Awaken My Heart: 52 Weeks of Giving Thanks and Loving Abundantly: A Yearly Devotional for Women

by Emily Wilson Hussem

Winner of a first-place award for best front-cover artwork from the Catholic Media Association and second-place honors in collections of prayers from CMA and in the prayer category from the Association of Catholic Publishers.

Do you feel as if you are running on empty? Have you fallen asleep to the glory of God and his love being revealed to you each day? Bestselling and award-winning author and popular YouTuber Emily Wilson Hussem has been there too. She invites you on a year-long transformational journey of practicing gratitude, becoming more closely aware of God’s presence in your every day and serving others in his name. These fifty-two reflections will help you cultivate a deeper prayer life, find freedom from the frenzy of tasks and the noise of the culture, and discover the lasting joy that can only blossom in a heart awakened to the beauty of God’s quiet, loving presence. Awaken My Heart is an invitation to become aware of the presence of God in your life. Emily Wilson Hussem provides a road map for replacing busyness and distraction with intentional moments of noticing God’s abiding love and practicing gratitude for his many gifts—big and little blessings such as a visit from a friend, a call from your sister, the laughter of your children, a setting sun, or crumbs on the floor. These fleeting moments and everyday happenings can seem insignificant, but when you behold them with intention and thank God for making them possible, you’ll find yourself in regular conversation with Jesus, the lifeblood of your deep connection with God. This fifty-two-week devotional blends spiritual insights, authentic vulnerability, and wise guidance for women of every age who want to have a heart fully awakened to God’s presence and the beautiful bouquet of blessings he’s put in your life. The reflection for each week includes a specific focus for the upcoming seven days. With stories, challenges, and insights into scripture, each reflection is designed to draw you deeper into awareness of Christ’s love and the love he is calling you to share with the world. Wilson Hussem also offers practical ways to choose to love—visiting the elderly, calling your mom, or pausing to pray for a special intention—that are simple enough for even the busiest lifestyle. How and when you use the devotional is completely You can start on any day of the week and return to it as often as you need to. Each week’s focus is designed to draw you deeper into the heart of God by learning to love Jesus, others, and yourself more fully.

Genres: Christian, Religion, Faith, Nonfiction, Spirituality

288 pages, Paperback

Published November 6, 2020

About the author

Emily Wilson is a speaker, YouTuber, author, and musician who travels the world sharing her faith through witness and worship at women’s conferences, universities, and diocesan events across the globe.

Reviews

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple. Transformative. Gentle.

I would boldly say this book helped me grow in faith in little ways and this has showed me how sometimes little changes yield big spiritual fruit. It encouraged me to love better, trust God more, be more present, enjoy the little blessings, open my eyes to see how God works in my heart, and truly Awaken My Heart to all the good and beautiful in life.

I loved the components of the weekly devotions: a reading, reflection questions and prayer.

My favourite weeks:
- feel your heart beat
- bring down the walls
- rest close to his heart
- be patient with the present
- invite Him in
- let Him comfort you
- choose to change
- persist in prayer

Initially I was planning to finish the book by the end of 2022 but because of intentional and non-intentional delays from my side, I ended up finishing it 5 months afterwards.

Sometimes, because of the delays, I would read something that I really really needed at the time. I had several sweet God-made coincidences with this book.

I would for sure love to use this book often as a prayer book for all the specific, intentional, lovely weekly prayers it holds.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awaken My Heart by author Emily Wilson Hussem is a 52-week devotional.

Awaken My Heart has one 2-3 page devotional per week, preferably read on your day of rest. Each devotional has a couple of questions and a prayer at the end. They are meant to be pondered over during the week.

Awaken my Heart is written for the busy woman. So, if you have been wanting to read a devotional, but didn’t think you had the time Awaken My Heart is great.

Awaken My Heart is written for women of all ages and stages. My favorite devotional was week five. Litany For Healing Of Body Image.

I recommend Awaken My Heart to busy women of all faiths.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe you're looking for a new prayer routine for the near year? Awaken My Heart is a yearly devotional for women with a heartfelt reflection, a Soul Exercise, and Your Heart's Prayer for each of the 52 weeks of a whole year. Every week is a treasure, focusing on receiving His Peace, becoming childlike, not being afraid, having mercy on yourself, being brave, letting Him heal you...and the list goes on for 52 reflections!

Emily writes in a beautiful friendly style, encouraging us to be grateful, to be present, and to recognize the beautiful, yet often subtle ways that God works in our lives. Having a particular theme to focus on for each week, repeating the prayer and working on the soul exercise, and mulling over the reflection several or all of the days in each week, will really help to absorb the teaching and try to live it intentionally.

[Mary Biegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written! Emily’s reflections serve as both encouragement and much needed challenges for Catholic women. This book is filled with her real-life experiences from her childhood, her marriage, her motherhood, her successes and failures, and everything in between which I found to be particularly inspiring. I originally started this book a couple years ago and was reading it on a weekly basis but failed to be consistent with it and didn’t pick it up again until a month ago. I decided I would just read it at a normal pace, rather than waiting a week to read the next chapter. This proved much more enjoyable and doable for me personally, and I flew through it. So if you’re struggling to remember to read it on a weekly basis, try that instead! It’s better to read it the “wrong” way than to not read it at all :)

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars

I've loved Emily's ministries and books for several years now, so her year-long devotional was no exception. I loved how simply yet thoughtfully written each week's reflection and exercises were...so incredibly fruitful for my prayer life throughout 2021.

Admittedly some weeks were more relatable and fruitful than others, and I wish I had taken more time during busier weeks to slow down and absorb the teachings, but nonetheless, I loved this devotional.

Emily has a beautiful heart and passion for her family and ministry, which was evident in the pages of her devotional. Thank you, Emily, for sharing yet another meaningful piece of your heart through this devotional, which so greatly impacted the past year of prayer and life in general for me.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely devotional. It not only includes a reading and reflection for each week, there's also a "soul exercise" and prayer for the week. Sometimes I've read and reflected on the same passage once a week, but at other times I've read a different passage daily. I highly recommend this book for anyone who finds herself caught up in the busy-ness of life and who would like to slow down and see blessings in her daily life. Thank-you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for an ARC of this title.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Awaken My Heart
Author: Emily Wilson Hussem
Genre: Devotional
Rating: 5 out of 5

This is an excellent devotional! The illustrations the author uses are relatable and actionable. She’s not preaching, she’s just talking to you and telling you about things she’s experienced. There’s a reflection for the week, a soul exercise, and a prayer. This book invites you to deepen your relationship with Jesus while exploring what’s truly in your heart.

(Galley courtesy of Ave Maria Press in exchange for an honest review.)

More reviews at Tomorrow is Another Day

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really good book, it was my companion for the year of 2024,
Each Subday night or Monday morning I would read the next weeks chapter, its really good because its not much, just 3 pages every week but I was consitent the whole year. Amazing as I usually don't do these kind of things, it was truly an amazing journey, i really loved the litanies of the body. I think that was my favorite week, another favorite week was the people who attend you in shops etc with their name tag, and also the weeks to pray for your father and mother. Over all I am very happy with it. I recommend it.

[Samantha Thornberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this book is a devotional but it also was put together with such intentionality. Emily gives such insight on each of the fifty two weeks. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to dive deeper into faith!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this devotional. Everything is relatable for the most part and I found the book very engaging. I would recommend journaling for sure. I didn't and wish I had. I definitely found myself thinking of the book and applying new suggestions and ways of thinking to my life.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Some really good practical tips overall. I’m not catholic and there were a few things that didn’t apply, but still a nice read.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great devotional for any woman! Emily is an amazing author (and speaker) and it really shows in her writing. In these modern times, we need great Catholic writers and she is one of many.

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtle lessons and tips for life are very much needed and I am thankful they come in relatable and manageable sizes.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think if you really like her previous books you with that I love this book. It really opens your mind in your heart to God and how he works everywhere. Definitely recommend

[Julianna Gartner]

The way it took me over 3 years to finish this weekly devotional says more about me than the book tbh lol

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verdaderamente Emily busca ayudarte y despertar tu corazón! Hermoso libro. Sencillo, corto, y grande para meditaciones de horas santas

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook on Hallow. Very thought provoking. I plan to read the print version and make notes.

[Allison Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Wilson Hussem’s Awaken my Heart is a spiritual journey like no others. Wilson pens 52 beautifully written reflections for women embedded with Scripture that call to the awakening of each woman’s heart who reads to all that she is made for and worthy of. Additionally, there are “Soul Exercises” for deeper reflection, and a “Your Heart’s Prayer this Week” prayer written by Wilson Hussem herself. Each week covers many different topics such as serving, loving, resting, and being present in the moment. From beginning to end, this book is a masterpiece waiting to change your life in a year’s time .