My 12 Favorite Reads of 2016

Reading is probably my most favorite thing to do, outside of spending time with my family. I love reading Christian fiction for the fun, the story and the imagination. But I also love reading devotional books as well. I have read dozens of books this year and my heart and soul have been blessed by many of them. Today I wanted to share my top 12 favorite books and Bible studies of 2016 with you. If you haven't read these books or done these studies, I encourage you to pick them and get started for 2017!

To head over to Amazon to read more on the books and to order, just click the titles. Here we go!

She Reads Truth's Open Your Bible: God's Word is For You and For Now. This 6 week study was incredible! I did it with the gals at my church and we loved learning about why God's Word is relevant to us and why is is for us right now. Raechel and Amanda know exactly how to encourage us and lead us to get into the Word.

Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer. This is one of the meatiest studies I have ever done. Priscilla has so much information and shares the Armor of God in a away I have never known. The video teaching is incredible. You get to hear Priscilla share stories from her own life as well as bring the Bible to life.

Overwhelmed: How to Quiet the Chaos and Restore Your Sanity by Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory. This book is a full of encouragement and tips for restoring sanity and getting your calendar and life in order. Overwhelmed isn't even available yet, it releases January 1st, and it is already Amazon's #1 new release! That's amazing! If you preorder Overwhelmed by December 31st, you get 5 of Kathi and Cheri's ebooks for free PLUS you get their new Get Out From Overwhelmed Planner. This planner is awesome. You download and print to fit your needs. Click here to get the preorder goodies.

Fear Fighting: Awakening Courage to Overcome Your Fears by Kelly Balarie. We all live with fear. Sometimes that fear can be crippling. Yet the Word tells us to fear not. Kelly shows us how to overcome our fears and life with courage.

Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic For a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequis. Sometimes we seek perfection in everything we do and sometimes that means we are not really living. I was so excited to read this book because I want to live in the present. To be present. Shauna shares her own real life stories all the while encouraging you to be present.

The Broken Way: A Daring Path to The Abundant Life by Ann Voskamp. I love Ann's poetic way of writing and she always knows how to reach right into our soul and lift us up. We all have been broken at some point and Ann teaches how to use that for God. There us a study guide and dvd that go along with The Broken Way that is amazing!

Listen, Love, Repeat: Others-Centered Living in a Self-Centered World by Karen Ehman. Everything about the world today screams me me me! Karen teaches us how to think of others, how to bless others and how be hospitable to those around us. There is a study guide and dvd that go along with Listen, Love, Repeat.

Fervant: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific, and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer. Technechally I read Fervant at the end of 2015 but this is one of my all time favorite books so I had to add it to the list! Priscilla reminds us of the truth that we have a real enemy who is dead set on destroying us. She teaches us strategies for praying and helps us create a battle plan. This book will change your prayer life forever!

Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out and Lonely by Lysa TerKeurst. Many of us have felt the sting of rejection in our lives. Maybe we even think God Himself has rejected us when He doesn't answer our prayers they way we think He should. Lysa shows us how God is not only not rejecting us, but welcoming us with open arms. There is a study guide and dvd that go along with Uninvited. The dvd sessions were recorded in the Holy Land!

She Reads Truth Book: Holding Tight to Permanent in a World That is Passing Away by Raechel Meyers and Amanda Bible Williams. Raechel and Amanda show us how to stay close to the Word of God even through hard times. They share their own real life hardships and how God would draw them close to His heart through the Word.

Grace, Not Perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy by Emily Ley. This book is on my list, yet this one I have not read yet! It has been sitting on my desk calling my name! I have been aching to catch up on some book reviews so that I can dive into it. Emily realized through her crazy busy life that she just couldn't do it all. She decided grace was better than perfection.

Nothing to Prove: Why We Can Stop Trying So Hard by Jennie Allen. Jennie understands what many of us feel, that we are trying so hard to prove that we are enough. Enough of a wife, mom, employee, sister, friend, woman. But the truth is, we have nothing to prove. Jennie tells us how to find freedom and stop trying to prove ourselves. With every turn of the page I was crying out, "Yes, yes, yes!" Nothing to prove is available for preorder and comes out next month.

What was your favorite book in 2016? Have you read any on my list? Share in the comments!