By: Chris V I love to read; one of my favorite activities during the summer is knocking out a very long reading list! Sometimes, though, finding books to read that are pure and God-honoring can be hard! So, I've made a list of five Christian books I love to read over and over again that have challenged me and brought me closer to God (and make great additions to summer reading lists). Enjoy! 1. Girl Defined By Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird In today's culture, finding out how to live God's design for womanhood can be tricky! Girl Defined is an amazing book that goes over God's design for women and what a successful woman looks like in God's eyes. It also goes over God's design and purpose for femininity. Pick up a copy from your library or on Amazon here. 2. Lies Young Women Believe By Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth and Dannah Gresh Have you ever believed a lie? (I know I have tons of times!) In the book Lies Young Women Believe, Nancy and Dannah go over twenty-five commonly believed lies among Christian young women, ranging from lies about God to lies about your future. The book also goes over how to combat the infinite amount of lies Satan throws at us. Get a copy from your library or on Amazon here. 3. Loved Defined By Kristen Clark and Bethany Baird Are you single or in a relationship and struggling to navigate your love life? Then this book is for you! Love Defined unpacks God's design for romance and has biblical truths in every chapter to help relationships (and future relationships) put God first. Check out the book on Amazon here or at your local library! 4. Backwards Beauty By Jessie Minassian This culture is full of lies about beauty, from body size to eating habits. In Backwards Beauty, Jessie goes over ten lies teen girls are most likely to believe about beauty in today's culture. (Along with this book, I encourage you to check out the Dove model evolution video here.) Get a copy to read on Amazon here or from your local library. 5. Let's Be Real by Natasha Bure In this book, Natasha Bure goes over living a real and honest life. From faith, to guys, to conviction, Let's Be Real is full of tips on living an open, real, God-glorifying life. Check out this book from your library or on Amazon here. We want to hear from you!What are some of the books on your reading list for summer? Let us know in the comments below!
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Image found at: https://p1.pxfuel.com/preview/289/388/891/coffee-time-turkish-coffe-cups-with-black-wood-royalty-free-thumbnail.jpg By: Chris V Lately, a lot of things that I have planned on doing have been cancelled. Travelling, church activities, hanging out with family and friends... they have all gone out the window. This hasn't been the first time my plans haven't gone the way I've wanted them to. Quick question: What's wrong with the statement that you just read? Those plans? They were my plans, not God's. Why is that important? Check out the five truths to remember below: 1. God's plan for you is perfect In Jeremiah 29:11, it says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope". God knows the plan He has for you, and it's a perfect plan to bring good to your life. Also, (as discussed in point five) God is all-knowing. He knows what's best for you in the long run, which goes into His perfect plan for your life. 2. God's Plan For You Doesn't Fall Apart Have you ever made a plan that just "falls apart"; it doesn't go the way you planned or doesn't happen at all? I know I have! Proverbs 19:21 tells us "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand". In other words, God's plan for you and your life can withstand anything. We may make tons of plans, from meeting friends at the mall to going on a missions trip, which are sometimes guaranteed to fall apart. But, God's perfect, holy, and sovereign plan for you and your life will always stand. 3. God's Plan works for your good Romans 8:28 says "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose". God loves His children and wants to bring them good while keeping them safe. God may say no to that trip you wanted to take to New Zealand, but in the long run, you may see that it was for your own good. Our all-knowing God works for our good with His plan for your life, even if that doesn't align with your plans. 4.God's Plan Brings you closer to Him The Bible tells us that there will be trials will come in our lives (John 16:33). First Peter 1:5-7 tells us that "you who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ". In other words, trials strengthen our faith, which is God's plan to bring us closer to Him. So the next time your plans are ended because of a trial, keep in mind that God's with you the whole time (Joshua 1:9) and strengthening your faith in Him through that trial. 5. God's Plan is on His understanding, not ours We are told in Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths". Why is it so important to lean on God's understanding instead of ours? Because of sin, our understanding is fallen, twisted, and immoral (Romans 2:29-31). When we lean on our own limited understanding, we're showing that we think we're smarter than God and ultimately, not trusting God with our lives. In James 3:14-16, it says "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice". Our plans we make leaning on our own understanding are chaos and sinful. However, God's understanding is all-knowing (Psalm 147:5), righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21), and pure (Habakkuk 1:13). If we lean on God's all-knowing understanding, our paths will become straight and free from sin. The Best Plan? Sometimes, it seems hard to follow God's plan for your life! It may not go with what you planned for your life at all: not getting married, not having six kids, not having the job you wanted. Overall, though, is the best plan really your own? Or is it our all-knowing, loving, caring God's perfect plan?
We'd love to hear from you! Has there ever been a time something in your life didn't go as planned, and turned out to be for your good? Tell us in the comments below! |
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