I love to read. I still use the library to find fiction books to read for fun. I average 3 or more novels a week.... I don't really watch tv lol. As much as I love fiction, I try to read a book a month that I've deemed "smart people" books. Silly name, but that's what I call them. I used to read books on leadership, social media, business, etc, but as my faith has grown and my heart has changed, I find there is no greater leader than our God. That's not to say that books like Start by Jon Acuff, The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, or Push by Chalene Johnson aren't valuable, they are. Read them if you haven't. ;) However, I'm in a season where my heart just wants Jesus. I need to be daily reminded of his love for me and that my hope is in Him, not myself.
I went through my books and bible studies and wanted to share a quick list of studies that have changed me. There are a lot of good books out there, but these are the ones that have left me seeking God and allowing Him to work in me to change my heart. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26 As some of you know, I'm fairly new to this whole consistently reading the Bible thing. I started my first ever bible study 2 years ago. My consistency with reading, my understanding of what I was learning, that took a little time. I want to encourage you that there is no right way to read the Bible. There is no prescribed plan that works better than others. I encourage you to do just what I did and commit to showing up. Commit to opening your bible for 10 minutes. Commit to reading and praying. Your prayer can be "God, I don't understand what I'm supposed to get out of this. Please help." Seriously, it's okay to not know. Don't let that fear or insecurity keep you away from the one who can give you reassurance and security. I also encourage you to find a study or a group or a friend that you can chat with each week. I know that having mentors helped my growth immensely. Bible Studies: "What Love Is" by Kelly Minter. It focused on 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John. "Armor of God" by Priscilla Shirer. This study changed me immensely and focused on Ephesians. "Seamless" by Angie Smith. 7 weeks through the entire bible! Great study for people new to the Bible so that you can see God's faithfulness and how the entire bible is about Jesus. Hosea by Jenn Rothschild. My first time reading an Old Testament book and it focuses on God's redeeming love for all of us. Books/devotionals: "Famous in Heaven and at Home" by Michelle Myers. Every woman needs to read this! I go back to it over and over because it's focus on God's character and calling on our lives helps keep life simple. 31 day study with space to write going through Proverbs 31. "The Best Yes" by Lysa Terkeurst. As women we often spread ourselves to thin. Every time you say yes to something, you are also saying no to something else. This book helps us find The Best Yes. "Fervent" by Priscilla Shirer. There is an enemy who attacks us and details us. Each chapter focuses on specific areas such as your passion, focus, identity and you craft detailed prayer strategies. This book is helping me be intentional about prayer. I hope to add more books and bible studies to this list soon, but I hope this helps. If you have specific questions or a favorite study or book you recommend, let's hear it. Comment or send me a message.
2 Comments
6/23/2023 10:17:57 am
I wanted to express my gratitude for your insightful and engaging article. Your writing is clear and easy to follow, and I appreciated the way you presented your ideas in a thoughtful and organized manner. Your analysis was both thought-provoking and well-researched, and I enjoyed the real-life examples you used to illustrate your points. Your article has provided me with a fresh perspective on the subject matter and has inspired me to think more deeply about this topic.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
November 2017
Categories
All
|