Encountering God’s Heart for You by Diane Stortz
A book review of Encountering God’s Heart for You: 365 Devotions from Genesis through Revelation by Diane Stortz. A daily devotional journey through the whole story of the Bible.
Shared by permission of Elisabeth Espinoza.
Encountering God’s Heart for You by Diane Stortz features 365 brief devotions that chronologically explore important people, events, and themes in Scripture beginning in Genesis and continuing all the way through to Revelation. Having personally read through an entire chronological Bible just last year, I am finding Encountering God’s Heart for You to be one of the most inspiring devotionals I have read in quite a while. Ms. Stortz writes authentically with genuine heart, humility, and knowledge. Her deep love of God is certainly evident as she thoughtfully focuses on God’s great love as revealed throughout all the books of the Bible.
Well-researched, well-organized, and well-written, this devotional offers relevant and applicable insights from a wide variety of Old and New Testament people, events, and themes, while also including refreshingly honest details that are enriched by historical context and cultural insights. Page after page, this book presents a vivid glimpse into the lives of real, flawed human beings who were integral in God’s plan for the redemption of humanity. Though they lived thousands of years ago, these men and women made choices that we can still learn from today.
As I continue to read and reflect on each of the daily readings, I connect wholeheartedly with Ms. Stortz’s sincere faith and her desire to share it with others. In addition to the biblical accounts, she also includes her own thoughts and stories, various Scripture verses, and daily prayers. These serve to add to the depth of truth found throughout the book. I am finding these readings to be practical, encouraging, thought-provoking, and utterly meaningful.
Encountering God’s Heart for You will resonate with those who long for a deeper understanding of God’s love and grace, as well as how he has established a pattern of using ordinary people and events to accomplish extraordinary things according to his will. Gentle in its tone, yet powerful in its message, this devotional is worthy of being read on a daily basis. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
***
Diane Stortz
Diane Stortz is a multi-published author who writes to make God’s wonders known to the next generation. Her children’s releases include the best-selling Say & Pray Bible and I AM: 40 Reasons to Trust God, both from Tommy Nelson. Diane’s books for women, A Woman’s Guide to Reading the Bible in a Year and Encountering God’s Heart for You, both from Bethany House, encourage women to get to know God through His Word, the Bible. Diane and her husband have two married daughters and five grandchildren—all boys! Visit her at www.DianeStortz.com.
