient truth to life.

Often described as a captivating communicator, Alicia speaks, writes, mentors, and serves as the founding director of Leadership Investment Intensives, Inc, a non-profit devoted to providing personal soul-care to leaders in the marketplace and church. Her book, Anonymous: Jesus' Hidden Years and Yours, is highly regarded by leaders and learners around the globe.

Alicia holds a B.A. in Plan II/Pre-Law (University of Texas, Austin), an M.A. in TESOL (University of Texas, Austin) and a DMin in Leadership and Spiritual Formation (George Fox Evangelical Seminary). Alicia and her husband of 25 years joyfully parent their three extraordinary children in a country home off of a dirt road surrounded by loads of laundry, laughter, and love.

To learn more about Alicia, visit her website at www.aliciachole.com or on twitter @aliciachole.

Favorite Quotes:

Oswald Chambers: 'My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.'

A.W. Tozer: 'The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.'

Henri Nouwen: 'Did growing older bring me closer to Jesus?'

Brother Lawrence: 'Always rejoice at being able to do little things for the love of God.'

Basilea Schlink: 'Jesus and the penitent sinner belong together.'
See less

Reviews

[Erica Barthalow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't recommend this enough! The combination of her thought provoking questions and insights coupled with the important (though often overlooked) message of slowing down with God is well worth the time and effort to soak in. If you feel frantic in life and your relationship with God this book is a must read!

[Rhegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you really want to do some self reflecting and refocusing I highly recommend this book. The author has many wise things to say, but it's also a workbook. To dig deep and come out with more than just another book read.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the material in this book to be extremely helpful in my own spiritual life. Anyone who has longed for sustained intimacy with Jesus will find help here. An intimate relationship with Jesus won't just happen. One has to be spiritually intentional. Chole gives readers the tools for such a journey.

I really like that readers are required to do personal soul work before venturing further to developing an intimate relationship with Jesus. That section of the book answered many questions for me and addressed many possible obstacles along the way.

I have never seen this kind of progression in spiritual transformation before. Chole takes readers step by step on the spiritual walk. I felt like I had a personal mentor helping me. I gained new insight into what it means to have Christ at the center of my life. I gained new wonder for God's Word and really appreciated the instruction on relating to, not merely using, the Bible.

This is a book one will work through, not just read. The last quarter of the book contains places for writing in response to the questions in each chapter. There are also exercises for each chapter, steps designed to get the reader in the habit of intentionally moving forward in spiritual formation.

I found this book to be very thought provoking and encouraging as I work on being attentive to God and His work in my life. This is a book I'll return to time and again. I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Handlebar. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Goodreads free copy**

I chose this book to read because I am fascinated how spiritual tenets that incorporate silence and slowing down tends to be lacking in the (North American) Evangelical Christian tradition. I grew up in a church that was strict where religion was the rule and no guidance was offered for cultivating the soul through spiritual practices (such as incorporating silence, meditative walking, centering prayer, lectio divina, etc.) into daily life, which are forms of spiritual self-care that don’t compete with Christianity and its rules.

I found this book to be a great place to start for those in the Evangelical church who are seekers looking for more within their faith system. However, I am not one of these people as my seeking has brought me beyond western Christianity to draw on the Eastern modes of spirituality and interfaith dialogue to support my faith journey through a range of practices—and this is why I gave the book three stars. It’s a great starting point, but I wanted more for Evangelical seekers. There is not one way to meet God and devotions do not have to look a certain way. Cultivating a relationship with God needs to be soul-filling, not another method with rules and no spirit included.

I challenge anyone who is interested in this book and in incorporating more slowness and silence into your spiritual practice to read Fr. Richard Roth’s book SILENT COMPASSION and Carl McColman’s book ANSWERING THE CONTEMPLATIVE CALL to get more information on how to support your spirit within a broader Christian context. And no, you won’t go to hell of you read these books.

[Yvie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If yesterday’s word was “simple,” tomorrow’s word will be “slow.” Our culture is shifting from fast food to health food both physically and spiritually. Self-care, soul-care, life coaches, and spiritual retreats all show our dissatisfaction in quick fixes and fast faith. The Sacred Slow is an invitation to unhurried honesty before God. Formatted as 52 experiences, The Sacred Slow reminds readers on every page that God never wanted to use them: He always wanted to love them. Experienced devotionally or in small groups, each chapter features a short but unexpected reading and two options for application: a thought focus or a heart exercise. The content is the overflow of Dr. Alicia Britt Chole’s thirty+ years as a spiritual mentor to leaders and learners. The tone is personal, practical, and penetrating. The fruit is sustainable (as opposed to event-based) intimacy with God.

Divided into fifty-two short readings, presumably one for each week, this book is designed to give you some easy ways to slow your life down and help you to re-center. There are exercises within each reading, and they can be used alone or as part of a reading group. Main themes of the readings include : spending time with God, intellectual strength, fast versus slow experiences, God’s timing, self-discipline, responsibility, and owning our decisions. If you’re looking to take a break from this fast-paced world, this book might help you start down that path.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

For ME, the Sacred Slow has become a place of refuge. I sink my teeth deep into this book and find myself slowing down. I hit the pause button and sink deep into my chair and my breathing isn't as heavy any more. I take in every single word that Alice offers and I find through her writing that I am getting to know Jesus better through the art of slowing down.


It's a place where we all say as humans we've allowed sin of busyness to steal joy, where we look at our lives and stop making excuses for why we are so busy and start seeing ourselves as taking a step back.

Our Father wants to be in every day moments with us. He is speaking to us, but if we are so busy, we aren't able to hear him. I want to hear him, so I am learning to slow down, show up and take a deep look at my life. Now, if I am being real, this isn't easy. I don't do it perfect and somedays I am better than others.
However, "The Sacred Slow" has brought an awareness that I didn't know existed! This is a fantastic book. If you struggle with slowing down, I think you should take a read. I give this book 4.5/ 5 stars. A favorable review was not required.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Slower Way to Connect with God

In our culture, we love fast food, social media, anything that gives us instant gratification. As Chole points out, this may not be the most effective way to connect with God. Conferences and spiritual retreats are great for the quick fix, but we need something on a daily basis that connects us to our Savior.

This book consists of 52 chapters. The format is a devotional followed by exercises. One exercise focuses on how your heart responds to the reading. The other is a more in depth exercise that encourages you to look at your life by filling out a Life Scroll. I found both exercises useful. The scroll is more demanding, asking you to take a person inventory of your life.

I highly recommend this book. Too much in our lives are brief not giving us time to meditate on the things that are important to us. This book, if followed, opens the way for you to find a calm way to connect with your life and God, and see his plans for you.

I received this book from Handlebar Publishing for this review.

[Rennae de Freitas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent several years with this book—not because it was difficult to read, but because I wanted to truly experience it rather than simply consume it. Following the author's guidance, I intentionally slowed down, allowed the practices and reflections to settle deeply, and involved others in the journey as suggested.

What impacted me most was developing a theological understanding of time itself. This book transformed how I view time—not as something to fight against or manage frantically, but as a precious gift to be stewarded thoughtfully. As the author beautifully puts it, 'since time is a God gift, its flow is to be studied, appreciated and called on to be stewarded in our lives.'

This isn't a book to rush through. It's meant to be savored, practiced, and lived. For anyone feeling overwhelmed by the pace of life or struggling with their relationship to time, this book offers both profound insights and practical transformation.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy.

I feel like this book brings about a chance at fair discussion and debate and it incorporates tones that usually have people arguing about for hours on end. It depends on your strength and knowledge based on your own thoughts as this portrays what the author wants the reader to feel and think about. It is faith laced not really faith based but includes enough to push you a certain way when reading.

[Jaymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could be done with several activities over 12 weeks, or one activity a week over the course of the year. Activity options include thought questions to discuss or journal over and action steps. Includes a facilitator's guide for groups as well as some space to complete a few of the activities in the book.

[Isabelle Cambel · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something about a book that not only lavishes you with God’s true character but rather also a service to your soul. Truthfully a far easy read, yet compels you to dig deeper in the guided responses of each chapter. Chole has this innate strength to take you to places you have not been before in your spiritual journey. Take this book slow, it’s sacred.

[Ally]

finally finished this book for a Bible study that frankly went on for too long. A couple of us agreed that this is a great book, but this was not the season for this book. Does that make sense? Like really good insight, wisdom and things to try and things to reflect on but I don’t think I gave my all 🤷🏼‍♀️

[J Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life Changing Material!

After going through this study with a dear friend, I can honestly say thankfulness well with the five months we invested to complete the material. The Lord did a great work in both of us, and as a result I will never be the same.!

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok. Little slow for me. Which is ironic cause the whole book was about slowing down.
Alicia Britt chole was a speaker I saw in Spain when I went on Global team and wanted to read her books when I got home.

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like having a Spiritual leader with you wherever you like.

[David Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Book was so helpful to me in understanding God’s call to slowness. Well written and plenty of resource material. Really enjoyed it.

[Jessica Geist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked her writing style. I definitely would have gotten more out of the book if I had stuck to my goal of reading a chapter a week and doing the exercises instead of rushing through.
.

[chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing sacred about this book. It is a self help book about inner discovery. Where have you gone through in life and seeing how God has walked with you through each moment.

[Chastidy Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. If you are struggling with your past history and not ready to deal with past hurts the first part of the book might be difficult. But if you are open to what God can do and the perspective that he can bring to life it can be a transformational book. Don’t expect to read through quickly.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is less of a book that you read and more of one that you do. It's about taking the time to understand you and how you identify with God. It's a guided process for going deeper in your relationship with God. I found the earlier movements more beneficial for me than the later ones. I had already journeyed through much of what was in movements eight through twelve. Others will likely have a different experience reflective of their own faith journey. The beauty of this book is that it will speak to you in different ways depending on where you're at in your journey and what path you took to get there.

[pianogal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not love this book. The parts with just the writings were good. And helpful. The exercises I did not get. All of them were huge projects that would take hours. To be fair, I did not do them, but I don't understand what we were supposed to get out of them. I didn't see the connection.

I will admit that I'm not good at slow. I was hoping the book would help with that, but it was too far the other way for me to grasp. I need something more in the middle to help me start to slow. This chick's already figured out how to be slow and her method does not work for me right now.

Good, just not what I was looking for.

[Charmaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a lot out of this book and would recommend it as a good devotional. However, I got a little bogged down and did not finish it. I may finish it in the future. We'll see.