Sweeter Than Honey: Ordering Your Ways Before God

What if we spent a few quiet moments with God each morning? What if we were intentional about making time for it? And what if we committed to doing that all year long, only to find that by the end of the year, we had read the entirety of God's Word—His Love Letter to us? 

​How many times have you, on January 1, resolved to read the Bible from cover to cover in a year? I’ve made that commitment more times than I can count, and I’ve failed more times than I’d like to admit. But a few years ago, I tried something different—I used a one-year, chronological order of book authorship, Bible Reading Itinerary. Did you know that Genesis wasn’t the first book of the Bible written? While these plans can vary, since it's impossible to pinpoint exact dates for some books, the plan I used began with the book of Job. Let me introduce you to Sweeter Than Honey, a book patterned after that Bible Reading Itinerary.

Sweeter Than Honey is a 365-day devotional journey ​that leads the reader
​through God's Word ​in chronological order of book authorship.

AVAILABLE AT AMAZON [HARDCOVER | PAPERBACK | KINDLE | AUDIOBOOK]

On Tuesdays, through the end of the year, I’d love for you to join me as we travel through parts of Sweeter Than Honey​ together! I also encourage you to join the private Sweeter Than Honey Facebook group, where you can share your thoughts and connect with like-minded, Christian friends.

2 Chronicles 27-29: Ordering Your Ways Before God​

In 2 Chronicles 27, we read about Jotham’s reign in Judah. King Jotham was a good king. Verse 2 tells us that he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. If you’re a “people pleaser” like me, you like doing what is right in the eyes of people. But how often do we give thought to the only pair of eyes that matter—the only pair of eyes that see us all the time, even when no human eyes are watching?

“Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the Temple of the Lord. But the people still followed corrupt practices. He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord and did much building on the wall of Ophel. Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and forts and towers on the wooded hills. He fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. And the Ammonites gave him that year 100 talents of silver, and 10,000 cors of wheat and 10,000 of barley. The Ammonites paid him the same amount in the second and the third years. So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God.” (2 Chronicles 27:1-6)

King Jotham had a good example to follow in his parents—King Uzziah and Jerushah, his mother. He was young when he began to reign, as many of these kings we’ve read about were, only 25 years old. And he didn’t reign very long, only 16 years. But he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 
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However, still, the people of Judah did not wholly follow the Lord with him. Verse 2 tells us, “But the people still followed corrupt practices.” Still, Jotham continued to follow the Lord. He built the upper gate in the house of the Lord, built on the wall of Ophel, built cities, forts, and towers. He fought with the Ammonites and won requiring from them silver, wheat, and barley for three years. The Bible tells us that Jotham becomes mighty, and, unlike some of his predecessors, he did not forget his God when he became mighty. That’s so easy for us to do, isn’t it? Things start going well and we forget all about how much we need the Lord. But Jotham did not forget. The most important verse in this passage is verse 6, “So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God.” Verse 6 tells us why Jotham became mighty. It wasn’t because of all the things he did, like building the upper gate, the wall of Ophel, cities, forts, and towers, or fighting and prevailing against the Ammonites. No, Jotham became mighty because “he ordered his ways before the Lord his God.” Today, let’s be sure our ways are ordered before God, like good King Jotham’s were!

In what specific areas of your life could you intentionally "order your ways before God" to align with His will and experience the strength that comes from walking closely with Him?

About Sweeter Than Honey

When I read God’s Word each morning, it brings inspiration and insight that guides my day. Let's treat His Word as the Love Letter it truly is, finding peace in chaos and strength in our weaknesses.

​Even on our busiest days, we can carve out a few minutes to focus on what truly matters. Whether it's early in the morning when the house is quiet or late at night after everyone else is asleep, we can make time for God’s Word.

Let's be intentional, letting His truths inspire us to live out our faith daily, in a way that draws others to the peace and joy we've found in Him.

Remember, God sees you, knows you by name, and cares about every detail of your life. Let's dive into His Love Letter, together!

​My top tip for successful Bible study? Be intentional with a plan. Without one, it's unlikely to happen. That's why I created Sweeter Than Honey—to give busy women like us a manageable, attainable plan to read through the Bible in a year.

Sweeter Than Honey is a 365-day devotional journey inspired by Psalm 119:103: “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” This book is designed to help you find peace amid chaos and strength in your weakest moments, all while encouraging you in your daily walk with God. Each day’s reading itinerary and devotion will guide you through God’s Word, in chronological order of book authorship, and by year's end you will have read through the entire Bible!

“You’ll find encouragement on every page of this book—encouragement to seek God above all else. The strong, spiritual emphasis will challenge you to turn to God for daily direction and experience His presence in a whole new and intentional way. Sweeter Than Honey will become more to you than just another daily devotional, it will become a keepsake as you record prayers and participate in thought-provoking, practical exercises that touch every aspect of your life and draw you closer to our Creator.” —from the Prologue

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What People Are Saying About Sweeter Than Honey

“As the leader of a small group journeying through "Sweeter Than Honey: A 365-Day Devotional Journey" this year, I can confidently say this study has been nothing short of life-changing. We are on the brink of wrapping up our exploration of God's Word together, and the impact has been profound. Utilizing the free media kit to spread the word about our small group, we encouraged everyone to find an accountability partner, and the discoveries we've made are nothing short of extraordinary. When I encouraged my group to read God's Word like a love letter, expecting daily guidance, we found peace in chaos and strength for weaknesses. The Bible, alive and relevant, became a source of inspiration for our everyday lives. Even on our busiest days, we carved out precious moments to refocus on what's truly important. Getting up a bit earlier or staying up a few minutes later became a small sacrifice for the immense gain we experienced. And now, as we approach the end, we're already talking about reading through the Bible with the Sweeter Than Honey plan, again, next year! That’s how impactful this study has been. Our intentional focus on God's Word inspired us to live out our faith daily, becoming beacons of light for those around us. The Scripture readings and the practical, life-giving devotionals in "Sweeter Than Honey" met us right where we needed guidance. Through this journey, the girls in our group gained clarity, understanding that God sees them, knows them intimately, and cares about every detail of their existence. His love letter became a tangible reality. To those considering this devotional journey: Be intentional. Gather your girls and dive into God's Word together. There's truly nothing like it. You can do this, and the rewards are beyond measure!” —Sarah

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