Reading has always been one of my favorite pastimes. There’s something comforting about getting lost in a good book, and for years it was my go-to way to relax. But life got busy, and I stopped reading for a while. Then, this past fall, I picked the habit back up again—and at first, it felt like a return to something life-giving.
But as I got deeper into some of the books, I started to notice a pattern. Many titles—especially those marketed to women—contained explicit sexual content. At first, I thought I could just skip over those parts. I told myself I was just in it for the storyline and that as long as I avoided the scenes, it was fine.
But in reality, it wasn’t fine. Once I was reading, those scenes would appear unexpectedly, and I found myself tempted to read them. And a few times I did.
At the same time, the Holy Spirit began to convict me in another area too. I realized I could binge-read a 400-page novel in a single day, yet often said I didn’t have “enough time” to read the Bible. That realization hit hard. I was giving hours to stories that didn’t feed my spirit, while neglecting the one book that truly gives life. That quiet conviction was God gently calling me back to Himself.
I began to feel how those explicit scenes weren’t just inappropriate—they didn’t reflect the purity God calls us to walk in. Worse, they stirred up thoughts of discontentment, especially around my marriage. The enemy used those books to plant subtle lies that distorted what God had blessed me with in real life.
That’s how sneaky sin can be.
So, I started making changes. I went through my collection and discarded books that I knew included explicit content, and that included those in my Kindle. It wasn’t easy—some of those books had great plots—but I knew peace was more valuable than a compelling story. I also began using websites like RatedReads.com to help me choose clean, edifying books. That shift has brought so much more clarity and joy to my reading life.
And most importantly, I’ve become more intentional about spending time in God’s Word. I now see my time and attention as a form of worship—and I want to give the best of it to the One who gave everything for me.
Philippians 4:8 has been a guidepost for me:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Books are powerful. They shape our thoughts and affections more than we often realize. I’m learning that guarding my heart—even through something as seemingly harmless as fiction—isn’t about legalism; it’s about freedom, peace, and deeper intimacy with God.
And I’m so grateful for His grace in helping me turn the page.
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