I’ve always considered myself a bookworm, but it wasn’t until COVID-19 arrived on the scene that I actually started reading more. Between quarantine and being laid off from work back in 2020, my love for reading has really grown. More specifically, I’ve found a greater appreciation for Christian/Inspirational reads.
Today, I want to share with you my top 5 favorite books that I read last year. It’s my prayer that you’ll pick up at least one of these books, and that it’ll bless your life like it did mine.
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1. When God Says Wait by Elizabeth Laing Thompson
Now this book right here, honey…this book really takes the cake. I remember visiting a Christian bookstore with my mom one day and came across it on one of the shelves. I said to myself, “This sounds like something I need,” I was definitely in a season of waiting (still am, actually), and I knew I could use some encouragement while in my waiting.
In this book, Elizabeth takes bible stories about waiting and gives them a contemporary feel (which I think is a great strategy when it comes to explaining how the text can help us in our everyday walk with God). If a book gets good to me, I love taking a highlighter to it and marking up key points. And you better believe I marked this book allll the way up, okay?! If you find yourself in a waiting season, I definitely recommend this book! Elizabeth even shares about her personal waiting seasons! (It’s always good to know you’re not alone. That’s why we share our testimonies so others can receive their healing.) If you’re waiting on anything at all, give this book a read.
2. Big, Bold, & Beautiful by Kierra Sheard-Kelly
It’s such a quick read, but yet holds so much weight! What I love about Kierra is that she’s so relatable. Even as a young evangelist, well known gospel singer, and daughter of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God In Christ, she stays true to herself. She lives her life unapologetically, and does it all to the glory of God!
I had the pleasure of being in her SistHER Mentorship program, and from that experience alone, I can tell you that she’s so passionate about pouring into young women and wants them to be everything God called them to be. That same passion is definitely present in Big, Bold, & Beautiful. Her book is full of testimonies that serve as encouragement to young women everywhere.
If you’re able to, I definitely recommend listening to the audiobook version, as Kierra reads it herself. Her personality really makes it so much better!
3. The Purpose Driven Life by Pastor Rick Warren
This is a book that Kierra actually recommended during one of her SistHER Mentoring sessions. It wasn’t until I researched the book that I realized how popular it is. Even though its original release was in 2002, it’s still selling like crazy!
Picking up this book was one of the best decisions I ever made. I always had somewhat of an idea of what my purpose was and I figured reading this book would help me become sure of it. As a 40 day devotional, The Purpose Driven Life offers tools and strategies that’ll help you identify what your unique purpose is. Like every single book on my list, it also backs up everything with scripture (as any good Christian book should do). There’s absolutely no denying the word of the Lord! This book in particular is something I can see myself reading every single year if needed. It definitely serves as a reminder of why we are here on this earth.
4. When Women Pray by Bishop T.D. Jakes
Just Like When God Says Wait, Bishop T.D. Jakes takes the stories of 10 phenomenal women of the Bible, and tells their stories in a contemporary way. A few months after the pandemic started, I realized my prayer life needed a little work. When Women Pray served as great encouragement and helped me realize that I was capable of praying more fervently than I ever imagined. I think what I enjoyed most about this book was learning about women of the bible that I wasn’t really familiar with (i.e. Rhoda & Anna). I enjoyed the book so much, I ended up purchasing the journal T.D. Jakes later released to compliment the book. It’s on my to-do list to re-read When Women Pray, along with writing in the journal.
5. Fervent by Priscilla Shirer
Last but not least, Fervent is also a great book that helped me improve my prayer life. I read this book along with a friend and we both enjoyed it a lot! Priscilla gives the readers a very strategic battle plan to defeating the enemy with prayer. Being that Priscilla is the daughter of well known preacher Tony Evans, I knew I was in for a good read. (Her sister, Chrystal Evans Hurst, also has a book out called The 28-Day Prayer Journey if you’d like to check that out as well!)
Priscilla helps simplify what really is just communication with God. She helps the readers understand that there is power in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). If you want to develop a strategic plan for your prayer life, Fervent definitely is the book for you!
If you want to check out all the books I’ve read and the books I’m currently reading, head on over to Goodreads and follow my profile to stay up to date with my reading journey. My goal for this year is to read 12 books. (One book a month is doable, right?)
I pray that you’ve found a book you might want to read this year and if you did, it’s also my prayer that it’ll change your life and help you on your walk with the Lord.
Happy Reading!
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