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Girrrrl, I know that books can change your life. Books take you places you’ve never been, let you learn from experiences you’ve never had, and can change your perspective on yourself and the world around you.
If you want to be better at anything—a better wife, a better mom, a better Christ follower, a better you, then read more.
If you want to progress in any area of your life this year, and isn’t that what New Year’s resolutions are about, then read more.
I have been an avid reader since I was a kid when my mom would regularly take me to the library. The love of reading has been passed down to me from my grandmother, to my mother, to me. (And by golly, I’m going to make sure at least one of my girls loves to read.)
Now that you know how important reading has been in my life, you’ll understand why I wanted to share five books that have changed my life and will hopefully change yours.
5 Books That Will Change Your Life
1. Crazy Love by Francis Chan
If you are looking for a book to step on your toes, this is it. Crazy Love challenges the way we should view God, ourselves, and others around us. To give you a taste of what I mean, here is a quote from the book: “Many of us believe we have as much of God as we want right now, a reasonable portion of God among all the other things in our lives. Most of our thoughts are centered on the money we want to make, the school we want to attend, the body we aspire to have, the spouse we want to marry, the kind of person we want to become.… But the fact is that nothing should concern us more than our relationship with God.”
See what I mean? No matter how much I mature in my relationship with God, I think this book will always challenge me and refocus my mind on what my life should be about.
2. Finish by Jon Acuff
Finish is easily the best book about goals I’ve ever read. And, also the funniest, because Jon Acuff could be a stand-up comedian if this writing thing doesn’t work out. You see, Jon figured out that many people don’t struggle with starting something new; they struggle with finishing. 🙋🏼♀️ So, he wrote Finish to give people simple, practical strategies to make accomplishing their goals easier. I like a book that motivates me to do great things, but I love a book that gives me the practical steps to do great things. This was by far my favorite book I read last year, and if you too struggle with finishing, you must get this book.
3. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson
Mark Batterson has a way of interpreting scripture and viewing the world that is so far beyond me. I love to step into his shoes and see the world through his eyes while I read his books. And this book is my favorite of all that I’ve read by him. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day tells the story of Benaiah (from 2 Samuel 23:20-21) who chased a lion into a pit, and despite the snow and slippery ground, killed it. Benaiah was a great warrior and named the captain of King David’s bodyguard. The book shares how we can be bold like Benaiah and chase the opportunities that God places in our paths.
4. Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
I first heard of Dave Ramsey from my boss at my first job out of college. I thought she hung the moon, and when she suggested I read Total Money Makeover, I didn’t waste any time getting it. I had never been a big spender, but I also had zero idea how to create a financial plan for my life. But Dave took care of that. The Total Money Makeover gives you a step-by-step plan on how to get control of your financial life. I may have known some of the pieces like debt being bad and needing to invest for retirement, but I had no idea in what order to approach those things. Dave’s plan just plain made sense. And, I convinced my then fiancé to give it a try too. Dave has truly helped us win with money and avoid a lot of debt, aka money drama. I think every high school student should have to read this one before heading off to college. My girls sure will.
5. The Travelers Gift by Andy Andrews
I love anything Andy Andrews writes for several reasons. 1) His books are nonfiction but they are written in story form, so they are easier to digest and learn from. 2) He often uses historical figures, like Abraham Lincoln or Winston Churchill, so you feel like you are learning something about history as you read the tale. 3) Andy is a master storyteller, and it is fun to read his stories. They really suck you in. The Traveler’s Gift in particular has the main character traveling through time and learning 7 life lessons from 7 historical figures.
As a book lover, I am always on the search for great books, and I would love to hear your recommendations. What are the books that have changed the way you view the world around you or changed the way you view yourself. Email me or send me a message on Facebook or Instagram.
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