Book Review: Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart by Lysa TerKeurst and Team

About the Book:

What lies heaviest on your heart as you lay your head on your pillow? Are paralyzing fear and anxiety stealing tomorrow's peace? Listen to this invitation from Jesus: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28 NIV). 

Experiencing this kind of rest won't come from escapism, more vacation days, or stuffing our feelings. Jesus Himself provides rest to our weary souls. While He may not always fix everything right away, we can fix our thoughts on His Word. In doing this, we can sleep at night with ease knowing that God has it all under control.

Through the pages of Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart, written by New York Times best selling author Lysa TerKeurst and her friends at Proverbs 31 Ministries, you will be equipped to:

• Quiet fearful and anxious thoughts that always seem to be the loudest before bedtime by incorporating the Bible into your nightly routine.
• Find relief from the stress of daily obligations and pressures through 50 encouraging devotions and guided prayers written by women like you.
• Release the heaviness you feel about hard situations in your life so you can wake up refreshed and walk into the next day with courage.

Learn more or buy now at: https://www.thomasnelson.com/p/clear-mind-peaceful-heart/

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My Thoughts:

In Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart, Lysa TerKeurst and the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team have given us 50 devotions to be read at bedtime. Most of the entries take under five minutes to read, which is helpful when I’m tired. Each devotional thought is followed by a prayer. Content wise, the devotional is split into four sections: (1) Balancing Daily Obligations and Pressures, (2) Confronting Fear and Uncertainty, (3) Navigating Family Concerns, (4) Trusting God in Difficult Times. The topics covered within those sections are diverse. I appreciated the honesty and authenticity of the women sharing their experiences. I found the devotionals to be positive, comforting, and encouraging.

I intend to keep my copy of Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart: 50 Devotions for Sleeping Well in a World Full of Worry for future use. It’s the type of book I could use repeatedly and glean new thoughts from with each read. I think this devotional would make a lovely gift for a Christian woman of any age. The hardcover book holds a gift notation page and a sewn-in ribbon bookmark.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Many thanks to Harper Collins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

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Giveaway:

Enter to win a $5 Starbucks gift card by commenting below with the answer to this question: Would you like to read Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart? Must leave full name and email address for entry to be valid. US only. Giveaway closes 08/05/2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Book Review: I'll Start Again Monday by Lysa TerKeurst

About the Book:

The Missing Companion for Healthy Eating Plans That Have Left You Feeling Defeated.

So often we characterize our food cravings as bad or guilt inducing, especially when dieting has made us feel even more disappointed and defeated. But the reality is we were made to crave. We just need to realize God created us to crave more of Him instead of misplacing that craving by overindulging in physical pleasures and unhealthy choices that will never truly satisfy. In the midst of her own personal struggle with this, New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst invites us into a new perspective of permanent change to get out of the same old pattern of losing weight but then gaining it back.

In this newly revised and condensed version of Made to Crave, Lysa shows you how to:break the cycle of “I'll start again Monday” and start taking steps toward consistency that lasts.

• stop agonizing over numbers on the scale and make peace with your body.
• replace rationalizations that lead to failure with wisdom that leads to victory.
• reach your healthy goals and grow closer to God through the process.

This is not a “how-to” book or the latest and greatest dieting plan. This is the necessary resource to use alongside whatever healthy lifestyle plan you choose that will help you find your “want to.” This message is what’s been missing in your journey toward sustainable success and health.

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My Thoughts:

I enjoyed reading I’ll Start Again Monday: Breaking the Cycle of Unhealthy Eating Habits with Lasting Spiritual Satisfaction by Lysa TerKeurst. It was easy-to-read and well-organized. As a revised and condensed version of Made to Crave, it featured plenty of the same concepts, but was set up in the style of a daily devotional with short readings for each day. The book held my attention and did not drag in the middle like many self-help books do.

I’ll Start Again Monday focused on breaking unhealthy eating habits to become physically and spiritually healthy. Lysa TerKeurst shared some of her personal nutrition plan but did not advocate for a specific food regimen. Rather, as the author explored her thoughts on finding spiritual satisfaction, she laid out smart principles for Christian living. Some examples include: walking in victory/freedom, taking each thought captive, replacing lies with truth, commitment, perseverance, and deepening one’s relationship with God.

The exhortations in I’ll Start Again Monday can be applied to multiple areas of life, not just the pursuit of physical health. Some of the teachings felt a bit heavy-handed and strict. I didn’t buy into everything in the book, but overall, I found it to have excellent spiritual insights and encouragement.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product via the Amazon Vine program. All opinions in this review are my own.

Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food by Lysa Terkeurst

Did you know that it's okay to crave and not feel guilty about it? In Made to Crave, Lysa Terkeurst leads women on a healing journey from the captivity of guilt and repetitive cycles to freedom and empowerment found through healthy choices. With extreme transparency, she writes of her own struggles with the foods she loved and the truths she learned of how to satisfy her cravings with God, not food.

Made to Crave is a book for any Christian woman, regardless of her weight or waistline. Terkeurst advocates that shifting to healthier eating habits, whether you are overweight or at a healthy weight, is actually a way to draw closer to God. I confess, I never thought of it that way before this book. However, she makes valid points and backs it up with Scripture. The author writes in such a way that it feels like she's a close friend sitting across the table from you. While the book is easy to read and has a good dose of humor, addressing the deeper issues in this book is not so easy. The author freely admits that the journey will be hard, but follows it up with encouragement that it can be accomplished.

Some prominent thoughts from this book:

1. Perspective changes things. It's better to view the process as embracing healthy choices rather than having to repeatedly deny myself the foods I want. It's about being healthy, not about self-denial.
2. Use a food craving as a prompting to pray. It's not very appealing when that brownie is sitting in front of me begging me to eat it, but it is very effective.
3. I was made for more. I was made for more than repetitive cycles of failure. I was made for victory and freedom.

There were plenty of other good points, as well. I recommend this book to any woman who desires to grow closer to God as she grows closer to her ideal weight.


To read an excerpt from Made to Crave, click here.


To visit the blog tour for Made to Crave, click here.

Lysa TerKeurst is an author and speaker who helps everyday women live an adventure of faith through following Jesus Christ. As president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa has led thousands to make their walk with God an invigorating journey.

 

Lysa wrote the book Made to Crave from the perspective of a woman who has never craved a carrot stick in her whole life. Having struggled with her weight her whole adult life, Lysa knows what it feels like to be in the vicious cycle of gaining and losing, but never feeling at peace in her struggle. Everything changed when Lysa decided to have her deepest desire met by God not food. Now, armed with the spiritual motivation she gained in her own journey, she is inspiring others to find lasting victory.

 

As a nationally known speaker, Lysa has been passionately teaching women God’s truths for years. Lysa’s personal adventures of following God led to appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, The 700 Club, USA Today newspaper, Woman’s Day magazine, and Focus on the Family radio.

 

Today, Lysa and her ministry team at Proverbs 31 Ministries encourage more than 375,000 women through their daily online devotional. In addition, she co-hosts a 1-minute inspirational radio program aired on more than 1,200 stations around the world. Plus, she touches hearts through their monthly magazine, P31 Woman. Lysa’s blog averages over 70,000 avid readers per month. She is the award-winning author of 14 books, including her newest releases, Made to Crave and Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl. Other noteworthy books include What Happens When Woman Say Yes to God, What Happens When Women Walk in Faith, Capture His Heart, and Capture Her Heart. Visit Lysa's website for more info and to visit her blog! http://www.lysaterkeurst.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. 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."

Made to Crave Giveaway

Win a brand new KINDLE from Lysa Terkeurst during the Made To Crave KINDLE Giveaway!

To celebrate the release of Made to Crave and the MTC Small Group DVD Study Set, Lysa is giving away a KINDLE prize package worth over $175.00! To enter just click on one of the icons below! One winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle with Wi-Fi & the New E Ink Pearl Screen
• KINDLE editions of Lysa’s Made to Crave and Becoming More Than A Good Girl

But, wait there is more!

Lysa will be announcing the winner of the Made to Crave KINDLE Giveaway on February 8th during the Made To Crave Party on Facebook!

During the party Lysa will chat with guests, host a trivia contest or two, and give away lots of other fun prizes (copies of Lysa’s other books and Amazon.com, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates) – including a live Author Chat with Lysa for your small group!

Don’t miss the fun! Lysa is looking forward to learning more about you – so be sure to stop by Lysa's Facebook Author Page on February 8th at 5:00 PM PST (6 PM MST, 7 PM CST, & 8 PM EST).