Book Review: Chase the Lion
I first learned about this book back in 2019 when my boyfriend suggested that we read it together. We had only been dating for a couple months so of course I was eager to do cute relationship things like couples reading. Anyways, before he had the chance to get a copy for myself, I had already placed an order from Amazon. When we both had our copies of the book we were only able to get through two chapters before falling off of our routine. Work, studying, and just a slight lack of discipline contributed to our downfall, but as you may know from previous posts, I have gotten back on my reading grind this year! This was actually the first book I picked up when revisiting my morning reading routine. Though The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes paired with Midnight Sun were major distractions along the way, I have finally finished Chase the Lion and am ready to give you all my review.
My Review of Chase the Lion:
Chase the Lion is an inspiring book centered around the story found in 2 Samuel 23 where Benaiah, an ancient warrior, chased a lion into a pit on a snowy day and killed it. The main premise for the novel is to help motivate people to chase their 500 pound (lion-sized) dream. A dream that is so large and so far outside of our known abilities, that it can only be accomplished with the grace and intervention of God. The author, Mark Batterson, helps to get this message across through the use of stories both personal and historical. Each chapter is broken down into sections of these different stories that eventually tie together the main point of that particular chapter. This makes it a very quick and easy read that you can pick up and set down without any trouble.
Another aspect that I enjoy about the book is the fact that you don’t have to be Christian to understand or enjoy it. You can be new to Christianity, or exploring your religious beliefs, or just looking for a boost to take on your goals. I feel that there is something that everyone can relate to within the book, which makes it that much easier to retain the lessons that are presented throughout. Chase the Lion also presents several great opportunities for journaling that can further enhance your experience while reading the book. This occurs naturally with questions posed by the author throughout, or even directly as challenges made at the end of chapters. For those of you who love to get super engaged in your reading and have active involvement in the process, this is the book for you!
Overall I would give the book a 9 out of 10. Anytime that I felt a lack of motivation or drive, picking up this book and reading a chapter would always give me the kick I needed. I learned so much while reading this book. Not only about myself, but also the extraordinary lion chasers such as screenwriting expert Robert McKee and the songwriters of the popular “Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. You too will learn so much from these stories about people you may or may not have heard of before. To wrap up this review I will leave you with a mantra presented in the book: “If you stay humble and stay hungry, there is nothing God cannot do in you or through you”.
Continue reading for some sample journaling exercises that I personally participated in while reading the book!
Sample Journaling Exercises from Chase the Lion:
1. What is the genesis of your dream? Where did it all start and what events, people, or other factors have impacted the formation of your dream. Finally, what odds do you need to defy in order to achieve your dream?
2. This next exercise is about changing your habits. Make a list of the things you need to start doing today, and things you need to stop doing today in order to bring yourself closer to accomplishing your dreams?
3. Lastly, make a list of your wins from each day. No matter how small, making a list of these small accomplishments will help you to feel productive and motivated to keep chasing your 500 pound lion-sized dream.
I hope that you all have enjoyed today’s post, and that you are able to benefit from this book and the journaling exercises like I have. Reading this book has been a part of the genesis for my dream in creating this blog, and I hope it can be a driving force for you too. Leave a comment below to share what dream you’re currently chasing!
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Thanks for reading!
-Siera Arena