Introducing the 11th Annual Making Your Home a Haven Bible Study

Delight in the Lord, Making Your Home a Haven, Making Your Home a Haven Challenge
52 Comments

Join me in making our home a haven as we learn to sit at Jesus' feet learning spiritual discplines that will fill our home with His warmth and joy. #WomenLivingWell #Biblestudy #WomensBibleStudy #makingyourhomeahaven

Welcome to the 11th Annual Making Your Home a Haven Bible Study!  11 years ago, we began this series and never could I have imagined how much it would resonate with so many women around the world!

Our souls desperately need a deeper connection with God.

So many times we try to mask our struggles, pain, confusion or emptiness by keeping busy and distracted, eating food, going on vacations, seeking success or elevating certain relationships. While many of these things are blessings from God, they are not good substitutes FOR God.

This Bible Study is going to help you slow down.

It is going to force you to pause every day and enter into the presence of our Almighty God.

God’s pace is much slower than this world’s pace.

We must slow down to catch up with God.

We must create calm moments in our day because it’s in the unhurried moments, that we can clearly see and hear the voice of God.

To get your journal in time for the start of our study
Order your Making Your Home a Haven
Bible Study Journal NOW…titled:
Delight in the Lord

This journal is available exclusively on Amazon.

The Study Guide is optional, as I will provide for you the daily Bible Reading Plan and many free resources each week here on the blog. BUT I highly recommend the Study Guide.  It provides space for your daily gratitude list and daily prayer requests, plus a place to keep all of your Bible study reflections/SOAKs and video notes.

If you’d like to purchase a printable-digital copy
(so you have it right away) at half the price
click the Buy Now button below.

Self-care is a very popular concept these days, but I believe that soul care IS self-care.

So, let’s take care of our souls by intentionally creating a physical environment, as well as a spiritual environment, in our homes that brings us closer to God.  As a result, we will experience peace and a sense of calmness inside our souls, no matter what we are facing.

  • Each week, I will provide for you a practical challenge of something I do in my home that makes it more of a haven.  I hope you will take the challenges.  They do make a difference!
  • Each weekday, we will pause, give thanks, pray and meditate on God’s Word through SOAKing in the daily scripture reading for the day.
  • Also, you will find 4 videos, one per week, that correspond with the scriptures we are studying.

I encourage you to give yourself permission to not have your to-do list all checked off in order for you to slow down and catch up with God.

David writes in Psalm 42:1, 2:

“As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?”

I pray that your time spent in God’s Word will bless your soul and quench your thirst and that you will live well, as you drink from the living well, the living words of God.  (John 4:13-14) .

I can’t wait to take this journey with you!

This study begins on Monday, November 2nd!

Here’s the topic schedule:

Week 1: Delight

Start a daily gratitude list and delight in the Lord, the giver of good gifts.

Go buy an extra-large candle and light a candle everyday in your home.  Each time the glimmer of the candle catches your eye, stop, pray and give thanks.

Rejoice in the Lord always;
I will say it again, rejoice.
(Philippians 4:4)

Week 2: Draw Near

Slow down, be still, listen, pray and commune with the God of the universe.  He is near. 

Keep your candle going and add to it soft music everyday in your home.  Choose worship, classical or another form of peaceful music that helps you focus on the Lord.

The Lord is near.
(Philippians 4:5)

Week 3: Desires

Take you desires to the Lord in prayer this week. 

Keep your candle burning, the music playing and purchase a small bouquet of flowers for yourself.  Let that bouquet be a daily reminder of God’s love  and presence with you.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
(Philippians 4:6)

Week 4: Dependence

It takes faith to rest in the Lord and depend solely on him but he is trustworthy.  Delight, draw near, and exchange his desires for yours and depend on God.  He loves you so!

Rest is a need not a want.  Rest is not optional and it is a blessing from the Lord.  So, seek out a place of solitude to rest and pray. Get alone with God outside or in your home.  Be still with God and take a much needed bubble bath, nap or still time with the Lord.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:7)

Printable Bible Bookmark

Printable Bible Coloring Bookmark

Bible Coloring Chart Bookmark 2

Signature GMG SOAK Bible Study Method

Video explaining the Bible Coloring and SOAK Methods of Study

 

 

Here are the highlighters, pens and pencils I mentioned in the video:

Highlighters – Acid Free – Bible Hi-Glider
Fine Line Non-bleeding Pens – Micron Archival Ink and Multi-Colored Gel Pens
Colored Pencils – Crayola Twistables and Crayola Colored Pencils
I use the ESV Inductive Study Bible as my personal study Bible.

Blog and Social Media Schedule

Blog 

Mondays –  All of the Free Resources for the week including the printable Verses of the Day, Weekly Challenges AND the video for the week will be posted here. (I will not be posting on Fridays.)

Instagram 

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, the verses of the day along with encouragement for your study will be posted on the Women Living Well Instagram.

Share pictures of your candles, flowers, playlists and favorite places to rest on Instagram by using the hashtags: #MakingYourHomeAHaven and #WomenLivingWell.

Facebook 

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, I’ll be posting the assigned reading of the day at 7:00amEST and an open discussion takes place there. Check it out! It’s wonderful! Go to Good Morning Girls Facebook Page here.

Are you in?  

If you are – it’s time to prepare for the first challenge by going out and purchasing a large candle.  Share in the comments what your favorite scent is!

There are no sign-ups or enrollments.  Don’t forget to invite your friends!  I’ll see you back here on November 2nd as we begin!

Walk with the King,

Courtney

{Special Note to GMG Leaders: If you have room in your group – please leave a link to your group in the comment section – thank you!!!}

This study begins on Monday, November 2nd!

The paperback journal is available
exclusively on Amazon.

If you’d like to purchase a printable-digital copy
(so you have it right away) at half the price
click the Buy Now button below.

This post contains an affiliate link.

52 Comments

    1. Welcome Maria!

      I’m so glad you are joining us for the first time. I pray God blesses you through the study of his Word with us.

      Much Love,
      Courtney 🙂

      Reply

  4. Hi Courtney!

    I have this book but it’s a different cover. Is it the same one? I’ve been waiting for this to start! Thank you!!

    Looking forward to it,
    Rochelle

    Reply

    1. Hi Rochelle – This year’s journal is different from last years because the daily scripture reading and weekly spiritual focus will be different from last years but the challenges are the same as they have been for the last 10 years.

      So glad you are joining us!
      Courtney 🙂

      Reply

      1. Thank you Courtney,

        Would you suggest I get the new one? Or should I just get it off your blog? I don’t want to miss anything!!! 🙂

        Thank you! :)Rochelle

        Reply

  5. Is the study guide included in the digital journal purchase? If not is there alink to purchase that as well?

    Reply

    1. Hi Nicole,

      Yes – the digital journal is the study guide. So that’s all you need to get started with us! So glad you are joining us.

      Much Love
      Courtney 🙂

      Reply

  7. I was literally thinking about this study yesterday morning, and here is the intro in my email, this morning. God knows what my heart needs! Courtney, thanks for all you do… you are a TRUE, honest and special blessing to me, and for that I thank you!! Gotta run, it’s candle shopping time. ????

    Reply

    1. Hi Vanessa- Oh I love how God works and how he brought this to mind! I’m so glad you are joining us again and happy candle shopping!!! 🙂

      Much Love,
      Courtney

      Reply

  10. I am excited about making your home a haven bible study! Looking forward too it! Have to shop for a scented candle. I have Luminara candles!

    Reply

  12. Oh, my goodness…I was just thinking about this the other day. I knew it was coming up. I look forward to it every year. I can’t wait for it. And…for that fall weather to kick in. We’re still in the upper 90s over here. My favorite fall candle scent is anything with pumpkin or apple. I can’t wait to go to TJ Maxx & pick up a new candle.

    Reply

  13. One of my favorite fall rituals. This centers me so much before heading into a busy advent season and reminds me to keep my soul focused on the real celebration and not the commercialized one.

    Reply

  14. Hi Courtney! Looking toward to this study. I value your opinion as a Christian woman. Question: What should we do if leaders in our home church post and bring up politics?Any scripture to fall back on? Thanks!

    Reply

  17. Hi Courtney,
    Looking forward to joining in this study from Adelaide South Australia.
    Feeling battle weary at the moment, so many challenges this year. Looking forward to slowing down to Delight in the Lord. Blessings Catherine

    Reply

  18. Two days ago I had the opportunity to help another with Reference to 2 Corinthians 2. This is now my 3rd study with you Courtney and I appreciate so much all you do.
    Apart from my online group, I also had a group of ladies meeting each week. It has been a great blessing in our lives.
    This is my first “Making your home a haven” study and I am excited!

    My favorite candle is “Pumpkin Spice”

    Reply

  20. Courtney – I am so excited for this study! I love the focus on our homes and making them a place of rest and refuge! I think the timing this year is perfect as we can prepare our hearts and homes before the holiday season rush! Thank you investing in so many of us through Making Your Home a Haven!

    Reply

  24. I’m in a new prayer group with some friends and I suggested we all do this together. Is there anything I should be aware of hosting a group? I have done all your studies except the Making Your Home a Haven study each year! Would love any extra helps as I’ve never lead a group, only done one on one Bible Studies.

    Reply

  25. I was invited to this page from a friend! Glad she did, I am super excited about this journey.

    I will be purchasing a nice, fall scented candle with some apple in it!!

    Reply

  26. Good Morning!
    Approaching today’s study (Fri. 11/13). Is it Psalm 146 or Psalm 46 that we are reading?

    This has been a timely study. I am blessed!
    Thank you!
    Sincer,
    Elena

    Reply

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