Porch #165 ✝️ Struggling with daily devotions? Join the club.

Keeping my devotional life joyfully up and running is a challenge. And I know I'm not alone.

If you listen in to this month’s BOOKBAG, you’ll probably hear both my frustration as well as my passion 🔼

Hello again, fellow sojourners -

Viewing quiet time with God as a discipline is something I've never been quite comfortable with. I want this spiritual practice to be a kind of sacred invitation, not a chore to check off my daily to-do list. And I want to be excited about it. If I'm not careful, these high expectations lead to lame excuses to do everything else ... like get absorbed into the online abyss or throw in a load of laundry or quickly get caught up in the busyness of the day.

I admire the faithful who've created a lovely early morning routine in a quiet space, Bible and devotional books, journal, prayer list, and pens at hand. But more often than not, this hasn’t worked for me. My times and places and what I use have continued to vary, a restlessness for God somehow propelling me to stay unsettled and searching, not easily satisfied.

I've come to the conclusion that I'm yearning for Jesus Himself, for heaven, neither fully attainable until I actually meet Him face to face. But ‘til that day, I’m grateful that the Lover of our souls continues to invite all of His thirsty, oft’ parched children into a deeper, more vibrant relationship with Father, Son, and Spirit.

🤍

I'm a big believer in growing a go-to library of devotional books and various translations of the Bible and purposefully choosing to get creative about switching up our quiet time routine from time to time. God's Word is His love letter to us - alive, fresh, and meaningful. And those focused minutes we spend with Him should reflect that awesome truth.

Alongside my trusty 1989 NIV Bible and a couple of lined journals, here’s what’s on my desk these days -

NET Bible, Full-notes Edition
‘Modern readers can find it challenging to connect with the ancient words and cultural contexts of the biblical writers. This translation pairs a readable, everyday English translation with the largest set of translators’ notes ever created for a Bible. The NET’s 60,000 notes bring complete transparency to every major translation decision and invite you to look over the translators’ shoulders, allowing you to come to your own understanding of the Scriptures.’
(59% off)

Make a List: How a Simple Practice Can Change Our Lives & Open Our Hearts
Marilyn McIntyre
‘Just one week into living with Make a List, I can already tell that this small book, which both invites me into a new practice and reframes one of my existing daily habits as a spiritual practice, will be life-giving and edifying.’
- Lauren F. Winner

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life
Paul David Tripp
The author of ‘the bestselling New Morning Mercies has now written a second daily devotional, offering 365 fresh, engaging entries that follow an annual Bible reading plan from Genesis through Revelation. Brief and practical, these reflections connect the transforming power of Scripture to all you will experience in your everyday Christian life.’
(43% off)

Gifts & Gratitudes: A Year of One Thousand Gifts
Ann Voskamp
‘In this beautiful journal, Ann provides:

• Devotional content for every day of the month to guide your gratitude journey

• Prayers for every day of the month

• Written out Bible verses

• Her personal, stunning photography

• Space to record your gifts every day of the year’

  (41% off)
  
  

Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence
Sarah Young
‘365 day large text with full Scriptures. By spending time in the presence of the Savior with the much-loved devotions in Jesus Calling, you will:

• Feel comforted by words of hope and encouragement

• Be reassured of Jesus' unending love for you

• Receive gentle guidance based on Scripture

• Strengthen your faith with Scripture verses

• Connect with Jesus further with reflection and meditation based on God’s Word’
  (50% off)

🤍

Recent months have found me making my way through the New Testament, reading out loud as I write verse after verse into a journal. This is working for me. I've discovered that both speaking and writing have made God's Word come alive, becoming more understandable and meaningful. Amazingly, I’ve discovered verses I’ve never even noticed before. I feel richer, more at peace as I leisurely hunker down into this focused practice of joyfully speaking and writing His Word.

I feel His pleasure. And isn't that what the devotional life is all about. Our affection, our devotion, poured out on the feet of Jesus.

Onward and upward,
Linda

Let’s talk about your struggles with the devotional life ... and what’s working for you these days. What spiritual practices are drawing you close to the Lord? And what’s hindering the cultivation of an eagerly awaited quiet time?

Click the blue button to join the conversation … or to follow along. It’s always the best part of anything around here.

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