Awaken: 90 Days with the God who Speaks

Absolutely loved this devotional and honestly didn’t want it to end. It gave me a lot of perspective on my every day events and learning to discern the voice of God throughout it. I’m grateful and will carry this with me for the rest of my life.

Through Priscilla Shirer's writing I have been drawn closer to my Lord by her encouragement to walk how I am called to...to listen for His voice...and to hear it through His Word and the Holy Spirit and so walk in it.

Priscilla Shirer has recently become a favourite author, actress, and teacher, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review her latest release, this great ninety day devotional. One of my favourite daily segments is on Day 17. It's the story of Jonah, when God spoke to him as recorded in the first chapter of Jonah. He was instructed to go to Ninevah, and his immediate response was negative. Priscilla Shirer then relates this story to our own lives, and asks questions that we should reflect upon. What is our Ninevah? Where is the place that we never want to go? Or who is the person that God wants us to forgive? Or what is that thing that we feel deep in our heart that God wants us to do? Out of fear or rebellion, we choose not to listen to that still small voice of God. I love how Priscilla takes a scripture and makes it personal. She brings the Word of God alive and applicable to our daily lives. I will be purchasing a physical copy of this book as soon as I can ... it's definitely a treasure that I highly recommend. Disclosure: Ebook received through Net Galley courtesy of B&H Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Priscilla Shirer is known for her books and Bible studies, but Awaken marks the first time she has distilled her message and insights into a devotional format. In the introduction, Shirer describes how the devotions were taken from her own personal journals as she sought the Lord. The sense of stillness and of seeking the Lord comes through in the each of the 90 devotions. Each of the devotions includes a Scripture lesson with an illustration to help fully explain the life application of the lesson. Shiver has a gift of words that allows her to bring the reading to a conclusion with memorable phrases that will linger in the reader's mind throughout the day. I appreciated the single reflection question that accompanied each devotion, along with the ample space to write answers. This is an essential piece to understanding the Scriptures and awakening your heart to listen for the voice of God.

If you are looking for a new devotional to help usher you closer to the Lord, I would highly recommend Awaken.

(Disclosure: B&H Publishing provided me with a copy of Awaken in exchange for my honest review.)

I have been getting very bored with devotional books lately since most of them have the same feeling and reading material. When I read them I feel like I am reading the same thing over and over again. Either they are full of fluff and not worth my time to read or they are so over my head, filled with theological speak that I can't understand anything the devotional is supposed to be teaching me. When I decided to review Awaken by Priscilla Shirer I was expecting another devotional that wasn't really worth too much, even though Priscilla Shirer is an amazing author.

I am quite familiar with Shirer and I have loved everything of her's that I have read in the past. With some skepticism I started reading thinking this would be like all of the other devotionals that I have not enjoyed in the past, but I came to find out quickly that it was very different.

For starts, Shirer begins the book with a very humble attitude saying that she has come across devotionals that are more "insightful" and "discerning" than hers, but she still decided to publish this book. Too see humility from an author was a wonderful sight to behold and intrigued me since most devotionals I have read start with the author's superiority, or the feeling thereof.

As I started to read the devotionals I found that while they are very simply written and applicable they were also amazingly profound and exactly what I need to read or "hear" from God at this moment in life. She writes about imperfection, quiet time, doing one thing at a time, and many more things that are completely applicable for everyone's life. Her writing, even in short form, is captivating, insightful, and full of God's voice. Shirer captures your attention from the first devotional and doesn't let it go until the 90th.

Seeing as this is Shirer's first devotional, she has created a simple, yet wonderfully amazing way to connect with God through her words, along with a journaling place for you to write your thoughts along with hers. I really hope that she will write another one and she has completely change my opinion on devotionals and given me some hope that some I can find God's voice in the simple, short readings.

A couple of my favorite quotes from her devotions are:

"How easily we point to our lack. How specifically we highlight our deficiency. How quickly we become consumed with the glaring evidence of all that's working against us, the hardships that are pressing us into such desperate straits. We are far less inclined to accentuate the gifts and blessings that remain."

"Abundant living mandates different living —different even from other believers who may be complacent with their freedom, lulled to sleep in their wilderness wanderings."

If there is only one devotional that you pick up and spend your quite time reading, this should be the one. It's truly amazing!!!

{Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.}

I especially love the title of this book, Awaken, by Priscilla Shirer. Every morning this week, I get up and read this devotional spending time with God as I "awaken." Shirer says on the cover she hopes that you will spend time each day with "the One who wants to Awaken you each day to the sound of His voice."

These 90 devotionals are bound in a quality hardcover book with a ribbon marker. Each devotion in Awaken starts with a Bible verse, then a reading, and ends with a Bible verse. Following each devotional are two lined pages entitled He Speaks to Me. At the top of the first lined journaling page, Shirer asks questions or gives the reader something to think about and reflect on through journaling. I especially liked that in the introduction Shirer says that she is praying for her readers. She writes that "Whether young or old, may you be encouraged and realigned toward the simple beauty of sitting with Him, hearing Him, speaking to Him and being enlightened by His love letter to you." Each of the readings in Awaken relate to every day Christian life. These are just a few of the topics: business, forgiveness, quiet time distractions, life's storms, praying for your Pastor and church leaders, and living in the present instead of worrying about the future.

Awaken is a devotional that I looked forward to each morning. I felt each reading did turn my thoughts toward God and the journaling section helped me reflect on the related topics. One thing I especially appreciate about the journaling section is that the book has two pages of space to write and reflect. Sometimes, publishers don't leave enough room for me to write everything I want to in a journaling devotional so it is nice to see all of this space in this book. For those who do art journaling, this blank space could also be used artistically to reflect your heart and time with God. I think this book would be helpful to anyone in most any adult age group. It would also make a nice gift book.

I received a copy of Awaken from BH Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for the book.

Awaken: 90 Days with the God who Speaks by Priscilla Shirer is a unique devotional that invites readers to enter into an intimate conversation with our Heavenly Father. This book isn't a 'how-to' on hearing the voice of God. It's a guide to conditioning our hearts into inviting our Lord and Savior to engage in genuine conversation with us each day.
 
It is very important for readers to know that this is not the typical devotional. It is not designed for us to quickly read it and run. What makes this devotional special is the attention it places on getting us to focus on our lives, our experiences and how they can draw us closer to God.
 
This devotional is not going to be truly impactful to readers who are not interested in putting in the work required to develop a habit of conversing with God daily. At its heart, this devotional is Priscilla's invitation for us to experience God speaking to us throughout each and every day, as He so longs to. However, this will only be possible if readers are willing to commit to daily reflection and journaling.
 
I firmly believe that this is a book that is willing to give as much as readers are willing to invest. For some, it will be "just another devotional". For the truly committed, it will be a catalyst to experiencing true, positive and lasting life changes. Priscilla, led by the Spirit of God, has done it again. This book definitely possesses the power to awaken…those who are ready, willing and truly committed!

I received this book free from the publisher through the BH/LifeWay book review bloggers program and I was not required to write a positive review.

Awaken: 90 Days with the God who Speaks will awaken you each day with fresh insights right from the Spirit of God. You will be challenged, encouraged and strengthened. I found it hard to read only one devotion a day.

Priscilla’s devotions deepened my relationship with Jesus and increased my understanding of Him. For me this book is a 90 Challenge to sit and listen quietly to God. I loved how the book was set up. There are 90 different devotions that start with a scripture passage and thoughts by Priscilla. There is space as well to journal your thoughts and prompts to get you started.

One of the devotions that had me thinking was about Daily Bread, and talks about the Sabbeth, how it is not meant to be a hurdle to be worked around each week. We all need to stop and refocus our attention on God. “That it should be a pause, a stopping point, a decision to take a break..... My goal is to make Sabbeth a priority.

This was my first Priscilla Shirer book and will not be my last, game changing, thought provoking. Get the book, you will devour the devotions..

Choosing is different than choosing a book to read. This kind of reading is not for reading enjoyment or pleasure, it’s for listening to hear from God, something to pray over.
Once again choosing a devotional is a personal thing, and I believe that this one is a front-runner. We all know Priscilla Shrirer through her Bible studies and her role in War Room.
This devotional will be a disappointment. I was thrilled with this devotional. Priscilla sits you down over 60 days and helps you meditate on a verse and she really makes you reflect about what was read. She has a unique way of explaining and illustrating the verse so you can absolutely understand what is written and how it applies to your life. You can really hear what God wants you to hear. I also love that Priscilla encourages you to journal and put your own thoughts down at the end of every devotional.
These devotionals, will encourage you, challenge you and transform you.
My favorite one, and the one that spoke to me was on day 60, Quiet but not so quiet. This encouraged me to sit down and find time with God no matter what circumstances are going on around me.
Highly recommended, well written and easy to read, this is one book that will always be open and read on my desk.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

I have enjoyed watching Priscilla Shirer use her God-given talents to write Bible studies, act (The War Room), speak and now to write an amazing 90 day devotional drawing the reader closer to "God Who Speaks".  I first received this devotional as an e-book. Kindle allows me to save passages I found relevant but I could not do the journaling along with the reading. So, even though I received the e-book for free from B&H Publishing Group for my honest review, the moment it was available in hardback, I purchased not only a copy for myself but also for four of my family and friends. THAT'S how much I loved it!

Over a 90 day period, Priscilla leads us through a daily scripture reading, a vignette relevant to the scripture, plenty of space to journal with more scripture sprinkled throughout the journaling pages. Her writing is real, honest and relevant to women of all ages and seasons of life because the point of the devotional is not really about us but about drawing closer to God.

I would highly recommend buying this devotional not only for yourself but as gifts for family and friends.

In her devotional book, Awaken: 90 Days With The God Who Speaks, Priscilla Shirer does a wonderful job of writing devotionals that are intent on making your prayer life more intentional and fruitful. They are short, yet Biblically grounded. I found them to be a perfect way to start my day. She used insights from her own personal journals and journey with the Lord, to bring home her chosen scriptures for the day. There is space for you to write down your reflections as well.

I highly recommend this book for anyone hoping to enrich their personal prayer and devotion time. It also would be a wonderful gift to give.

I was given a copy of this book by B & H Publishing through Net Galley. All opinions are my own.

I love this devotional from Priscilla Shirer! I could tell that she wrote this from many years of experiencing God and contemplating her life, and learning from God's Word. We get the benefit of her experience and wisdom. Each devotion is challenging you to look deeper into God's Word and how God is working in your life. I feel so encouraged by this book! My first reading I just read it through and highlighted the many parts I want to go back to. I plan to re-read the book and take the time to answer the questions after each devotion. There is space after each devotion to answer 1 or 2 questions. For this reason, I suggest you purchase a print copy of this book, instead of the Kindle version (which I have). There also were some awkward page breaks in the Kindle version. I will be writing the answers to the questions in a notebook, since I don't have a print copy. This book is full of great insights! I highly recommend it.