May 2022 – Amanda Holland

Royalty Romance

I’m a sucker for a great royalty romance. From Rachel Hauck’s True Blue Royals and Royal Weddings to The Selection to Toni Shiloh’s newest, I love a good romance involving princes and princesses. There’s something about a Royal falling in love with a commoner and fairy tales coming true—plus the guaranteed happily ever ending is perfect when I’m stressed.

Heart’s Bend, Tennessee Books

Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, is a fictional town featured in many Rachel Hauck books, including her Wedding Dress series and the brand new series from Sunrise Publishing. I love this town so much I wish it was real so I could go visit! Once again, these books deliver the happily ever ending I crave when I’m stressed.

Childhood Favorites

Childhood favorites—the books that made me fall in love with reading in the first place—are such comforting reads. In recent years, I’ve started re-reading many of those favorites, and I find them just as, if not more meaningful, to me as an adult. Stand-outs include A Wrinkle in Time, Little Women, and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Classics

Some classics fall into the category of childhood favorites, but others I didn’t discover until adulthood. (How did I get through college without ever reading Jane Austen? I missed out for so long!) I love the comfort of reading a classic that’s been enjoyed for generation and after generation.

Do your reading habits change when you’re stressed? What are your comfort reads?

Morning is my favorite time of day. It’s the only time of day when my house is quiet, and I love those peaceful moments before everyone else wakes up. I drink my coffee, go over my planner, write in my journal, and spend time in Bible study. It’s how I prepare myself for the day ahead, whether it’s a busy day at work, a day filled with errands and appointments, or a relaxing day at home.

Bible study is so important to our relationship with Jesus. But let’s be honest—sometimes it can be a struggle. I’ve had seasons where I loved spending time in the Word, but I’ve also had seasons where it was hard. It’s okay to admit that your Bible study isn’t working. The important thing is finding what does work for you. If you’re having a tough time with your current study, or if you want to start studying the Bible, here are few things you should consider.

1. Be realistic

Does your Bible study take two hours when you really only have thirty minutes? Are you studying at a time of day when you’re really busy or distracted? Sometimes we set goals that just aren’t attainable for the season of life we’re in. Look at your current schedule and see what’s realistic for you during this season of life. How much time can you set aside for your study? What time of day works best?

2. Reassess your goals

What do you want to accomplish? Do you want to read through the Bible? Focus on studying a whole book? Look at your goals. Does your current study help you accomplish those goals? If not, it may be time to change.

3. Take a break

Don’t stop reading your Bible, but take a break from the study you’re doing. Don’t feel like you have to finish something that isn’t working for you. Put it aside and spend a few days reading a favorite book of the Bible or some Psalms.

4. Try something new.

Sometimes a new type of study can make you excited about Bible study again. There are so many options to choose from! Kay Arthur offers great in-depth, inductive Bible study. Kari at Ordinary Kari has some really fun art journaling studies. She Reads Truth has great online studies for free. There are so many good study options out there!

5. Find accountability.

If you’re struggling with your quiet time, be sure to find someone to keep you accountable. It can be a friend, a family member, a group at church—just find someone who will give you a gentle nudge to keep going if you get discouraged. We weren’t made to live life alone, so find help as you search for the right routine for you.

What are you currently studying? Is it working well for you? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Sum up a book in one word? That’s a challenge! I could say so much more about these books, especially the ones with five star reviews. But this week’s challenge is a one word review of the last ten books I’ve read, so here they are. For more details on these, check out my Goodreads account.