My Three Favorite Devotional Books
One of the easiest ways to begin the spiritual rhythm of spending time with God is by reading devotionals. These books typically consist of daily insights on a Biblical verse or passage, often including a prayer or reflection questions. While I believe that nothing can replace reading the Bible directly, I find that devotionals have merit as a supplement.
First, these collections can be an engaging “training ground” for learning how to begin or enhance studying the Bible and learning about God, Jesus, and Christianity. Secondly, they often stimulate new thoughts or ideas on familiar topics or stories. Reading them helps me to dig deeper, think more creatively, and realize fresh insights into my daily walk as a Christian. Finally, devotionals are very useful for establishing and enhancing a regular and rewarding rhythm of praying and growing closer to God.
Many include 365 days of entries, with themes ranging from cooking to parenting to marriage to work to general Christian living. Over the years, I have enjoyed many different devotionals, but as I look at the ones on my shelf – three have passed the test of time and have emerged as favorites.
The first is New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp. His direct but grace-filled style, marked by a combination of personal sharing and wrestling with profound truths, resonates with me. Every year I find myself re-reading it. The writings are accessible to Christians at any place in their walk or to people seeking to learn more about Christianly thinking.
Tripp shares a one-sentence theme at the top of each entry, then expounds on it in interesting ways, before ending by directing readers to a passage that we can examine for ourselves. His unique style beautifully balances gentleness with truth. He isn’t afraid to tackle the most problematic issues of daily life. These devotions have helped me to see truths that have dispeled my delusions, challenged my complacency, and caused me to question my motives, while still making me feel loved.
Another all-time favorite on my shelf is Tim Keller’s God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs, written with his wife, Kathy Keller. I took this book with me when I moved to Sweden in 2019. After a lifetime of hectic mornings, I enjoyed a quiet season during those long winter months, starting each day with the wisdom of Proverbs.
Wisdom is valuable in all seasons of life, but aspects of our modern world make wise thinking more crucial than ever. This devotional book brought Proverbs to life for me, teaching me how to apply wisdom straight from God to my day-to-day thoughts and actions. The Kellers begin with an excellent overview of Proverbs, then offer 365 devotions divided into themes. Included are sections on knowing God, the heart, relationships, decision-making, sex, money, power, words, and more. Many topics pertinent to life and faith are covered, and each day’s reflection ends with a brief but realistic and helpful prayer.
I acquired knowledge about topics I had never considered and recognized areas of weakness I didn’t know were problems until I read the book. By reflecting on the verses, thoughts, and questions and meditating on the truths each day, I found myself having “aha moments” and gaining perspective. The entries are concise but powerful. Even my teenage son thoroughly enjoyed this collection.
It took a while to settle on the final devotional in my top three until my eyes landed on Kim Newlen’s The One Year Sweet and Simple Moments with God Devotional.
Although Kim was a neighbor and fellow parent at my kids’ school, and we shared many friends in common, I never had occasion to meet her until near the end of her journey on earth. We were at a Valentine’s Day coffee in the home of a mutual friend, and I was amazed by how freely and openly she shared her love for Jesus with others, as if it overflowed in her and she couldn’t help but let it spill out.
A year or two later, we connected for the second time at another friend’s home. Her devotional book was about to be released, and we laughed about the challenges of writing and publishing. She offered advice and encouragement to me in my fledgling writing aspirations.
Sadly, Kim’s cancer returned soon after, and I never saw her again. But I eagerly dove into her devotional book, learning more about her abiding faith and the stories that shaped her into the inspiring and encouraging person she was. Her devotions are appealing because they are so real. The entries honestly and humorously relay how she witnessed God at work in her roles as a mom, wife, neighbor, patient, and friend. I love books that show faith lived out in the ordinary, and this one nails it, with sweetness, genuine humility, and joy.
In a world where Christians often lack mentors, and especially during this season when we are not able to gather together freely due to the pandemic, devotional books can fill a gap by imparting insights and encouragement. These are just three examples of the many available in print and online. Like me, you may find yourself returning to these books again and again, as if to older, more seasoned Christian friends, willing to share their lives and their wisdom. We can all benefit from that.
Advent, beginning four Sundays before Christmas, is a time of anticipating and celebrating Christ’s birth but also expectantly hoping for His return. It’s a time of remembering and reflecting on the real meaning of Christmas. Using an Advent devotional is a wonderful way to feed and quiet the soul and meditate on Christ amidst the commercialization of the Christian holiday. This year, I am using the Advent 2020: Jesus Christ is Born devotional from She Reads Truth. Advent devotionals can be found online, in stores, and through many local churches.
What is your favorite devotional book? Reply in the comments.