Rock Solid Devotionals Without the Fluff
This past weekend, I was talking with one of my friends on the worship team about devotional books. Oftentimes, devotionals are full of feel good fluff, lacking scripture, using verses out of context, or putting words in the mouth of God (I’m looking at you, Jesus Calling). I’ll never forget the time that I asked a mentor of mine what she might recommend in regards to a devotional, and she replied, “I’m not really sure…when I have the extra time, I’d much rather just read scripture.” Although that may sound snarky, I loved that she said it to me because at the time I really wasn’t digging into my Bible as I should. I was looking for something bite size without really wanting to spend much time on it, instead of trying to make reading scripture a priority in my busy lifestyle.
I definitely understand the draw of a devotional, but would like to implore you to use it in addition to your regular scripture reading, not as a supplement for it. Most devotionals have titles like “2 Minute Devotionals for Men” or “5 Minute Devotionals for Women” – which I’ve come to not appreciate so much. I understand we’re all busy – I’m chasing a toddler at all hours of the day while also working in ministry. But God deserves much more of our time. If you’re somebody who just really wants to add on a daily reading or reflection with some scripture application, but you may not have the time or space to jump into a bunch of huge theology books, I have some great suggestions for devotionals that are super solid!
1. My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers is probably my all time favorite devotional (and it’s only $7!). The pieces are short, super thought provoking and convicting, and there’s one for each day of the year. If you feel like you need a kick in the butt, this would be perfect. The writing is absolutely beautiful. “Oswald Chambers was a teacher and preacher whose messages cut to the heart of the gospel. His wife, Biddy, transcribed his lectures and sermons and compiled them into books, the most popular being My Utmost for His Highest. The title is taken from a thought in one of his sermons: “Shut out every consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only—My Utmost for His Highest.”
2. Upon Waking by Jackie Hill Perry just came out this year, and I love her heart behind writing it. She really wanted to create a devotional that was steeped in scripture and truth, instead of something to just make us feel good about ourselves. I got to listen to her speak a little bit about it at one of her conferences, and was really excited for it to come out. “What do you wake up to each day? What do you discover once your eyes have opened and you put your feet to the floor? A mountain of notifications? An endless feed of headlines that make you angry? A flood of tasks that you can’t possibly get done in the next twenty-four hours? “What if you could wake up each day to discover something so much bigger—and so much better for you—than all that chaos? What if you could discover God? What if you could discover yourself in light of that God? What if your eyes could be opened to the things that really mattered? What if, in one simple devotional a day, you could glean principles from timeless wisdom to sharpen you for each day’s inevitable challenges? In her lyrical, compelling, and poignant voice, bestselling author and Bible teacher Jackie Hill Perry offers sixty short, daily reflections on specific passages from Scripture to help you awaken to the God you were made for, the life you were made for, and the person you were made to be.”
3. A Year with C.S. Lewis – years ago, I checked this book out from the library and absolutely fell in love with it. I couldn’t find it online ANYWHERE, and was so upset that I had to give it back. Honestly, I almost just kept it and paid the lost book fee, but I decided to do the right thing and return it. Although the cover isn’t quite the same, I just recently discovered an updated version! The writings are so beautiful, and pull from many of C.S. Lewis’s books. These are perfect reading reflections that will point your heart towards Jesus. “The classic A Year with C.S. Lewis is an intimate day-to-day companion by C.S. Lewis, the most important Christian writer of the 20th century. The daily meditations have been culled from Lewis’ celebrated signature classics: Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Problem of Pain, Miracles, and A Grief Observed, as well as from the distinguished works The Weight of Glory and The Abolition of Man. Ruminating on such themes as the nature of love, the existence of miracles, overcoming a devastating loss, and discovering a profound Christian faith, A Year with C.S. Lewis offers unflinchingly honest insight for each day of the year.”
I hope you love these devotionals! They are my top three favorites. Let me know if you decide to pick one up so we can talk about it! And a special thanks to my friend Dannie Sheldon for inspiring this post. ◡̈
