Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose

This was a simple quick read that reinforces what we know but in a funny conversational way. I felt drawn to the author, like we could sit and drink coffee and be vulnerable with each other for hours. There wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but I was in a period of fasting during some of thing book and the Lord really spoke to me through what the author was conveying.Moms with younger and teen children I think will be able to relate to many of the stories and emotions shared here. Women who desire to have a healthier spiritual life but are having trouble figuring out where to start, this is a great place to start.

I cannot fully express to you all that Rhythms of Renewal was to me. I heard her speak on a few podcasts about the time her book came out, and it normally does not take much for me to get excited and want the newest book! I ordered this gorgeous book, that will be a life long favorite I expect, when the price dipped down and I could “justify” another book – especially to my non-reader of a husband!Immediately I jumped in. This is one of those books you want to savor and gobble up at the same time. Tough to do. But I did pace myself. I wanted to take in her ideas one at a time and let them simmer a bit before the next one. I told everyone about this book as I devoured its pages. I cannot seem a reason that everyone would not love this book.Rebekah. Oh where to begin with one of my newest favorite authors? She is real. Transparent. Vulnerable. She is everything I needed her to be on these pages : encouraging, inspiring, and did I mention real? She is not something that you imagine who has it all together. Honestly, none of us do, and if you think someone does you are mistaken. We are all broken, damaged and really wandering through this world. However, Rebekah gives us hope through her own story, but most of all by taking us back to the creator and the way we were designed to live and thrive.Each section, each chapter, seriously, spoke to my heart. I could not stop reading this book daily. I wanted the next message each day. I could not get enough. Now, I have finished it and I plan to set it aside for a 60 day Bible Study with Holley Gerth (this book) but then, because I know me, I will pick it back up and read it again each morning as part of my morning rhythm.So as I embrace Monday – of a New Year – as I finished Rhythm of Renewal yesterday – I am excited. I am entering into 2020 with open arms ready for all the Lord has for me. My word for the year is Rhythm. I want a healthy daily, weekly, monthly rhythm because I want a rhythm for my year. It starts with every morning and each day – to find a healthy pace of saying yes or no (more no than yes) and finding time for sabbath every day, every week and more importantly on a regular basis. I am going to stop waiting for the right time – for the perfect time – and I am going to do it now. Not more. In fact, I hope less. But either way I will be resting daily, restoring intentionally, connecting with a purpose, and creating every chance I get.Those are the rhythms that Rebekah teaches us to make a part of our day to day life. That is my goal. I hope you grab a copy of this book, because it was exactly what I needed right now. It led me into 2020 with a thrill of hope of all that will come as a result of focusing on rhythms.

I love how Rebekah Lyons bares her soul in beautiful ways to impart the powerful messages in her newest book, Rhythms of Renewal. She shares Scripture, research, personal stories and experiences, her own struggles with combatting anxiety and stress, and four rhythmic practices to incorporate peace, rest, and renewal in our emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual health. The author writes with a fresh and genuine approach, an engaging and honest vulnerability, and the voice of “I was there too” as if we’re sharing a coffee together on her front porch.I love the individualized and universal aspects of this book. It’s written in an intimate way, a personalized journey, while it also addresses a broad spectrum of daily struggles we all face. I found solace, hope, connection, “me too” moments, and joy within the grace-filled pages of Rhythms of Renewal. I love that everything is rooted in Jesus and that each chapter ends with great food for thought questions.Rhythms of Renewal is about freeing ourselves from the yoke of anxiety and stress and the boundaries they impose upon us which rob us of our sense of purpose and peace of mind, to find the splendor of rest and renewal in God’s presence. The author offers doable action steps, purposeful shifts, and input and output rhythms to find the balance which opens us up to God’s loving transformation in and through us. Collectively the four rhythms of renewal; Rest, Restore, Connect, and Create can bring rest, joy, peace, clarity, freedom, awareness, relief, release, understanding, restoration, forgiveness, creativity, a newfound sense of purpose and adventure, a healthier body, mind, and soul, and healing into our daily lives.Rebekah Lyons’s timely words spoke to the weary and complicated places in my soul that I’ve been wrestling with. She shed light on the places that have lain dormant. I wasn’t aware of how much I needed this book until I read it. I am a fulltime caregiver for my dad and I’m depleted, overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious. I now realize how desperately I need rest and renewal to regain the joy and peace I once felt so I can live out the blessings of caring for my dad in his final days. And I believe by intentionally implementing Rebekah Lyons’s four rhythms of renewal practices into my days the weightiness I feel will ease. I look forward to incorporating the healthy rhythms to live my life with intention and purpose to glorify God.Rhythms of Renewal is about clearing away the clutter and intentionally living out healthy, faith-filled practices to be surrounded by joy and restoration in our everyday lives. This book will not only bless the reader but more importantly the lives of our families, friends, coworkers, church members, and strangers we meet. I’ve written copious notes as I’ve been rereading it and I preordered the study guide as an added resource. Thank you, Rebekah Lyons, for writing this amazing book that we all desperately need. I loved it! I look forward to incorporating the Rhythms of Rest, Restore, Connect, and Create into my day to day living, to live out the joy God promises each and every one of us.

Really enjoying this book. Great reflective questions at the end of each chapter, to help you process what you've read. The chapters are short and to the point and full of the authors own experiences which I like.Would recommend.

Greatly needed this message in the stressful season

In a world completely inundated with messages and ‘how-to’s’ on living - how to eat, exercise, make friends, get enough sleep, combat stress - Rebekah’s voice is a fresh beacon of truth!! Rhythms of Renewal offers wildly practical steps on how to truly live a life in abundant freedom, that is all grounded in the truths of Scripture! She so beautifully weaves her own personal experiences with God’s spoken Words, to lead us as the reader in our own journey to freedom and renewal! I personally have valued deeply from the simple, yet profound message of: going for even a short walk daily to keep anxiety at bay, finding activities that will move my hands and exercise my imagination (even as an adult!), introducing a Sabbath day into every month in our family’s calendar, and how desperately I need vulnerable time with safe girlfriends. If you are wandering through life, feeling like something is missing or your balance is ‘off’ - I would recommend Rhythms of Renewal as a beautifully crafted handbook on developing rhythms that will bring freedom from anxiety or depression and true renewal with Jesus Christ!

Well-known and best-selling author and national speaker Rebekah Lyons presents four main parts: 1) Rest Rhythm, 2) Restore Rhythm, 3) Connect Rhythm, and 4) Create Rhythm with 28 holistic approaches for rest and renewal in her book "Rhythms of Renewal. Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose", published by Zondervan. Lyons draws from her own battle with depression and anxiety. She wants readers to trade their stress and anxiety for a life of peace and purpose. She states: "My hope is that ten years from now, you'll look back on your own season of stress or defeat and see how God brought you back to center through the rhythms of renewal outlined in this book. My prayer is that you'll see how these spiritual rhythms enabled you to live a life of peace, passion, and purpose" (p. 22). I really liked her statement in chapter 28 - Say Yes Take a Risk: "Taking a risk may be the hardest thing you'll ever do, but it's the only way we can partner with God in creating good and beautiful things.Lyons starts every chapter of the book with a quote by a well-known person such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Ward Beecher, or Viriginia Woolf. She is very authentic, honest, and filled the book with personal experiences but also references to the Bible. The reflection questions at the end of the chapters challenge the readers to put the treated topic into practice in their own lives. The notes at the end of the book with references to the literature and Bible verses used help readers to verify the content and to go deeper if so desired. I highly recommend this book for everyone who wants to be challenged to change or correct the rhythms of their life.The complimentary digital copy of this book was provided by the publisher free of charge, but I have also bought a printed copy for myself. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.#RhythmsOfRenewal #Zondervan

This is a very practical book for men & women who are struggling because they haven’t allowed any margin in their lives. This may be reflected in anxiety, depression or simply a feeling of being burdened with life’s demands.I liked the easy format of the 4 sections and then a bunch of short chapters in each section with 3 god reflective questions at the end of each chapter. It was easy to digest and to gain benefits from the various chapters.I particularly enjoyed the final section in Creation and allowing yourself the freedom to take risks, try something new (it’s okay to fail) and to step out of one’s cosy comfort zone which I find increasingly difficult to do.I also think this is a very useful book for younger people. Certainly, they may not be able fully connect with some of Rebekah’s situations through not having lived enough but many of Rebekah’s reflections and practical steps would come in very handy for younger people struggling with lack of purpose and anxiety.There were some chapters that I thought were too brief and lacked depth as the majority of the book reflects Rebekah’s life and could have done with some greater insights from other people.Overall, it’s a very practical book and will help many people in making small changes to their lives.