In my desk at this moment are six daily devotional books. While I was in the retail Christian book business, a number of these were sold just before the end of each year, indicating people were thinking about improving their devotional time with God.
Daily devotional — the term should give us a clue. Daily is a habit well preached on and longed for, not so often accomplished. To take time (we never have time — the enemy of our souls will see to that), to spend a few moments with our God each day is so vital to our spiritual well-being. Each of us need to order our lives so these moments are not crowded out. A daily devotional book is meant to be a “goad” to this end.
The dictionary meaning of devotional includes worship, prayer, loyalty, affection, and faithfulness. A daily devotional book is meant to help you along in all of these practices. It does not take the place of these practices nor is it the sum of them. It does not replace the Bible as our primary source of instruction, correction, reproof, or inspiration. It is merely a help along that road.
So I’d like to recommend these six books, dividing them into three categories. The first category are those devotionals which are written by one person. I have two of these. One is written by Mr. Bill MacDonald, and called One Day at a Time. His insightful comments on Scripture have been a blessing to me, and challenge me to a more godly life. He is interested in causing us to be more wholly devoted to God. This book will stimulate you to think — and live it too.
The same is true of the other one I have, called Renewed Day by Day by A. W. Tozer. In the preface of this book, Dr. Tozer says, “The work of the good book is to incite the reader to moral action, to turn his eyes toward God, and urge him forward.” This book can do that.
The second category is composed of compilations. I have two very good ones. One is Opened Treasures, compiled by William Pell. It is a collection of the writings of Frances Ridley Havergal. “Take my life and let it be — consecrated, Lord, to Thee,” is one of her familiar hymns. Mr. Pell has selected the finest of the prose and poetry of this godly Christian lady of the nineteenth century and made it available in this format for our inspiration today.
Mrs. Charles Cowman, a missionary to China, had many trials in her life. Various people’s writings or articles gave her comfort. She has compiled them in five volumes called Streams in the Desert. This series is a classic of devotional thought, pointing us to the God of all comfort.
The third category is made up of books written to help us understand the Scriptures as we read them. One is Daily Light on the Daily Path. It is a series of Scriptures linked together around one thought. This helps us to concentrate our minds and aids in our meditation of the Scripture.
Another like it is This Morning with God, compiled by the staff of InterVarsity Press. After each portion of Scripture are a number of questions to guide you in your thinking on the passage. The portions are consecutive and short, going through the Bible in four years.
I trust this will start you thinking of something that will help you as you seek to live for the Lord. For to live rightly for God one must first think rightly about Him. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).