In this final of four videos, Tripp Prince, Head of Product at Dwell, reminds us of the unfinished nature of life, where God draws near even when we are scattered and distracted. If this has been your experience this Advent, don’t lose heart! Advent is still for you, inviting you over these final few days to prepare to greet Christ at his birth.
In this third of four videos, Tripp Prince, Head of Product at Dwell, reminds us that the glitter and nostalgia of the holidays are fun, but it’s all a faint reflection of the radiance of Christ, who alone offers the joy our souls long for!
In this second of four videos, Tripp Prince, Head of Product at Dwell, reminds us that the darkness of this world is no match for the light of Christ. As Christmas draws nearer, reflect on how God did the impossible – saving the lost through a helpless infant – then trust him to plant new life in you.
We are not static individuals, the same people we were at this time last year. As much as we love and crave stability, change is a constant in our lives. Our hearts, souls, and minds are being formed daily. How you are formed, especially spiritually, depends on what you are surrounding your heart, soul, and mind with. The conversations you have, what you choose to watch, and the words you read and listen to, all direct your heart, soul, and mind in a given direction.
While having a conversation, watching a show, or listening to an audiobook or podcast may seem benign, they are not neutral, having no effect on who you are and who you are becoming. Actually, the opposite is true. The words you listen to, read, and think about all shape you in one way or another. Often, we passively engage in watching, reading, listening, and conversing, but even then, we are being formed. Like a compass, what you put into your heart, soul, and mind will direct the path of your life. A slight shift may not seem consequential, but like on a compass, even a one-degree shift, later in your journey, can lead you to a completely different destination- a destination to which you may have never intended to travel.
As you listen, converse, and read, your opinions, convictions, and beliefs are being shaped. These then inform the decisions you make and the behaviors you engage in. We are at a critical juncture culturally where the information available to us to inform our lives is insurmountable and having to weed through the sheer volume of it to find the truth can be difficult.
What we need is an unchanging compass for our lives- a tool we can turn towards at any point, that will guide and direct us back towards being spiritually formed by God in the ways he desires. The Bible is God’s compass for your life. The words of Scripture will provide the daily renewal and grounding you are longing for, every season of the year. That is the promise of God’s word- it is unchanging when the rest of our lives are in constant change. The seasons may change, but in God’s word, you will find the unchanging story of God’s great love for you, comfort for seasons of grief and sorrow, guidance for living in a complex world, and grounding for your soul.
When we make a habit of reading, listening to, and meditating on God’s word, daily, we intentionally place our hearts, souls, and minds pointing toward true north on the compass of our lives. Other messages may come at us during the day, but we have positioned ourselves for God’s word to align our hearts, souls, and minds in the direction we are to go in, the truths we are to stand on, and the comfort of finding fulfillment in a relationship with God.
At Dwell it is our desire to help you access the soul-grounding, heart-rooting, mind-shaping Word of God in your actual life.
Our Bible in a Year plans will help ground your soul in the word of God, every season of the year. With 8 distinct plans to choose from, we’ve made it easy for you to access the entirety of God’s word, make a habit of listening to it every day of the year, and pay attention to the ways God is forming your life.
The Straight Through Plan where you will explore the Bible from cover to cover, Genesis through Revelation all in less than 23 minutes a day!
The Historical Plan where you will explore the books of the Bible as they were written historically, according to the estimated date of their writing- each day of the year for under 23 minutes a day!
The Chronological Plan leads you on a journey through the Bible in the order the events occurred chronologically, helping you see the Bible in context of their historical significance.
The M’Cheyne Plan takes those who want to devote more time to their Bible listening on a journey through the Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice during the year. The daily listening experience includes two Old Testament and two New Testament chapters per day.
The Five Day plan helps you explore the Bible five days a week through the year with passages from both the Old and New Testaments in 3-4 chapters a day.
The Genre Plan helps you explore the different genres of the Bible with each day of the week focused on a different genre of Scripture: the Letters, the Law, History, Psalms, Poetry, Prophecy, and Gospels. In a year you will have listened to all of Scripture through the lens of their genre.
The Old and New Testament Plan will immerse you in listening to one Old Testament and one New Testament passage each day of the year in under 23 minutes a day.
The New Testament Plan is a plan that fits perfectly into the margins of daily life. At just one chapter a day, five days a week, you can listen to the entire New Testament in under 6 minutes a day.
We encourage you to join us in making a goal to listen to God’s Word daily, and we’ve made it very easy to do so, but we also know it can be intimidating to take on listening through the Bible in a year. This is why we created Dwell Daily.
Dwell Daily is a compilation of the central passages of Scripture, essential for a life grounded in the love of God and the truth of the Bible. While the Dwell Daily plan doesn’t cover every single passage in Scripture like our Bible in a Year plans do, there are passages in this plan for every day of the year, getting you into God’s Word in an accessible way.
It is our hope that as you embark on this new year you will choose to join thousands of Dwell app users in a yearly listening plan, as we together commit to being formed by God’s Word, regardless of what seasons this new year brings.
In this first of four videos, Tripp Prince, Head of Product at Dwell, reminds us that when we are weary and exhausted, the Lord meets us in that place and refreshes our souls. This Advent, remember that we are not alone. Christ is with us, always drawing near as we choose to daily draw near to him.
Dwell: How do you best prepare to record the Bible? Is there something you do before you begin recording to get into a certain mindset?
Amber: I pray before I go into my studio, and ask God to not only give me the voice that ministers to the listener as I record, but to minister and reveal to me.
What drew you to join the Dwell project?
I said to myself, as I was listening to the Word, “It would be a blessing to narrate the Word.” And God allowed the journey to Dwell.
What is the biggest challenge of reading the entire Bible?
The names!
Was there anything about recording the Bible that surprised you?
A better understanding of some Scriptures of which I was unsure.
What is your favorite story or character in the Bible?
I have many, but I would say the story of Esther, and Jael is one of my favorite characters (bold and fearless!).
Do you have a favorite verse of Scripture?
Jeremiah 29:11. It’s also the reciprocal of my birthday.
What is one thing you’ve learned since you started recording the Scriptures?
That God is still revealing things.
Has being involved with this project changed your outlook on the Bible?
It’s all a blessing, and it has allowed me to spend more time with God.
Is there anything about this translation that has been special to you?
It has given me better clarity.
Is there something that you hope people will experience or gain from listening to your voice & CSB translation?
It’s my prayer that listeners will be drawn in through the emotion and intent of my narration, which I pray will then draw them closer to the Lord, deepen their understanding of Scripture, and for those on the fence, lead them toward salvation.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our listeners?
Jesus is Lord and He loves you!
*New Testament currently available. Old Testament coming 2023.