It’s that time of year.
No, not Christmas . . .
(well, it is Christmas,
but that’s not what I mean).
It’s WISH LIST time.
Every year, on Thanksgiving, my mother-in-law starts a relentless quest to obtain a list of things that the members of my family. I confess that I am among the least cooperative. Mindful of my many blessings, I struggle to make a list. There’s nothing I truly need and not even much for which I have a burning, must-be-quenched desire. Faith, family, friends, health–I cannot complain!
Perhaps you are in the same predicament–struggling to find things to put on your wish list–or perhaps you identify with my mother-in-law (bless her for not getting angry with me)–struggling to find things for people on your list.
Here’s one solution: Devotionals!
Devotionals make a good gift; a new year . is just a week away. A good devotional could kick the year off with renewed commitment.
They’re not the only ones I’ve used and love. These are just my top three.
I’ve included links below. They are affiliate links, which means that I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Celtic Daily Prayer: Prayer and Readings from the Northumbria Community
This is my regular go-to in daily devotional reading. There’s so much packed into this volume. In addition to two years of dated readings, there are daily offices–morning, midday, evening and compline (bedtime) prayers–as well as a 31 day cycle of meditations. You’ll even find snippets of information on significant historical figures, such as Teresa of Avila, St. Patrick and C.S. Lewis.
Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, by Sarah Young
My mother-in-law gave me the beautiful pink edition that I’ve linked as a Christmas gift one year. I was skeptical because I’d read reviews expressing concern over the author “writing for Jesus.” However, the author is clear about her intentions. You’ll hear echoes of scripture in each reading. She’s basically collected and rephrased biblical messages for us, and they are beautifully done. Rather than being objectionable, I found it closely approaching a form of lectio divina.
Living the Message: Daily Help for Living the God-Centered Life, by Eugene Peterson
From the amazing Eugene Peterson, who gave us The Message, comes a year of devotions with inspiring scripture and inspirational readings.
I’ve enjoyed this quite a bit. Both years that I used it, I found my mind returning to it throughout the day.
It’s a great companion if you’re using The Message, but could be used seamlessly alongside the translation of your choice.