We love summer because of its long, lazy days. Even if your kids are out of school or your work schedule doesn’t change, summer days and nights just feel more laid back. Like you could push dinner back an hour or spontaneously start driving in the direction of a nearby park you’ve been meaning to explore. In the summer, you can stay up a little later, sleep in a little more, and let your to-do list slide.
But the truth is, summer is still a great time to grow spiritually. With the freedom that comes with rising temperatures, spend more of your time with God—talking to Him, learning about Him, hearing from Him.
Because everyone loves a good reading challenge (those of you who rocked summer reading challenges at school or your local library as kids know the feeling), we’ve put together a Lifeway summer reading program just for you to help you spend more time learning about God!
Lifeway Summer Reading Program Rules:
- Choose as many—or as few—reads as you want. This challenge is meant to push you closer to Christ, not stress you out or double your responsibilities.
- Give yourself grace. If you’re ambitious and plan to read a dozen books/Bible studies this summer, don’t beat yourself up if life gets in the way. Sometimes your kids are going to wake up earlier than you intended. Sometimes a study will take you longer to work through. That’s life, and the beauty of summer. (And if you’re looking for a great Bible study on dealing with life’s interruptions, we recommend Priscilla Shirer’s Jonah.)
The Categories:
- A Book or Bible Study You Chose Based on the Cover
- A Book or Bible Study on a Subject You Usually Avoid
- A Book Written by a Missionary
- A Study You Can Do with Your Kids
- A Book or Study You Haven’t Read Yet from a Favorite Author
- A Book or Study on a Subject You Can’t Get Enough Of
- A Book or Study Recommended by Your Pastor
- A Book or Study You Can Read or Study with a Friend
- A Book Published Before You Were Born
- A Book or Study That’s Considered a Classic
- A Book or Study Recommended by Someone with Fantastic Taste
We put together a fun printable checklist to help you keep track—click here to download and print.
Here are some tips for getting the most out of your summer reading challenge:
- Plan out your reading picks. A flexible plan will give your days some much-needed structure and intention.
- Track your reading. There’s nothing like seeing how far you’ve come—whether you’ve read a dozen books or just a few! It’s a few more than you might have read if you’d gone into summer without a plan.
- Get your friends involved. Friends make everything better, and help you stick to your goals, so be sure to pass this post around to your girls, small group, or church, and get everyone in on the fun!
So what are you planning to read or study this summer during the LifeWay Summer Reading Program?
