Devotional Reading list
The LIST OF DEVOTIONAL READING is long. Reading it all would take a lifetime. So how do we address it? First of all, we identify what is from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God the Father whom we meet in the Bible.
Cross off all the rest!
I endorse only 2 of the “ Top 5 Classics” recommended by Amzon as well as the Cyber Hymnal. Those 2 are Streams in the Desert and My Utmost for His Highest.
On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand/All other Ground is Sinking Sand!
My motivation here is not judgment, but a warning against two dangers that appear in most devotional books that are popular in our culture. These are mysticism and contemplative prayer.
Why are they dangerous? Because they try to connect with God without Jesus. In one of these, I read about going “beyond Jesus.” There is no going beyond Jesus! As He himself said,
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
St. Peter emphasized this just after the Holy Spirit filled him with His power
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. – Acts 4:12
If Jesus and the cross are not mentioned, I put it down and thank Him for delivering me.
Time
What’s next? How much time do we have to invest in this devotional reading? St. Paul gives the church at Ephesus some guidance:
Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:14…16
This is a challenge to put away the dead things that bring us darkness and walk in the light that Jesus brings. To walk wisely, not as fools, making good use of our time. Redeeming our time as Jesus has redeemed us.
How much time is enough? Our circumstances and place in life’s journey will have an impact on this, as will our reading ability.
It takes an overage reader 70 hours to read through the entire Bible (52 Old Testament, 18 New), which means about 12 minutes per day.
Studying History
Where did devotional reading come from? The Bible, of course! Given by MOSES, this prayer was voiced by the ancient Israelites and later the Jews, morning and evening:
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. – Deuteronomy 6:5-6
It is called the “Shema:”
THE SHEMA became a twice-daily prayer within Judaism. It was so widely practiced in the second-temple period, that Jesus Himself grew up praying it. This prayer was formative for Jesus and he drew upon it in his teachings.
The Old Testament
From the time of Deuteronomy, reading the scriptures was commanded. By Jesus’ day, it was firmly established in regular readings in the synagogues. We see Jesus Himself giving one of these readings in Nazareth:
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. – Luke 4:16
When the Church was established, some of these readings were continued and later incorporated into the practice of all liturgical churches.
The Place of the Psalms
The Psalms were an integral part of the Temple worship not only as regular readings but also in musical worship.
The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight. Ezra 2:41
Those 128 were at the time of the second Temple. In Solomon’s day that number was much higher. What did they sing? The Psalms, like this one here:
Let Everything Praise the Lord
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. – Psalm 150
The Psalms retained their place in Christian worship because most of the early believers came from the synagogues where they were used before and after Jesus was recognized as Christ. Because of Jesus’ example and use of them, the apostles encouraged believers to use them in their personal lives as well:
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; St. Paul in Ephesians 5:19
The Psalms not only became an integral part of Christian liturgies over the centuries but continue to this day to be the scriptures most used in corporate worship. They later became the most frequently used texts in private/personal devotions.
What About the New Testament?
The New Testament did not become a part of the liturgy/formal form of worship of the church for several hundred years when it was woven in with the Old Testament, Psalter, and Prayer.
But there were those who did study the Scriptures devotionally, beginning with ORIGEN (184-253) and culminating in the
Lectio Divina (Latin for “Divine Reading”) that anticipated devotional reading with a 4-step process that treats the Bible as the living Word of God: read; meditate; pray; contemplate.
The focus of LECTIO DIVINA is not a theological analysis of biblical passages but viewing them with the Lord Jesus Christ as the key to their meaning.
But up until the Reformation, all this was done by monks in monasteries with prayers and readings recited methodically at canonical hours throughout the day. With the Reformation, devotional reading began to be used by individuals.
1. Where did reading on a daily basis appear?
Johann Habermann (1516-1590) wrote the first prayer book with PRAYERS FOR EACH DAY OF THE WEEK. I was praying these when I underwent treatments for throat cancer and will never forget this one from Thursday, December 29, the last radiation treatment:
Prayer for Thursday Morning.
Jesus Christ, Thou art the eternal light, which dispelleth the darkness of night and the shadow of death: I magnify Thy name, I glorify and thank Thee. For Thou hast so graciously kept me during this night, and hast brought me out of the darkness to the light of day.
Thou hast shielded me against the terrors of the night, the snares of the devil, the noisome pestilence, that walketh in the darkness, manifold illness and disease. Thou hast guarded and watched over my soul, even as the shepherd watches over his flock.
This is a wonderful short-term devotional journey. Along with many prayers from my family and church, these prayers strengthened and comforted me during my healing from cancer.
2. Reformation of the Psalter
In 1535, Miles Coverdale published his English translation of the Bible from Jerome’s Latin text.
Each psalm is given a Latin title taken from the first words of the Psalm, for example, Psalm 23. Dominus regit me. THE LORD ís my shépherd; * therefore can Ī lack nothing.”
They are presented as elements of Morning and Evening Worship for the 30 days of the month, with the lines divided by an asterisk for responsive reading.
Coverdale’s psalter was so popular that it was adopted by the Church of England and printed in its Book of Common Prayer from the mid-16th century down to the present day.
3. Devotional reading of the Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer has incorporated Coverdale’s translation and presentation as its own, and this is one excellent reason to read the BCP in our private devotions too.
The Prayer-book also has many prayers for use by families and individuals which is another good reason for reading it devotionally.
But the best reason for using the BCP is that it is filled with Scripture on every page. It also provides Bible readings for each week of the Christian Calendar Year and a “daily office” for reading the Bible through.
I have used this for my annual “through the Bible” readings for many years.
4. Structure for personal quiet time.
One of the first personal and private devotions we have comes from Lancelot Andrewes (1555 – 1626), translator of the Psalms to the King James Bible. Andrewes spent the first 5 hours of each day in his PRIVATE DEVOTIONS, more time than most of us have. But what we can learn from them is how to order our own.
Most people think of praying as a “want list” for God. Andrewes presents his prayers for each day of the week in this order; Confession, Prayer for Grace, Profession, Intercession, and Praise.
What is of great importance and power is the scripture upon which each step of his prayer process is based. We are blessed in simply reading his introduction!
5. Daily readings for a defined period
Fénelon (1651 – 1715), was a French Catholic Archbishop, scholar, and theologian who protected Madam Guyon and was sympathetic to the Quietist movement in the court of Louis XIV. I have been blessed by his mediations on humility in his 40 Spiritual Letters, which I have used several times alone and other times with my children. From the introduction:
O Abba Father, fill me with this love! Root out in me all sin and bitterness; cleanse me deep and wholly from sin both known and unknown;
free me from generational sin, from unconscious guilt and fear and environmental situations which I am unable to even recognize but which the blood of Jesus can cover and heal and cleanse!
40 days is a Biblical season. Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days in the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil. This was the same time Moses fasted and prayed before receiving the 10 Commandments.
Christians observe 40 days of fasting & prayer during Advent & Lent, and I have used these LETTERS OF FENELON during 40 days to meet special needs.
6. Books for Devotional reading created by Charles Spurgeon
CHARLES SPURGEON (1834 – 1892) is known as the “Prince of Preachers”. He was also a strong and courageous defender of the Gospel against Darwinism and Modernism in all its forms. All of his preaching and teaching are from the Bible, which he defended from all who sought to weaken its authority as the inerrant Word of God.
He led the way in creating daily devotions, and I recommend 3 that I have used and learned from.
Morning by Morning, 1865: Spurgeon, with his masterful hand, carefully selected his text from throughout the Bible and covered a broad range of topics, in order to present a well-balanced and fruitful DAILY DEVOTIONAL for readers both young and old.
Morning and Evening is an ONLINE DEVOTIONAL that presents Spurgeon’s scripture and teaching for every day of the year. You may have it sent to you personally every morning & evening.
Faith’s Checkbook, 1888, was the one my family used for 50 years. “A promise from God may very instructively be compared to a check payable to order,” wrote. Spurgeon.
“It is given to the believer with the view of bestowing upon him some good thing. It is not meant that he should read it over comfortably, and then have done with it. No, he is to treat the promise as a reality, as a man treats a check.”
That idea pervades the 365 readings of this thought-provoking daily devotional, designed to encourage readers to take God at His word. This NEW EDITION has been lightly edited for modern readers.
7. Devotional reading by Oswald Chambers
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, 1924.
Chambers (1874 – 1917) is a lifelong hero of mine, a missionary, teacher, and minister/caregiver to soldiers during World War I. He died at age 43 from appendicitis in 1917 because he refused to take up a hospital bed that could be used by wounded soldiers.
His wife Gertrude (“Biddy”) Hobbs Chambers began publishing his sermons and teaching in 500-word installments. The most successful of these is My Utmost for His Highest, which has sold over 13 million copies in 39 languages.
Chambers was converted under the preaching of Charles Spurgeon and later became a Holiness minister in the Pentecostal League of Prayer. THIS DEVOTIONAL has been a part of my life for over 50 years, and it inspires me today even more than when I read it for the first time.
8. Devotional reading by Mrs. Charles Cowman
The Cowman's were missionaries to Japan and China where they worked with Oswald Chambers and presented the Gospel to some 60 million souls.
Streams in the Desert, 1925 is the product of Mrs.Cowman’s
… thoughts, quotations, spiritual inspiration which had helped to sustain Mrs. Charles E. Cowman during her years of missionary work in Japan and China — particularly the six years she nursed her husband while he was dying.”--Publisher’s forward. GOOGLE BOOKS’
One value of this thoughtful devotional is its sharing of her experience of being “in the Desert,” as many of us often are. God’s presence always surrounds us, and He has promised never to leave or forsake us. These reassurances are comforting and faith-building and help me rest in Jesus.
There is, of course, a scripture for every day but along with it the thoughts, comments, and poems of other Christians over the years. The poems are what make this devotional come alive for me. From it, my father memorized many and passed them along to me. I am exceedingly grateful for all of this and have made this book a regular part of my life. I delight in it, and so will you.
9. Devotional reading of Theodore Austin Sparks, (1888–1971),
I discovered Mr. Sparks when I typed in “The Centrality and Supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ” in Google. His name came up, and I thought what a wonderful testimony this is. His ministry is Christ-centered and cross-centered, and I have learned much from him over the years. So have such other Spirit-filled Christians like Bakht Singh of India, Watchman Nee of China, and Roger Forster of the United Kingdom.
His work is all published free and available via the Internet. It is often very deep, too deep for me, but his teaching is powerful and often augmented by diagrams s.
I think the deepness here is from the Holy Ghost, and I find great comfort and assurance that Jesus is All and in all when I spend time with Austin-Sparks. It also gives me the confidence to rest in Him. I can almost hear Him calling:
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30
I encourage everyone looking for the deep things of Christ to try these anointed messages.
10. Active Devotional reading and workbook
Experiencing God, by Henry T. Blackaby, 1990
Henry T. Blackaby is a Canadian pastor and Baptist theologian and college president. His best book was Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, published in 1990, sold 7 million copies. I used this book to minister to my children when they were in college.
It is structured around these 7 topics:
Blackaby calls them the “SEVEN REALITIES OF EXPERIENCING GOD.” They are:
God is always at work around you.
God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.
God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.
God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
God’s invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.
You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing.
You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you
This devotional is for those who like to write and keep an active posture in spending time with the Lord. It is a great fit to pull us out of ruts and point us to blessings.
Devotional reading in my life
Mine began as a boy, before I could read, my parents taught me the Bible, every morning, a chapter from the Old Testament and one from the New. I would also pick a “promise” from our “Daily Bread Promise Box” and bring it to one of them to read.
When I began to read, this became a way to demonstrate it by reading both sides of the promise to Mom or Dad. During my teenage years, I wandered away from the Lord and this practice was abandoned.
When Jesus brought me back to His fold, I resumed this practice, and to this day pick one and carry it with me throughout the day. What a blessing it has been in keeping me close to Jesus and His Word.
Sometimes, I will pass the promise I have drawn on to someone I meet during the day. Other times, I will include one in a card or letter I am sending. The promises are always a blessing. As Jesus said,
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. – John 6:63
Throughout my 75 years of life, I have been blessed by all of the devotional books and material presented above. It has changed as my circumstances and the places God has placed me have. But always, at the beginning of every day, I obey the words of Jesus and go to His Word:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. -Matthew 6:33
This command and promise are for every Believer. I pray that this blog will be a resource to many to take another step in their journey on that narrow road to Truth and Life.