Every year I promise myself that reading more will be a priority for me, and every year I’ve found myself too busy to settle down and read as much as I would like to. This past December, I decided to be intentional and instead of waiting to stumble upon books I’d like to get into, I was proactive and created a list of 12 books to read in 2021. I won’t drag this out with a long introduction, so without further ado: here are 12 books to add to your 2021 reading list.
Spiritual Growth and Christian Living
One| Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit
In Forgotten God, Pastor Francis Chan invites us to ‘understand, embrace, and follow’ the Holy Spirit’s leading in our everyday lives. He discusses how many in the church have neglected the gift of the Holy Spirit, with disastrous results. This book is a call for us to remember the powerful gift we’ve been given here in the earth: the Spirit of the living God.
Two| Praying For the Impossible
One thing I have learned since I became a Christian 17 years ago, is that prayer is absolutely vital to an intimate relationship with God and a powerful, fruitful life in His Kingdom. Praying for the Impossible is actually a two-in-one volume. In the first book, Intercessory Prayer, the author, Dutch Sheets, teaches the basics of prayer and how God partners with us via our prayers. The second book, Authority in Prayer, teaches us how to use our God-given authority in prayer to reign in life, and positively impact our circumstances and the world around us.
Three| The Power of a Praying Wife
In The Power of a Praying Wife, Stormie Omartian teaches wives how to strengthen their marriages by praying for their husbands in key areas of his life. Each chapter focuses on a different key area such as his spiritual walk, his protection, and his role as a leader in the home. I’ve read this book before but just had to add it to the list of books to read in 2021 because I know my husband will never outgrow the need for my prayers. We are not in the same place spiritually, financially, or otherwise as we were when I first read it, so I am excited to go through it again with a fresh perspective.
Four| When Heaven Invades Earth
In When Heaven Invades Earth, Pastor Bill Johnson encourages us to live in everyday expectation of experiencing miracles, signs, and wonders from God. With this being my year of open heaven, this is the perfect faith-building tool to experience God more fully and walk in the supernatural like never before.
So I’m almost three years late on reading Lysa TerKeurst’s 2018 bestseller, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way. As she was grappling with the pain and confusion of a divorce from her husband (which was the result of an affair), Lysa penned this book that aims to show readers how to “live assured when life doesn’t turn out like they expected.” While I am not currently going through anything heartbreaking, I’ve always been intrigued with how Lysa’s story and how she managed to come out of such heartbreak with her faith intact. If you’re currently going through a situation that has shaken your foundation, I encourage you to add this to your own list of books to read in 2021.
Six| Discipleship Journal’s 101 Best Small Group Ideas
I’ve led a women’s small group since 2014 and after almost seven years, I was starting to feel stagnant. I came across Discipleship Journal’s 101 Best Small Group Ideas in a local bookstore and was intrigued. If you’re a small group leader who is looking for ways to improve or a new leader who has no idea where to start, this book may be the perfect read for you. Per the publisher, in this book ‘you’ll discover creative ideas for outreach, serving, prayer, Bible study, and many other small-group activities. You’ll find help for determining your group’s direction, and you’ll discover how to troubleshoot some of the most common problems small groups face.’
Business and professional development
Seven| Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
After hearing many business leaders I follow RAVE about this book, it was a must that I add it to my list of books to read in 2021. In Atomic Habits, James Clear teaches how to break bad habits, establish good habits, and make tiny changes that lead to big results. If you’ve been unsuccessfully trying to change old habits, consider picking up this New York Times Bestseller.
Eight| Superfans: The Easy Way to Stand Out, Grow Your Tribe, and Build a Successful Business
Whether you’re a professional blogger, social media influencer, or small business owner. In Superfans, Pat Flynn espouses the importance of looking past the numbers (i.e. subscribers, email list participants, followers, etc) and focusing instead on growing a tribe that truly connects with you and your vision. According to Flynn, “You don’t need to change the entire world to build a successful business; you just need to change someone’s world.” This is a good read if your goal is to discover ways to authentically create special moments for your tribe that wins trust and thus greater sales.
Nine| Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It
In Never Split the Difference, Chris Voss, a former top FBI hostage negotiator outlines nine principles to use to become more persuasive in both your professional and personal life. Life is full of negotiations: buying a home, asking for a raise at work, etc. Never Split the Difference will teach you strategies to ensure you enter these types of negotiations with the upper hand every time.
Memoirs, Black History, and Race Relations
I’ve heard amazing reviews of this book by essayist Ta-Nehisi Coates so I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to read it (it was initially published in 2015). Between the World and Me is written as a series of letters from Coates to his young son. In these letters, he shares his experience of coming to the realization of his place in America as a black man. This book is an exploration of America’s past, present, and future with respect to race relations – a conversation we still desperately need to have today.
I’ve had my eye on former First Lady Michelle Obama’s memoir, Becoming, for quite some time now but was always too busy to sit down and read it. After turning thirty years old, I’ve been much more reflective of my own life and who I am becoming as the years go by. I’m ready to cuddle up with a blanket, a cup of coffee, and this book to glean from First Lady Obama’s triumphs, struggles, and life lessons as I navigate my own.
A list of books to read in 2021 would not be complete without including President Barack Obama’s newly released presidential memoir, A Promised Land. Besides the fact that Obama’s presidency was historic, it was also deeply personal for me. I turned 18 years old just a month and a half before the election that would produce our first black president. It was my first foray into the world of politics and into being an adult. That my first time voting would be for a man that looked like the men I grew up calling dad and uncle, it was especially precious to me. I am so ready to dive into this book. I am curious to learn about all that transpired in President Obama’s journey to (and through) his first term, especially from his own perspective.
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