Awaken by Priscilla Shirer

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.}