Draw Close to Jesus

40 Encounters with the Savior for the Sacred Season of Lent

By: Heidi Chiavaroli

Narrated by: Emma Faye

It is hard to imagine a more needed and desirable invitation than "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." The Gospel accounts are full of stories of Jesus noticing, meeting, and walking alongside people who were weary, worried, and wondering what to do about the challenges they faced. People a lot like you. Jesus intentionally drew close, spent unhurried time with them, and changed their lives forever.

In this unique devotional, award-winning novelist Heidi Chiavaroli invites you to draw closer to Jesus this Lent. Through imaginative retellings, Heidi brings to vivid life the stories of forty people who encountered him in the pages of Scripture. As you journey alongside them, you will gain new appreciation for the beauty of repentance, the power of redemption, and the incredible intimacy we get to experience with the One who stepped into our sin and shortcomings to offer forgiveness, abundance, and rest for our weary souls.

©2026 Heidi Chiavaroli (P)2026 Christian Audio

Truly Experiential!

How much time do you spend with Jesus during the Lenten season preparing your heart for the celebration of His life, death and resurrection?

Noted Christian author, Heidi Chiavaroli, has been led to write this Lenten devotional in a way that puts us in the room, walking along the road, sitting at the feet of Jesus. Using Scriptural accounts with a Biblical fiction twist, this is an encounter with Jesus in a new, real way.

What to expect-
-Scripture reading that begins the daily devotion
-glimpses into the character of Jesus as people encounter Him and are changed
-interactions written within the culture of the day causing us to remember them in a deeper and more meaningful way because we lived them through story
-reflection questions to ponder
-a prayer for each day
-additional scripture to consider

Draw Close to Jesus is a beautifully written devotional that can be shared with your family or small group each day for the 40 days leading up to the celebration of the resurrection. Using this book for a group or family devotional time would be so impactful.

The audiobook narrated by Emma Faye is well done and immersive. I appreciated the emotion she introduced into these pages.

I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.