“How do you feel?!” friends and family have asked on this eve of the book’s release. “I’m not sure!” has been my honest response. I am…
In awe: I hoped (but lean realist too far to have been certain) that I would be able to write another book. When Matt Baugher of W Publishing, Thomas Nelson, emailed me and said, “I’m pleased to inform you that we would indeed be honored to publish 40 Days of Decrease…” my jaw dropped. I was sitting at the table near the fire place having just penned a journal entry about my ache as a writer. I am in awe of Father God’s generosity.
Feeling well-fed: Writing is all-gift for me personally. Uncounted hours of intentional dependence, of silence and listening, of studying and arranging words like paint on a canvas: writing 40 Days of Decrease has been a deeply refreshing experience.
Hopeful: When I think of you holding the book, reading the dedication, and diving into the Prologue and beyond, I am so hopeful that the message could trigger something deep and wide and sustained. The message of sacred decrease is surgical and healing. I am hopeful that God will weave it into our DNA in such a way that affects current and future generations.
Grateful for less evidence of self-protection: Offering a book is, I am guessing, much like displaying a painting or singing a song. The vulnerability is tangible. Yet this time around, it is such a relief to see less evidence of self-protection in the offering. God has graciously been addressing this tendency for over ten years. With this book, I do not have permission from Him to mentally envision the book doing well or doing poorly. My assignment is to actively stay present to Him. What a relief.
Humbled: An entire company of incredible men and women have journeyed with me in this process. I am surrounded by champions and unspeakable humbled by their love. From my husband who made space for me to work on the doctorate and write a book from the dissertation to my staff team that offers their gifts so joyfully to the champions launch team that has
rallied behind the book to friends praying and shouting-out and cheerleading along the way…all because they have eyes to see the Savior inspiring the offering. To be carried by such love is humbling and beautiful.
Out-of-control: And it is a gift. Stress began rising in my heart a few weeks ago, and I sensed Father God whispering to me, “You can’t mess this up, daughter. I have set things in motion. Be at peace.”
For me, it feels like a miracle to be able to offer you all 40 Days of Decrease. Thank you for everything you have done to encourage me and champion the message. I pray that you find the words both disrupting and renewing. May the fruit for us all be an un-cluttered heart, a much cleaner hope, and a far clearer view of Jesus in us and through us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learning together: Our culture is addicted to visible increase. Below in the comments, I’d love to hear from you how God is calling you to decrease John-the-Baptist style in 2016.
As promised, I’ll be sending one of the first signed copies of 40 Days of Decrease to Julie Liston for posting on my last blog! And this week our lovely winner is Sarah! Thank you all for sharing your heartfelt thoughts.
Love this post! Having just completed the 7th year journey with Dr. Kim Alexander in 2015, I am so excited about this new book! Congratulations Alicia Britt Chole!
Carla C. Stanback
Sharing your journey of writing this book is a testament to what is possible when application of the concepts you share are implemented. I am excited and challenged at the idea of implementing these concepts into my life as the Lord leads. Something I need to seek the Lord regarding is decreasing to make space for Him, not decreasing to deprive & discipline myself for the purpose of self-control.
I like the idea of decreasing so that He can increase, thinning in order to thicken. Preparing a way for Him, while He in-turn, prepares a way in and through me. A way for Him to be glorified. At rest with Him. Peace within! Decrease! It’s beautiful, it’s profound. I love it.
Thank you for pouring yourself into this work so that the Fathers love can be poured out.
Love your books Alicia…and love sharing them…so HS timely…
I stumbled onto this post and this book by happy accident. My ‘word for the year’ for 2016 is obedience – specifically, obedience to the specific ways Jesus is asking me to disconnect from the world so I may open myself more deeply to Him. Not easy ways at all! But this book looks like it would be a wonderful companion through that process. So very looking forward to reading. Thank you.
So looking forward to this new book of your thoughts and insight.
Keep on keeping on
Love your writing Alicia…always HS timely !
can’t wait to pick this up! This has been on my heart over the past few months and I am excited to put it into motion!
It is so encouraging to be able to read such artistically thoughtful and inspirational truths about God. Many Christians write books, but you have done something very intentional and spirit reviving in how you have organized your thoughts and shared the lessons God has taught you. I read Anonymous recently and I cannot wait to read 40 Days of Decrease! Thank you for being diligent!
Many lives will be blessed by this offering, Alicia!! Thank you so much for stewarding this message!
I love the way you paint the words in this announcement. Every word is carefully given it’s place and the content is not hard to understand. You are definitely gifted. Excited to read this one.
Thank you so much for writing, Alicia! I look forward to more great wisdom from you!!
I am looking forward to your new book! Just as I need a decrease in my physical weight and mid-section, I need a decrease of Dawn and an increase of the Spirit of God in my spirit. Your writings have been challenging and spot-on for me–thank you for your newest “offering” in advance.
These past few weeks my heart has been yearning to know Jesus……more. Greater intimacy with Him is my daily prayer. I believe that the words in Alicia’s book are God’s answer to taking me deeper with Jesus. Thank you, Alicia, for being obedient to the Father and sharing this God given gift of writing with so many. God will continue to do great things through you in His people, for the Kingdom!
Dear Alicia
Upon receive the email to announce your book – I couldn’t wait to open and began to read the sample. I was immediately thrown into silence. Never ever thought of Jesus birth this way.
I then went to Amazon and sent a Kindle edition to my husband and myself. And have preordered the paperback (hoping it will arrive before we depart back to Ecuador).
Some day I wish, hope, but pray you will come to Ecuador to speak to our women and men too.
Love you dear friend. A timely word!
Thank you for the deepened journey tool.
PS – I’ll be preaching on Sunday and will be sharing the link for your book with the congregation – they are entering the 21 day of fasting/praying.
My husband and I both have read your book Anonymous so many times it is getting worn out. It has been just what we needed to hear these last couple years as our lives and ministry have taken unexpected turns. I was just thinking today that I hoped you were writing another book soon! I would be so excited to read this new book of yours and glean from your wisdom!
Alicia, something rises up inside me when I think about the theme of your new book and what it could mean to so many in the greater Church…what it could mean to ME. My one-word theme for last year was “less” but I fight a daily battle with “more,” in its various manifestations. My guess is that I’m not alone in this battle for holy decrease. I’ve ordered my copy and will be diving in soon. Thank you for this precious gift of words, my friend. Knowing you, they will be life-changing and life-giving.
Thankful that God placed you in the life of my friend Barry. Anxious to read your new book. Be blessed!
Alicia. You are a mentor to me through your writing. Anonymous was a book that God used to help me see the importance of the hidden years. I’m still praying that God will hide me. I’m looking forward to what God will speak to my heart through 40 days of Decrease. Thanks for offering your gift. I pray that God uses this book to bring a revival of soul health to the body of Christ and may it start in me. Blessings
I’m aching to read this book. It’s something the Holy Spirit has been whispering into my heart the past two years, more and more. So looking forward to this.
“…both disrupting and renewing. May the fruit for us all be an un-cluttered heart, a much cleaner hope, and a far clearer view of Jesus in us and through us.”
What a beautiful mission and intention in this book! May our hearts truly be un-cluttered and Yeshua be demonstrated more strongly through our lives as a result of decreasing so He may increase.
So looking forward to this book and what God wants to teach me through it!
Thanks Alicia!
I know the result of cleaning house is a clear, stress free mind. I believe cleaning the mind and heart will result in a clear spirit.
Thank you for continuing to search for God’s wisdom to share with us.
I so look forward to your newest offering. After hearing you speak at our women’s conference I knew you are a true woman of God. You are wonderfully transparent and blessed.
Alicia your books always bring refreshing to my soul. Thank you for being a beautiful light that shares in the hard questions of life and brings focus back to our God who cares about our deepest questions.
Alicia,
Lord has been speaking to me about acts of kindness in all my relationships. I want to decrease unkindness and increase kindness promote this type of social injustice in today’s marriage/relationships. Looking forward to reading the book.
Blessings,
Adaris
I am so excited for you, I can’t wait read it and hear what God has placed on your heart. 40 days of decrease sounds very interesting, encouraging and challenging. I still talk about your book “Anonymous” to friends, telling them it is a must read (I have read it about 5 times over the years), it is one of my favorite books.
I read Ready Set Rest in November after pre-ordering and immediately took my first prayer retreat where God pricked my heart for reduction. Your book came in yesterday and I read the introduction and drooled over the pages. Looking forward to Ash Wednesday when a group of friends will walk with me through this journey of decrease. May the Lord bless your faithful obedience!
I am excited to buy this book. What a perfect Lenten study!
I know this book is key for me this year – it’s message is certainly the desire of my heart!
Alicia – I have already ordered a copy, but I would love another to share with someone else. In terms of John the Baptist style decrease, I’m not sure I’m down to honey and locusts and a wandering in the desert, but I’m open to trying if that’s what will lead me to a greater well of peace. Love you, and congrats!
Love you and your ministry….May God enrich your readers with the way He speaks through you….
So looking forward to reading is one! I never close one of your books feeling empty but only the desire to walk closer with my Lord.
This sounds like exactly the book I need. My husband and I are trying to declutter and live more simply and within ours means.
I love your woman’s heart of compassion, nuturing and growth of a woman’s identity and soul. Our Father is please when we embrace our design to serve Him! You give my heart rest as I continue to press on in true faith of HIS person. I thank God for your ministry and viewpoint in this mixed up world. My husband and 5 children also appreciate the balanced messages you present! Thank you for remaining faithful, steadfast and joyful in the journey of Loving Jesus!- ❤️sister in Christ tatiana
Looking forward to reading it!! I’m amazed at your writing and speaking. I was at a women’s retreat in Arizona several years ago and I would love to hear you again. You are so anointed! Thank you for listening to God for us.
Over the past few months I have been intentionally de-cluttering my home. Years of accumulating ‘things’ that brought momentary joy or once served a purpose now brought a sense of discomfort. I would move things from room to room hoping to alleviate the pressure mounting from these guests who stayed past their welcome.
With each box and bag that left the building I could feel a sense of relief. So far there hasn’t been anything I’ve missed.
As consider the journey of 40 Days of Decrease I am growing more excited about removing the clutter from my inner house. How many unwelcome guests will finally find their way out the door making room for a most welcomed Prince of Peace? Excited? Yes! Scared? Absolutely!! But fully trusting in the concept of addition by subtraction, and the author who has always provoked me to move in a better direction.
Starting years ago when a book club I was in read through Anonymous and you came and shared the heart behind the book, I’ve been so thankful for each word you’ve written and the ones I’ve heard you speak. The wisdom and grace that flow from you and your words has been challenging and refreshing! Thank you!
God has been speaking to me for some time now about doing less, making more margin in my life, setting aside some standard activities–it feels similar to a good clean out of a physical space in order make room for something new. I’m not sure what the “new” will be, but I am definitely hearing the message of clearing out and making room. So, presently enjoying the beauty of sparseness in the winter outside my window, and attempting to create some empty spaces within as well.
Greatly looking forward to reading your new book!
Alicia:
I love this: Offering a book is, I am guessing, much like displaying a painting or singing a song. The vulnerability is tangible. Yet this time around, it is such a relief to see less evidence of self-protection in the offering.
I’m so thankful we all have different gifts. I’m still life coaching/facilitating and thankful to have spent time in your home. You not only have the gift of writing but mentoring. I wish I could spend time with you every week. I want to work with you. Is it possible? Smile. You so build into everyone’s life that you are around. You are a complete gift from God.
~ Cheri …The Grow Coach
SO looking forward to reading this.
Im very excited to read this book! I’ve seen you preach, and your obedience and love for the Lord is not only anointed but is inspiring! Thank you for your example and faithfulness!
It sounds like an intriguing book. I need to add it to my reading list.
May God use this book to do great things. Congratulations and may He continue to use all of your great books. Blessings!
I look so forward to the insight God has spoken into you in 40 days. I am equally excited to be privelege to share your uniquely creative way of speaking your heart. I feel like God has given your hearts desire but will be filling ours x as well by using your beautiful spirit to bring new life to me and whoever else reads. Thank you.
Love it Love it Love it
Alicia , I am So excited about your new book . From the first time I heard you speak, your words have challenged and inspired me to draw nearer to my Saviour.
I’m so excited to read your book. It comes at the perfect time as we are about to participate in 21 days of prayer and fasting with our church here in Jacksonville FL. I have been praying and God has revealed to me that Decrease needs to be my theme for this year. Can’t wait to dive in to this book!!
I can hardly wait to get this book and spend time learning from you, Alicia. Thanks for living life for Jesus and sharing what you have learned as a result. Your lessons have and will change my life.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity! Just read all about your book on Amazon!
So thankful for your writing Alicia. I’m with you on the premise of the book. Now for the further “doing”… I would love to win a copy of your book in the sincere prayer that my husband would read it. As we age, I feel like the vortex of our ministry to home schoolers is sucking the life out of him…He knows better… I know better…yet men and women deal with life so differently.
Your blog reminded me of this verse:
Psalm 75:6, 7 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another
I am in love with this idea of fasting what holds us back from a closer relationship with Jesus. It becomes such an intentional journey. I look forward to reading the book.
Someone recently told us about “Anonymous”, and my husband and I have been reading it in the morning. I am so grateful for your perspective and your writing…thank you! I just signed up to be notified of your blog posts–looking forward to connecting more regularly–just wish it was over coffee 🙂
Love this post and so excited about the healing in these pages!