Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper is arguably his most defining work. This is an updated version (from the original 1986 version) containing more robust appendices and refined chapters. Having read The Dangerous Duty of Delight, this book drew out the principles Piper brought out in that smaller work.
Desiring God was excellent. There is much that can be said since Piper touches on many areas. One particular thing that struck me though, was an excerpt from George Muller on prayer and the Word:
"Formerly, when I rose, I began to pray as soon as possible, and generally spent all my time till breakfast in prayer, or almost all the time. At all events I almost invariably began with prayer. ... But what was the result? I often spent a quarter of an hour, or half an hour, or even an hour on my knees, before being conscious to myself of having derived comfort. encouragement, humbling of soul, etc.; and often after having suffered much from wandering of mind for the first ten minutes, or quarter of an hour, or even half an hour, I only then began to really to pray."
"I scarcely ever suffer now in this way. For my heart being nourished by the truth, being brought into experimental fellowship with God, I speak to my Father and to my Friend (vile though I am, and unworthy of it!) about the things that He has brought before me in his precious Word." (pp 156-7)
I also like his comments on how no one told him this, in book or in person. Well the cycle of secrecy is broken - what a wonderful insight to break distracted praying and turn it into true prayer!
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