* I was given Awaken to help facilitate my review. All thoughts and opinions are hones and 100% mine.
I am at a time in my life when I know God is trying to teach me something specific. It feels almost as if it is on the tip of my tongue. No matter how much I struggle to understand, my whole being remains in the dark. Finally, frustrated, I cried out and asked for the Lord to show me what He is trying to teach me. In his faithfulness, He has been giving me wisdom and insight. This time he brought a mentor in the form of Priscilla Shirer’s devotional book ‘Awaken.‘
I am so thankful the Lord knows when I am ready for deeper wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. It has been a year of challenges and an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord. Experiencing first-hand how the father lavishes on his children, yet allows us to endure trials and to suffer at the same time. Mark’s Lyme disease diagnosis is taking a toll on our whole family. The stress of beginning a career that was nowhere on my radar two years ago takes a toll on me emotionally and mentally. Both, Mark’s chronic illness and running our business continue to stretch and grow me in painful and beautiful ways.
I am grasping new concepts, gaining new skills and doing it at kneck breaking speeds or so it seems to my human comprehension. ‘Awaken,’ has indeed been sent to me for such a time as this. This ninety-day devotional is perfect. The insert describing the books says, “This kind of reading is not merely for leisure and enjoyment. With this kind of book, you’re praying for something more.” This phrase is the story of my life right now. We are praying for something more, praying for miracles and soaking in the peace and joy that comes from my relationship with Jesus, even when prayers go unanswered.
I appreciate each bite-size nugget of truth. The truths are not served in a let’s shove this down your throat in huge chunk size pieces to choke on. Rather, the pieces are large enough to call me on the carpet with my sin but gentle enough that my rebellious self-doesn’t get riled up. Nuggets with you that have spoken straight to my heart and has renewed and inspired me to press on and not grow weary in doing good. Truths I heard a girl and simply needed a fresh reminder. While other concepts are new, and I find myself saying, duh. Why didn’t I think of this
“Start each day and each decision with an immediate declaration of complete dependence on Him.” – pg. 4
I have been seeking the Lord and asking Him what it looks like to trust and rely on him. Trusting him with each relationship, task, and circumstance in my life.