LOVED & CHERISHED: 100 Devotionals for Girls – Book Review & Giveaway

If you’re looking for an easy-to-understand, yet spiritually meaty, devotional book then check out this LOVED & CHERISHED book review. Plus, there’s a giveaway with this one!

Published by Zonderkidz, this beautiful hardcover book released in September 2020. Perfect timing for reminding young girls, no matter what is going on in the world, they are greatly loved and cherished by their heavenly Father.

One reason I chose this book to read and review is because I have seen many tweens and teens struggling with emotional well-being. I was curious to read a faith-based book written by the two authors, especially with their specific skill sets.

Allow me to introduce to you the authors and the content of LOVED & CHERISHED.

The Authors

Lynn Cowell

Cowell, the author of several Christian books, also writes and speaks with the Proverbs 31 Ministries. She and her husband of thirty years, live in North Carolina, and have three adult children.

Cowell said growing up she “didn’t understand God’s love—how deep, wide, and perfect it is.” She added, “had I understood His love better, I would have felt a lot better about myself as I got older. Just knowing that God loved me no matter what would have relieved a lot of pressure.” (Cowell, page 9).

And she says that’s why she wrote LOVED & CHERISHED—to let girls know how much God loves them right now.

Michelle Nietert

Nietert has professionally counseled children and their families as a crisis counselor, a teacher, and as a youth & children’s minister. Now she is the director and owner of a large counseling center in Texas.

She writes for Christian publications and blogs on her website.

Excited about co-writing this book with Cowell, Nietert said,

“Sometimes girls come talk to me about how they feel about love and not feeling loved. I am so thankful each one of us has God, who loves us like no one on Earth ever could.” (Nietert, page 10)

The Content of LOVED & CHERISHED

One hundred devotions fill the 224 pages of this book. Each devotion begins with a scripture, usually from the NIV Bible.

After the scripture, the author ties it with a topic most young girls relate with today. Then, a few journaling lines are provided for readers to use after reflecting on the devotion. After that, a short, printed prayer wraps things up.

Overall, the book is divided into three sections. Each contains approximately 33 devotions each. Here’s a sampling of five titles from each of the sections.

Section 1: I Am Loved

            Loved From the Beginning

            Proof of God’s Love

            God’s Got My Future

            Let It Go

            Tell Yourself the Truth

Section 2: I Am Cherished

            I Want to Be Liked

            Sweet Friendships

            God Understands Me

            It’s Possible with God

            White as Snow

Section 3: I Am Secure

            No Longer Invisible

            No More Anxiety

            All My Fears

            He Heals Your Heart

            Are You “All In?”

How to Use the Book

After the list of contents, there’s a section on how to use this book. It includes notes about reading, reflecting, praying, and memorizing scripture.

At the back of the book there are two pages telling What It Means to Follow Jesus.

Also, there is mention of an online resource that accompanies the LOVED & CHERISHED book. I looked this up and it is a study guide that is available for purchase on Lynn Cowell’s website. It may be more helpful if there was a photo or more details were given about what is inside the study guide.

If possible, I’d recommend for readers to also find the scriptures in their Bibles which correlate with the ones given in the book. It’s always good practice to read several verses before and after a provided scripture to obtain context and possibly a deeper understanding.

Recommendation

I love this book for two reasons:

1. Each devotion is short (1 ½ – 2 pages) and will be a great accompaniment to a girl’s regular Bible reading.
2. Although they’re short, the devotions in LOVED & CHERISHED are meaty biblical truths. They are not watered down or full of fluff.  In addition, God isn’t the only one mentioned in this book. Jesus is presented clearly and often.

For instance, one of my favorite devotions, “Tell the Truth,” talks about how powerful negative thoughts can be. Here’s a small excerpt from this devotion:

The more time we spend thinking about them, the more powerful they become.

So if we feel unloved and we begin to believe that this thought and these feelings are the truth, we will begin to act like girls who are unloved.

That’s why 2 Corinthians 10:5 is so powerful! It tells us to pay attention to every thought we think. If that thought isn’t the same as the truth in God’s word, we must tell that thought to back down. We can’t continue to think something like “I am not loved” when God has told us—and continues to tell us–that He loves us very much.

We replace these thoughts with God’s truth.

– Lynn Cowell, LOVED & CHERISHED, p. 72.

Undoubtedly, Cowell and Nietert did an outstanding job writing this book. Their combined experience with children as well as their love for Christ made them a dynamic writing duo.

Compared to other devotion books written for this age group, I’d say it provides richer soil for spiritual growth.

Giveaway of the LOVED & CHERISHED book

Finally, we’re at the giveaway! Zonderkidz has generously donated a coy of the LOVED & CHERISHED book to give away to one of my blog readers. Thanks, Zonderkidz!

This book would make a wonderful “Back-to-School” gift or a blessing for any time.

If you would like to enter the drawing for a free copy of this beautiful, foil embossed hardcover book, make sure your name is on this blog’s email subscriber list.

Normally, we simply select a name from the list. However, this time, if you want your name entered twice in the drawing, leave a comment below to receive a second entry.

We will randomly select a name from this blog’s email subscriber list on August 28, 2021 as the winner of the book. As always, if you win, I’ll make sure you receive the book free of charge.

Congratulations, Kim P. of Tennessee! You’ve won!

If you’re not on our email list of subscribers, and you’d like to receive an email blog update about 2 or 3 times a month, then enter your email address in the blue box below or the blue box on the upper right. So easy!

A freelance writer, Sally Matheny’s writing is published in worldwide, national, regional, online and print publications including Appleseeds, Clubhouse Jr., Homeschooling Today, Practical Homeschooling, and The Old Schoolhouse. Sally also writes curriculum, inspirational articles, and has several children’s books in progress. Blogging at SallyMatheny.com, Sally encourages parents to live victorious and to courageously tell the next generation wondrous things.