If someone were to ask me what devotional has had the greatest impact upon my life, I would immediately answer My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers. This book spoke to me profoundly in my early years of following the Lord and beginning to learn the sweetness of surrender and obedience. The Lord was peeling away the crusty outer layers of my heart and pouring His truth into my soul. The fullness and richness of Chambers' devotional was daily nourishment to me. My early years as a Christian were years of sweetness and of sensing the Lord's presence and experiencing His nearness in a way that is indescribable. It was the spring of my life with the Lord, and I treasure those years and this devotional which the Lord used so powerfully to grow my heart in obedience and love for Him.
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| My mother's copy of Chamber's devotional that she gave to me. |
As I began to grow in my faith, the Lord led me to another devotional which is equally precious to me, Charles Haddon Spurgeon's Morning and Evening. There is so much to glean from Spurgeon, and I have used this book for years and continue to return to it. Spurgeon's wisdom and insights as well as his deep and intimate relationship to the Lord spoke to me--this devotional has been like water to my thirsty soul over and over again.
A third devotional that the Lord has used in my life is Streams in the Desert. This book, compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman, was recommended to me by several people, and I finally ordered a copy. I have been enjoying this one immensely. The "old-time" writers' words have been ministering to my heart, and I have been enjoying selections from Pastors and authors like George Matheson (who wrote the hymn "O Love that Wilt Not Let me Go"), Frederick Faber, and others. If you are seeking a deeper, more intimate walk with the Lord, this is a wonderful devotional to slowly read through.
Two other devotionals that the Lord has used to encourage me in my walk with Him have been Charles Stanley's Every Day in His Presence and Elisabeth Elliot's Keep A Quiet Heart. While Keep A Quiet Heart is not a yearly devotional, it is one that could be used devotionally for a shorter period of time and is so rich in wisdom.
I pray that these recommendations would be helpful! The Lord bless you as you seek His face daily . . . Please feel free to share with me in the comments what devotionals have been an encouragement in your life!
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'His Utmost for His Highest' is my favorite devotional. I've actually been thinking of re-reading it this year. I'd love to read Spurgeon's devotional and I've been looking at a few devotionals from Tozer as well. Thanks for sharing all these wonderful books!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Cathy! Oh, Tozer is wonderful, too! :-) Have a very blessed New Year!
DeleteI love Morning & Evening. It never fails to do something the Lord wants to be done in me - guide, correct, convict, deepen, give hope, grow etc. I have an Elisabeth Elliot one called Lamp to Thy Feet which has also spoken to me over the years. These two people have most shaped my life outside of real life people.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I have never read Lamp to my Feet; now I need to look for it! :-) I agree; there is so much richness in Morning and Evening--and Elisabeth Elliot's gentle but firm wisdom has been used so strongly to help me--
DeleteHave a very blessed New Year, Sarah!
Some of these look like great recommendations. I especially enjoy Charles Spurgeon. He always has wonderful insights to share!
ReplyDeleteGod bless,
Patty
Yes; I enjoy his writings, too, Patty. The Lord certainly used him greatly! Blessings in Christ Jesus to you :-).
DeleteThank you so much for sharing this. The first 2 you mentioned My utmost for His highest and Morning and Evening were part of my growing up years too! My parents and grandparents read it in our family prayer time every year. I even got one for my wedding gift. This reminds me to get back to it. So much truths everyday from these devotionals that lead us back to God!
ReplyDeleteYes; I agree, Alice! And what a beautiful heritage you have in your grandparents and parents reading them to you! The Lord bless you. :-)
DeleteI'm always looking for things like this to read. I've been battling internally for a while on the subject of religion and God. I feel like I'm a very spiritual person but have a hard time with the idea of joining a church. Most people around me are at the point of falling away from their churches and that's discouraging. A devotional program to me seems like a great guide to stay in touch with how blessed one's life could be without having an outside influence dictating what should be focused on or falling away from. Thanks so much for listing these out and for posting them on the Mommy Moments link party for me to find!
ReplyDeleteZoe, I'm glad that the recommendations were helpful! The Lord bless you as you seek Him. He will surely reveal Himself to you as you search for Him with all of your heart. Another author that I've found really helpful in my own life is A.W. Tozer; you might enjoy his writings as well. If you e-mail me your address through the contact form on the side of this blog, I would love to send you one of his books, Zoe.
DeleteMay our precious Father bless you richly.
Bekki, You hit my top three! Although, if I am to be honest, I struggled through My Utmost for His Highest, finding myself having to re-read sections to fully grasp it. That might just speak to how deep his writing goes. I may need to give that one a try again. Although, this year I will be reading Streams in the Desert which I learned about through you months ago and I am finding the richness of this devotion incredibly encouraging and growing me in my walk.
ReplyDeleteMorning and Evening is probably my all time favorite. Just last night Michael and I watched a film called "Through the Eyes of Spurgeon", a historical documentary. It was fascinating. I learned so much about Charles Spurgeon. I highly recommend it!
I am very interested to look into the Elizabeth Elliot devotion. Just the title draws me in.
I most especially loved how you paired your own Christian walk with each devotional season.
Thank you so much Bekki for always encouraging and edifying us! You are such a sweet blessing and I am so grateful to call you friend. <3
Karen, I will have to check out that film; I haven't seen it!
DeleteThe Elisabeth Elliot one is so wonderful--it really ministered to me--i think that you would love it!
Yes; Streams in the Desert is so, so rich--the Lord used it so greatly in my life over the past year . . . I think, if I remember correctly :-), that it was Ruth Graham's favorite devotional.
I love you, dear Karen. Your encouragement and your love are such a blessing from the Lord! <3
Thanks for the recommendations. I haven't read the Quiet Heart one, and since I need to work on the restful nature of my own heart, I shall investigate that option!
ReplyDeleteStopping by from Inspire Me Monday
Carol, it is a wonderful book; it really ministered to me . . .
DeleteBlessings in our precious Savior :-).
I love the Elisabeth Elliot recommendation. I have one of her books on my night stand almost all the time, reading and re-reading, mining her words for the godly wisdom that's always there!
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful, Michele! She does have so much godly wisdom to offer!
DeleteThe Lord bless you and keep you.
I LOVE My Utmost for His Highest! These other suggestions look great as well! Thanks for sharing this :)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Nicole; the Lord bless you!
DeleteGreat recommendations. These are wonderful suggestions that need to be shared! I would for you to come to the Fabulous January Party and link and share this! Here's the party:
ReplyDeletehttp://ourholidayjourney.blogspot.com/2017/01/january-fabulous-tidy-up-link-party.html
Thanks for sharing! Happy New Year.
Grantham, thank you for inviting me! I went over and shared it there.
DeleteBlessings and grace to you in our Savior. Happy New Year to you as well!
Wonderful recommendations! I have treasured the first 3 myself personally as well. Thank-you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome; blessings in our Lord to you! :-)
DeleteHi Becky, it is good reading your list of recommendations.
ReplyDeleteHow are you doing? Happy New Year
Blessings to you
I'm doing well, Ifeoma! I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas! Happy New Year to you, also!
DeleteHi Rebekah,
ReplyDeleteI'm your neighbor at Coffee for your Heart today. Your vintage book of your mother's is such a lovely, tattered sight -- I'm sure it holds some great memories for you. All of your favorite books are well-worn and to me, that only shows off their beauty! Enjoyed my visit here and your great recommendations!
Valerie, I'm glad that you enjoyed the recommendations! Thank you for stopping by here; the Lord bless you. :-)
DeleteThese are all wonderful recommendations. I have used My Utmost several times in my life and it has always spoken to my heart a new word. May you have a blessed 2017!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joanne! May you have a blessed 2017, also! :-)
DeleteI love Oswald Chambers! I've never made it completely through his devotional; I get sidetracked and go back and sometimes reread the same entry. My copy has a place on each page for notes. His logical and bold speaking of the truth unapologetically are so refreshing in a day where truth is so often swallowed up in lies.
ReplyDeleteYes; I agree, Ruth! His writings are so rich and full of truth, as you said. The Lord bless you. :-)
DeleteI just found you wonderful blog at Strangers&Pilgrims. I have loved My Utmost for many years... I wonder if you have ever read OC biography entitled Abandoned to God? I highly recommend it to you!
ReplyDeleteI will be reading your archives...
God bless your ministry,
Lori
Lori, I'm glad that you stopped by here! Yes! I have read McCasland's biography of Chambers---it is so good, as you said--my Mom introduced me to that book as well. I'm so grateful for men like Chambers and the example of their so deeply surrendered lives. The Lord bless you, Lori--:-)
DeleteYes! I Love Spurgeon and completely recommend "morning and evening" as well! :) I also love Elisabeth Elliot and her book "Keep a Quiet Heart". There is just so much wisdom to glean!!! :)
ReplyDeleteYes; I agree, Katy! So much wisdom--I am so grateful to the Lord for Elisabeth Elliot's writings. The Lord bless you and your family. :-)
DeleteAwesome recommendations! Happy 2017!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stacey; happy 2017 to you, also! :-)
DeleteJust found your list ~ thank you for these recommendations! I've read a couple of these books before, but appreciate having new resources to check out!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Tracey! I'm glad that they were helpful; the Lord bless you!
DeleteThis lovely post is a FAMILY feature on the February You're the STAR blog hop: http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/2017/02/youre-star-week3-family-february-2017.html
ReplyDeleteThank you & please link up your most recent posts!
Angie
Thank you, Angelique! That's such a blessing to me! Have a wonderful week. :-)
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