For most of her life, Lynn tried to follow God. She prayed, sought Him, and even called herself a Christian. But it wasn’t until 13 years ago that she truly surrendered her life to Jesus. That moment of surrender changed everything.
“I had tried so many times in my life,” Lynn said, “but I just really didn’t buckle down and give my life to the Lord. Because I know I tried to say I was a Christian too. But I wasn’t. I know I had not surrendered. And that’s the difference, I think. You have to surrender your life. And that took me a long time.”
Since then, Lynn has immersed herself in God’s Word—reading through the Bible each year, often more than once. But this year’s journey through the Chronological Bible has opened her eyes to Scripture in new ways.
“In the beginning, I did not like it,” Lynn said. “But the Chronological Bible Journey podcast helped me so much. Their comments tied everything together, and every day I was encouraged by Noah, Derek, Michael, Ben, and later Tanya.”
That encouragement helped establish a rhythm of daily time with the Lord that has become the most important part of Lynn’s life.
“Now I spend two and a half, sometimes three hours with the Lord,” Lynn said. “I read devotionals, pray through a warfare prayer, and then spend quiet time with God. He has revealed to me many things—He has spoken to me, and it’s just been so beautiful.”
One of those moments this year came when Lynn was feeling weighed down by worry. In prayer, she felt the Holy Spirit whisper to her what Jesus said in Luke 10:41, “Martha, Martha, you worry about too many things.” Lynn had always identified with Mary at the feet of Jesus, but in that moment, she saw herself clearly. “You’re right,” she told the Lord.
“And I was overcome with joy, just like the verse He gave me years ago, Matthew 2:10: ‘When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.’ I was weeping with joy,” Lynn said.
Moments like that have anchored Lynn in God’s presence, especially when she wonders if her faithfulness makes any difference. One morning she prayed, “Lord, I don’t know if I’m making any difference in anyone’s life.”
That very day, God responded through an unexpected messenger. When Lynn’s grocery delivery arrived, the young woman at her door was in tears, but these were tears of joy. She had just received a call saying she was approved for an apartment while putting together Lynn’s grocery order.
“I wrapped my arms around her, and we embraced each other,” Lynn said. “She told me she was supposed to be there that day. And I just wept. God had answered the prayer that I’d prayed that very morning.”
Even in seasons of challenge—like receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis—Lynn has clung to the hope and peace she finds in Christ.
“Most people don’t know that I deal with Alzheimer’s,” Lynn said. “They don’t see the pain it causes me. But He is healing me. And I just know it’s all for the glory of God.”
The Chronological Bible has also helped Lynn see Scripture in a new light, and she’s been able to draw connections between the Old and New Testaments.
“This morning I was reading Isaiah and thought, ‘This sounds like Revelation,’” Lynn said. “And then the podcast mentioned the same thing. I see the correlations more and more. It’s like, wow, this is amazing.”
Even though some sections are difficult for Lynn to get through, like long stretches in Psalms or Proverbs, she keeps pressing on—praying for discernment and wisdom and noticing details she never did before.
“I’m not just doing a checklist,” she said. “I’m really spending time in God’s Word, picking up on the writing styles and rhythms. I’ll read something and say, ‘This sounds like David’s heart,’ and then I see that others believe the same thing.”
This deeper engagement with Scripture through the Chronological Bible has opened Lynn’s heart not just to God’s voice but also to the community of believers sharing this journey alongside her.
“I think it’s great that we’re all on the same page, doing the same thing,” Lynn said. “It encourages people who may have never read through the Bible before. And once you start, the Lord gives you a hunger for His Word. It’s like manna in the wilderness—you just want more.”
That hunger has transformed Lynn’s mornings. As she listens, prays, and reflects, she knows God is drawing her closer to Himself. For Lynn, surrender wasn’t just a moment 13 years ago, it’s a choice she makes each day. In the midst of challenges, including her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, she continues to lay down her worries, her time, and her future before the Lord.
“My Lord is listening to me and my faithful prayer,” Lynn said. “He’s the first person I talk to every morning and the last person I talk to every night. He’s changed my whole life.”
If you’ve fallen behind in your readings or haven’t started yet, it’s never too late to surrender, listen, and let God’s Word transform your life. Go to bellevue.org/bible to learn more and join us as we start the New Testament on September 24!