Homeschool Review -- Beloved: 365 Devotions for Young Women (Zondervan) #hsreviews #devotions #DevotionsForYoungWomen #Beloved #books #reading #bookstagram #christianity #faith

When our copy of Beloved:  365 Devotions for Young Women arrived from Zondervan, my girl sat right down to dive into its pages.  She read through the Introduction and nodded her head in agreement with the very first statement:  It's hard to be a young woman sometimes.  She mm-hmmed as she read about being bombarded with the messages of the world and trying to decide which ones should be filtered and which ones should be embraced.  There were a few "mom, listen to this" moments and she made sure to read aloud to me the last sentence that reminded her that her identity matters to GOD and she is beloved by HIM.  From the very first moment she held this beautiful book in her hands, she was enamored.  So much so that she read the first few days of devotion and grabbed her Bible to underline some key verses.  Y'all . . . THAT just makes my heart smile.

After she read through the first few days of devotions, my girl decided that she wanted to figure out what day of the year it actually was and start there.  That was day 319 of 365, so she skipped right over and read about Elizabeth greeting her cousin Mary and John the Baptist leaping in utero.  What a cool moment!  The direct intervention of the HOLY SPIRIT happened right then and my daughter was reminded that the same HOLY SPIRIT that was present when Mary arrived to visit Elizabeth lives inside of her.  What an encouragment to know that when we feel lonely and discouraged, HE is there to encourage us and equip us to face the day -- no matter what this world tries to throw in our face.

Although Beloved:  365 Devotions for Young Women is written specifically for young women between the ages of 12 - 18, I firmly believe that it will be treasured by both younger and older girls/women, as well.  Let me just be honest and say that this 50-year-old momma has enjoyed reading through the devotional, too.  Looking to Rebekah as a great example of hospitality is good for the soul.  I especially like that young women are being introduced to generosity and service to others and taught how to have an attitude of warmth and openness as they welcome others into their environment and offer hope in a world that can seem so hopeless.  Isn't this what we want all of our daughters to learn?  How better to learn to cultivate a spirit of hospitality than through the lives of women in GOD's Word?

It makes my heart happy to share that she fell in love with a book that will point her towards the love that GOD has for her as she studies the lives of over 60 women found throughout GOD's Word.  The 371-page hardcover book has been designed with young women in mind.  Its pages are lovely to look at with the side borders of pink and rose and mauve flowers that spill over to the binding edge and the ribbon marker makes it easy for you to return to your specific place in the devotional each day.  My Elisabeth moved her marker to Day 319 the very first day that she began reading and has continued moving it from there each morning.

Each daily devotion begins with Scripture taken from the NIV translation of the Bible.  The Bible verses are followed by a short relatable reading (2-3 paragraphs, at most) with three blank lines at the bottom of the page.  The lines are perfect for writing notes on what's been read or things you might want to investigate further, answering questions that appear in the reading, or chronicling prayer requests and concerns.  I really like that the women being introduced and discussed include a good mixture of famous characters (women like Mary, Deborah, Hannah, and Abigail) and obscure characters (remember Zelophehad's daughters, Johosheba, and the Shunamite woman?  They are all in here.) and that the devotions cover portions from the entirety of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

This really is a beautiful way for young ladies to study and learn.  I've trusted Zondervan  with my daughters' spiritual growth for many years, and I have no qualms recommeding Beloved:  365 Devotions for Young Women to you for yours.

For more information about this lovely devotional for young women, please visit the following Social Media sites:

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Beloved:  365 Devotions for Young Women will make a wonderful Christmas present for the young women in your life and will be a great way for them to start the new year off right.  Finding a devotional that speaks to the heart of girls and helps them develop the characteristics that make great women is priceless.  You're going to want to grab a copy of this today for the lovelies in your life -- and you may want to go ahead and pick up a copy for yourself, as well.  It really is that good.

I was given the opportunity to review Beloved:  365 Devotions for Young Women  from  Zondervan as a member of the Homeschool Review Crew.   You can check out the Crew Review and see what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this devotional and see how they are utilizing it in their own homes (or just click on the banner below.)

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