6 Devotional Book Recommendations For The New Year

6 Devotional Book Recommendations for the New Year from our friends on our kimenink chat. You can trust these titles for supplementary Bible Study.

 

So far, the New Year hasn’t been very easy for us.

If you read our re-cap last week, you know Kim is in the hospital with deep depression and anxiety. Knowing our next steps to get the best help for her is confusing and difficult. The best place doesn’t seem to have been invented yet, in our parental opinion. So we’re keeping our minds open to all suggestions. Unfortunately, no one in our circle has faced her specific type of autism. We feel as if we’re treading an all new path here. That’s likely why logos for autism often include puzzle pieces. Finding one’s way, when each ASD person has unique symptoms, is like a million piece puzzle, with half of the pieces lost to the vacuum.

A mom I met in the hospital is in the same situation with her son, who has ASD also, and is about Kim’s age. There is no place for their situation. And yet, when I called for options from the government, they said a diagnosis of autism opens doors to “millions of dollars in funds” for assistance. Hmm. The person in charge of those millions must have placed them in off-shore accounts. Or buried them in a treasure box in Texas somewhere. Or the Rocky Mountains. With no map.

 

So I felt a need for extra prayer and study.

As you can see by now, this uncertainty has driven us to our knees often. Figuratively and physically.

I messaged our kimenink chat and asked which devotional books they were using now, or found helpful in the past. I’m going to share those titles here, and other wisdom they shared. One thought came forth that our first help should be the Word in the Bible. And we should keep in mind that devotional books are not the Bible and should be secondary to the Word.

 

 

6 Devotional Book Recommendations

(The titles are affiliate links to purchase the book. Your price will not be affected.)

Jesus Always

by Sarah Young

I have “Jesus Calling” by this author, and enjoyed it. The readings are short and date specific. Each one has two or more scriptures to look up to read along with the thoughts.

I’ve hear remarks that the author is making herself God by writing in the first person. However, when I read the pages it feels that she is listening to what God is saying specifically to her, that day. Makes it very personal.

Amazon says:

Life today is full of difficulties—loss, sadness, anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. In the midst of these challenges, joy and contentment often feels impossible or out of reach.

Jesus has more in store for you than a life of striving, pain, and discontent. Take the time to draw near to Him with Jesus Always, and you will discover how to:

• Intimately and gently connect with Jesus—the One who meets you where you are
• Identify joy-filled reminders from the Bible
• Process challenging situations, anxiety, and grief with a hopeful perspective
• Strengthen your faith and your relationship with Jesus

Written as if Jesus Himself is speaking directly to you, Jesus Always invites you into a new way of living—a life of joy.

 

Through The Scent of Water

by Margaret Penner Toews

I knew this author personally, and her books impart simple and honest faith. She lived her life in sincere service to God. Several friends mentioned they were reading this book, for the second, third, or more times.

Amazon says:

Amazon has very few reviews, because this book has mostly been sold through our Church’s bookstore. However, you can trust this book, and use it as secondary thoughts in your devotional time.

 

Joy and Strength for the Pilgrim’s Day

by Mary Wilder Tileston

This book is a classic, and the friend who recommended it says it’s “an all-time fav for me.”

Amazon says:

Excerpt from Joy and Strength for the Pilgrim’s Day

HE Editor presents her most grateful ac knowledgments to the publishers in the United States and in England, who have kindly given her permission to use passages from their. Publications, and to the authors who have allowed her to make selections from their writings.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

 

Don’t Follow Your Heart: God’s Ways Are Not Your Ways

by Jon Bloom

My friend’s words, who recommended this title, “My heart sister gave me this, and I’ve really found it thought provoking.”

Amazon says:

“Follow your heart” is a creed embraced by billions. It’s a statement of faith in one of the great pop-cultural myths of our day — a gospel proclaimed in many of our stories, movies, and songs. Until you consider that your heart has sociopathic tendencies. Our hearts were never designed to be followed, but to be led. Our hearts were never meant to be gods in whom we believe, but to believe in God. This book contains 31 meditations for recalibrating your heart. It is a collection of helps for common heart problems. Because your biggest problems in life are heart problems. Jon Bloom will help you follow Jesus by resisting your heart’s errant predilections and directing it to do all God’s will.

 

Words for Women

by Wilma Webb

My friend said, “I’ve been going through this and it has some very inspiring readings.”

Amazon says:

Do the pressures of life quench your joy, taking energy away from your love relationship with Christ? Take time to quiet your heart, listen to God, and be refreshed by one woman’s meditations. In the midst of the trials and joys of everyday life as a wife and mother, she learned to experience the abundant life. Find encouragement and companionship in the stories of her journey. Learn from her practical insights as she shares wisdom from the pages of Scripture. Allow these stories and poems to move you to a deeper, richer walk with God.

 

One Thousand Gifts

by Ann Voskamp

I’ve taken the challenge of this book, more than once, and seems my friends have, also. Ann has a unique poetical way of writing. I like the search for meaning her sentence structure evokes. Sometimes the feeling has an aura of being in hallowed places, sometimes it’s confusing. But that’s just me; I tend to need simple words written simply.

Amazon says:

In One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp invites you to discover a way of seeing that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, a way of living that is fully alive, and a way of becoming present to God that brings deep and lasting joy. It’s only in the expression of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we’ve always wanted . . . a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. Come to feel and know the impossible right down in your bones: you are wildly loved by God.

 

More Posts With Book Recommendations:

5 Inspirational Books That Are Top Influences in My Life

5 Books for Easter Preparation for the Passion Weekend

27 Vintage Picture Books for Baby’s Library

10 Books Newlyweds Need to Read Together

 

We hope you find something inspiring in our

Devotional Book Recommendations.