Guarding What God Grows

Flourish

Written by Ava Pennington

Published by Kregel Publications

Release Date: 10.21.25

Genre: Nonfiction, Christian Living, Theology

5 Stars!

The tagline says it perfectly: Grace-centered practices to protect and grow a fruitful life in Christ. Flourish is a deeply Scriptural invitation to live fully yielded to Him. Ava Pennington defines the fruit of the Spirit and reveals how the Holy Spirit cultivates, guards, and restores what God plants within us. These pages feel alive; soaked in Scripture’s truth, watered by grace, and rooted in the eternal Word of God.

Pennington writes with clarity and conviction, gently teaching that the fruit of the Spirit is not something we produce through effort, but something God grows through personal surrender. She leads readers to recognize the spiritual battle that seeks to steal what God has planted and equips them to protect that sacred growth with prayer, obedience, and trust.

I am deeply moved by the reminder that “one of the great frustrations in growing fruit is watching it develop day by day, only to see it stolen just as it reaches the peak of ripeness.” That truth pierces me. The fruit of the Spirit is not symbolic—it is living evidence of God’s presence within us, and the enemy would love nothing more than to see it spoiled or stunted. Yet our God is in the recovery business. Through His Word and His Spirit, He restores what the thief dares to steal.

Every chapter encourages me to stay alert, dependent, and rooted. I pause often to pray, asking the Holy Spirit to quiet the enemy’s lies and draw me nearer to Him and His work within me. This is a book to sit with, letting truth take root deep in your soul.

Flourish is perfect for both new believers and lifelong followers of Christ who long to grow deeper in faith. It’s a resource for personal study or small groups seeking to cultivate lives that reflect Jesus. Grace-filled, biblically sound, and beautifully practical, this book reminds us that fruitfulness begins not with striving, but with surrender … a heart continually yielding in loving obedience.

I received a paperback of this book from the publisher. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on biblical faithfulness, clarity of message, and the author’s ability to illuminate Scripture with accuracy and affection for Christ, ensuring transparency and trustworthy reflection of the book’s spiritual depth and value.