Book Review: Tempted, Tested, True

Tempted, Tested, True: A Proven Path to Overcoming Soul-Robbing Choices
By Arnie Cole and Michael Ross
Bethany House, 2013
English, 256 pgs

Description:
Real, Lasting Victory Over Temptation

There's no use pretending: Everybody struggles with temptations. Sometimes those struggles can wear us down and we don't know where to turn. But as authors Dr. Arnie Cole and Michael Ross write, "Each struggle presents us with an opportunity for growth and intimacy with God--not condemnation."

Using real-life stories and information gathered from over 100,000 surveys, Tempted, Tested, True gives you a step-by-step process for resisting harmful choices through the power of God's Word. This book will show you how to live in the freedom God wants for you. 

Review:
There is not a single human being that does not face temptation at some point. It can be as "harmless" as not being able to pass by the dessert tray to as "harmful" as sexual sins. The point is, everyone, everywhere in all of history has had to deal with temptation.

This book does not gloss over the problem of sin and the effects of giving in to temptations. It does not, either, tell you that you will be 100% able to resist temptation just because you've read this book and answered every question in it. It does give you insights, scriptures and proven steps that you can take to lessen the effect of temptation in your life.

The beginning chapters deal with the universal problem of temptation and the cycle of dangerous choices. I particularly like how they equate a cycle of a bad choice with pregnancy and birth. It made it easy to understand and visualize.

The next few chapters are about specific temptations men struggle with and women struggle with. And the next four chapters deal with a story and struggle from real life and how to deal with the specific temptations they contain.

I found the whole book really enlightening and very well written, however the last chapter and the Ending Point really hit me between the eyes. So many times someone doesn't want to discuss their temptations because they feel they're alone or that they will be judged because of them. The last part of the book deals with this from a church and grace standpoint. The church shouldn't be shunning sinners and we shouldn't be refusing to offer God's grace to anyone. None of us deserve it and it's given freely and equally to all.

This book is excellent. It has a "Nudge" at the end of each chapter, which is a study guide and is wonderful for both personal and group study. There is a ton of scripture back up and memorization is encouraged.

I received a copy of the book from Bethany House for the purpose of a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review.