When looking for devotionals to sink your teeth into, it doesn't get much better than Havilah Cunnington. She has such an incredible way of dissecting the Word into understandable pieces that readers can digest, process, and apply. 

My friend, multimedia journalist, Joyce Philippe, introduced me to this book in 2017 and this 20-day devotional was exactly what I needed to gain perspective on how to make sense of the God-sized Dreams in my heart. Each chapter builds on the next.  What I love about  Eat, Pray, Hustle: Dream Chasing God's Way  is that it's not just about reading Havilah's words, it's the discipline that comes with reading the Word and actively participating in the process which includes reflections, and questions throughout the book.  

I would absolutely recommend this devotional. It's a great one to have in your collection!

Originally Posted: February 15, 2016 on On Reserve: A Blog for the Modern Day Esther
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I frequently talk about the importance of knowing Whose you are because I believe that it is vital for this generation to grab hold of the truth that the God of the Universe, thought enough about you, and loved you so much that He sent His son, Jesus to die so that you may live more abundantly in freedom, in peace, in the covering of His grace and His mercy, in the encasing of His love and in relationship with Him both here on earth and in Heaven.
Within the past few years, The Lord has shown me that it is just as important to know yourself. One of the greatest risks that we take in life, is not taking the time to learn who we are under the guise of wisdom and the leading of the Holy Spirit because we place more value on the opinion and approval of others. If we are not careful, we become a chameleon in life: we blend in with our circumstances, our surroundings and those with whom we have built relationship, because we think we have to. We become merely a shell of a person, because the substantial things that make up our character are grossly underdeveloped. How sad is it to think that some never reach the fullness of the purpose that God has for them because they let the gifts and talents that He placed inside of them remain dormant, and chose to focus on what they thought they were supposed to do as opposed to seeking the Lord about what He was calling them to do?
There was a book that I felt impressed in my spirit to buy, read and eventually gift to other young women, called The Wait by actress Meagan Good and her husband DeVon Franklin. In obedience to what I believe the Lord was requiring of me at this juncture within my Esther season,  last week leading into Valentine’s Day weekend, I read the book from start to finish! There were so many great points nestled between the pages, but my prayer was that the Lord would allow me to get out of it what He would have me to see and that He would make it clear to me; and boy did He come through!
I took this weekend as a divine opportunity to refocus my attentions and take a good, hard, necessary and introspective look at my life: answering the 32 guided questions from the book and seeking the Lord for revelation on and understanding about the root of my decision making as it pertains to the relationship that I have with God, my family, my friends, and romantically. It was emotional at times, but such an exciting experience and I am convinced that I will grow from what I’ve learned. One thing that Meagan and DeVon make mention of a lot in the book is that the Wait is not so much about the other person as much as  it is about you being prepared by God for the very best that He has for your life in every area. That’s such a powerful thing! My mom instilled in me when I was younger to “take the time to enjoy the season that you’re in.” This is something that I have carried with me into adulthood and new revelations come to me through her sage wisdom.
I am excited about what the Lord is doing and it is with patience and hopeful expectation that I look forward to the future and I pray the same for you!

One of my favorite college courses in undergraduate school was "Interpersonal Communication." This class was so instrumental in my way of thinking as it related to my own relationships with the people around me. New social media platforms were emerging, sapping up countless hours and sucking its users into a world that led to an isolation from their surroundings which caused   them to miss out on things that are happening in the here and now.  

​ I can recall thinking about the home in which my sisters and I had been raised. We had one television in our family room where we watch wholesome tv programs and movies, one house phone that our loved ones called on and ate homecooked meals at our kitchen table every night.  My parents instilled in us the importance of open communication, quality time with loved ones and perhaps the most important lesson, to value and nurture our relationships with God our family and our friends. 

 This book, God Speaks Your Love Language by Gary Chapman, helped put into perspective how the Lord speaks to me. Chapman provides sage wisdom and deep insights in each chapter. His background as a psychologist, his experience as a seasoned Christian, and his success as a Marriage and Family Life consultant, offers the reader a unique perspective on how we feel and receive love first from God and subsequently from others. 

My process for reading this book was to first take the Love Language Quiz to discover what my Love Language(s) were and then I read the book from cover to cover. This was such an easy and enjoyable read!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the book in our comment section below.