Engaging with God: Journey from Pharisee to Disciple
A Christian Spiritual Growth Book
Are you striving to earn God’s approval, yet longing for deeper peace and assurance? Engaging with God is a Christian book about relationship with God that invites you into an authentic, transforming relationship with Jesus, rooted in love rather than performance.
From Spiritual Checklist to Intimate Relationship with God
- You know the right answers.
- You attend church.
- You pray.
- You read your Bible.
So why does your relationship with God sometimes feel… distant?
In Engaging With God: Journey From Pharisee to Disciple, Janet F. Salazar shares the honest journey that transformed her faith from performance-driven religion into a deeply personal, life-giving relationship with God. What began as routine became something far richer — communion instead of checklist, trust instead of striving.
This is not a call to try harder or add more religious activity to your schedule. It is an invitation to rediscover the God who longs to be known by you — and to experience the peace, assurance, and joy that flow from genuine intimacy with Him.
Raised in the church, Janet knew Scripture well. She excelled in Bible trivia contests, could say the right spiritual phrases, and understood what was expected. But beneath the surface, something was unsettled.
Anger still flared out of control far too often. Prayer felt like a struggle to maintain focus rather than a conversation with God. The peace Scripture promised remained elusive.
And beneath it all, the question persisted:
Why isn’t this working? What am I missing?
One morning, her frustration finally boiled over. In a reaction that startled even her, she threw her Bible across the room.
Shocked—and a little shaken by her own response—she realized she could not keep trying to do all the right things and expect different results.
So she stopped striving.
Instead of trying to make God respond according to her expectations, she made a different decision: to open Scripture with one objective—to discover what God is really like.
What she discovered transformed how she related to God.
In Engaging With God, Janet shares the practical tools and spiritual insights that grew out of her reshaped understanding of prayer, Scripture, and faith:
- Simple methods that move prayer from monologue to conversation.
- A fresh approach to Bible study that moves beyond information into communion.
- Biblical clarity about faith—what it is and what it is not.
- A pathway to internalizing God’s forgiveness instead of merely knowing it intellectually.
- Spiritual practices that anchor your faith when life’s storms threaten to undo everything.
This is the story of moving from knowing about God to truly engaging with Him.
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Is This Book for You?
This book was written for sincere Christians who believe in God and want to love Him deeply — yet find themselves mired in duty, burdened by guilt, exhausted from trying to bring God close, and wondering where the promised peace is.
Their silent but aching question remains: Is this all there is?
You may recognize yourself here:
- Your devotional life feels more like responsibility than relationship.
- You sit down to pray with good intentions…but your mind drifts, leaving you wondering whether you really met with God.
- You know the doctrines, the prophecies, the right answers, yet still feel spiritually dry.
- You read about transformation but struggle to see that kind of change in your own life.
- You quietly question whether you are “doing enough.”
- You long for a vibrant, authentic walk with Christ—but feel trapped in a cycle of striving and starting over.
If you have ever felt like a “Pharisee in disguise”—doing everything right on the outside while longing for deeper transformation on the inside—you are not alone.
This book is especially helpful for readers who are:
- Longtime Christians who quietly long for something deeper.
- Believers exhausted by performance-based faith and ready for lasting transformation.
- Small groups seeking thoughtful discussion and meaningful spiritual growth.
- Prayer and discipleship ministries looking for practical, biblically grounded teaching tools.
- Anyone ready to move from religious routine into authentic relationship with God.
You are not uniquely broken.
You are not spiritually defective.
Many sincere believers quietly wrestle with the same tension between performance and relationship.
And there is a way forward—the same path that led Janet from religious routine into authentic relationship.
What You’ll Experience as You Read
This book is not about adding more spiritual activity to your schedule. It is about transforming the time you already spend with God into something alive.
As you walk through these pages, you will learn how to:
Deepen Your Prayer Life
Discover a simple, biblical framework that helps you approach God with confidence and expectancy. Learn practical tools to remain focused and present—and overcome the guilt that keeps you distant.
Revitalize Your Bible Study
Move beyond reading for knowledge and begin reading for encounter. Learn how to meditate on Scripture in a way that allows the Holy Spirit to speak personally into your life.
Strengthen and Train Your Faith
Understand faith as a decision rooted in trust, not merely a feeling. Develop habits that strengthen your spiritual resilience and equip you to stand firm under pressure.
Internalize God’s Love
Break free from performance-based Christianity and embrace the radical truth that you are fully known and fully loved. Learn how to forgive yourself as completely as God forgives you.
Stand Steady in Life’s Storms
Gain biblical clarity about suffering and unanswered prayer. Discover how to hold onto God’s promises even when circumstances do not change.
No spam. Just thoughtful encouragement and practical spiritual growth.
What Makes This Book Different
Many books tell you to pray more.
Many urge you to have greater faith.
This book helps you understand how.
Grounded in Scripture, shaped by lived experience, and tested in the realities of everyday life, this book offers practical guidance without formulas — and biblical depth without platitudes.
Janet writes with honesty about her own struggles—perfectionism, doubt, and anger—and about the patient way God led her into freedom.
This is not a message of spiritual achievement.
It is a journey toward greater spiritual intimacy.
Book Details
Title: Engaging With God: Journey from Pharisee to Disciple
Author: Janet F. Salazar
Publisher: Pacific Press Publishing Association
Publication Year: 2025
Format: Paperback (eBook coming soon)
ISBN: 978-0816371099
Category: Christian Spiritual Growth, Prayer, Bible Study, Christian Living
Begin the Journey
You do not have to remain stuck in spiritual routine.
You were not created merely to know about God.
You were created to know Him.
If you are ready to move from performance to presence, from striving to surrender, from checklist to communion—this journey is for you.
Start reading today:
Interested in bringing this message to your church, retreat, or event? Let’s connect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this book only for Seventh-day Adventists?
While written from the author’s Adventist background, the biblical principles and spiritual practices explored in this book are applicable to Christians of any denomination who desire a deeper, more authentic relationship with God.
Is this book written only for women?
No. While many women resonate deeply with its message, this book is written for any Christian who desires a more authentic and intimate relationship with God. The biblical principles and spiritual practices it explores apply equally to men and women.
Is this book appropriate for new believers?
Yes. The principles are accessible to newer Christians while still offering depth and insight for longtime believers.
Does the book focus more on theology or practical application?
Both. Each spiritual practice is rooted in careful biblical understanding and presented in a way that is practical and applicable to everyday life.
Can this book be used for small groups?
Yes. The themes and practical structure of the book lend themselves well to thoughtful group discussion, prayer ministries, and discipleship settings.
No spam. Just thoughtful encouragement and practical spiritual growth.