Fiona Castle and Rachel Allcock talk about their new devotional book
Jesus gave us the greatest love of all. We are called not just to keep it to ourselves, but to overflow with that love to others. But how can we really do that in the busyness of our lives?
In their new book Be: 365 Devotions for Women, Fiona Castle and the team at Activate Your Life have brought together godly wisdom to help women do just that. In these daily devotions, women from many walks of life share insights on Scripture and practical life lessons to gently encourage you to live for Jesus, and to be more like Him in your thoughts, character, and actions.
Fiona and Rachel, can you tell us about Activate Your Life?
It exists to equip women in friendship evangelism. We’re all about encouraging Christian women to get out and about, make friends and join in with the community, not hiding away in ‘holy huddles’. Everything we write, speak, or do is focused on reaching out.
Why did you choose this title?
To encapsulate the idea that following Jesus is not just about feeling or thinking a certain way but being - action, involvement, and adventure! There are so many different ‘be’ verbs in the Bible and we wanted to encourage our readers to step in and see how they can be engaged in their faith.
How is this book different from other women’s devotionals?
It’s more than a devotional, it’s a reassuring chat with friends. We’ve written for people like us – vulnerable, honest, willing to reach out and keen to have an active faith. The devotions are short, practical and focused towards authenticity and being active. They do invite contemplation and introspection on the Bible, but they exhort towards more than that. They include stories of our challenges and failures as much as any triumphs and are written by women in every season and stage of life.
While many of the devotions are written by Fiona, many are also written by other Activate members. What does this bring to the book?
We wanted to reflect our different viewpoints and personalities as well as a variety of backgrounds and ages. It is this wealth of experience that provides diversity and interest for the reader. Whilst each author writes from her own experience and situation, there is something universal in every devotion and every prayer can be prayed by all, whatever our personal situation in life.
Each devotion weaves biblical insight with real-life stories - why was this so important?
You’ll see from our devotions how down-to-earth and real everyone is. We share lots of ups and downs and regularly use our own failings, stories, and day-to-day experiences. God certainly speaks to many of us in the most unlikely or mundane moments. We wanted to encourage women to be on the lookout for God in their everyday moments too. And by sharing personal anecdotes we are modelling ways for women to connect with friends and family. The best way to connect is to be vulnerable and authentic, and we really hope we’ve managed to bring a sense of all this to the book. Time and again, when we give Activate talks, the moment when people really connect emotionally is when one of the team shares something imperfect about themselves. It’s as if everyone breathes a sigh of relief that they are not the only ones struggling with questions, rejection, resentment or low self-esteem. We wanted these devotions to bring that same sense of validation and comfort to the reader, wherever they are.
Fiona, what is your favourite Bible verse?
It’s from John 17, which is the prayer of Jesus. In verse 20 he says, ‘I am praying not only for these disciples, but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony.’ It was because of the faithfulness of those disciples, passing on their story of their faith in Jesus, that we know this truth today, so it is vital that we continue to share the Gospel for those in the future.
What do you hope women will get out of this book?
Encouragement and assurance that God is with them, loves them and wants to work through them to reach out to others.
What can we pray for you?
Fiona: Strength and resilience!
Rachel: For the Activate Your Life speakers, volunteers and staff, as we continue to inspire Christian women to reach others in natural ways for Jesus, and for Christian women to be focused on all God calls them to be.
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