Devotional suggestions?
Hi everyone,
I am having trouble finding a devotional that works for me. Most of the devotionals I have looked at so far are far too emotive or are just riddled with personal experiences / stories. I don't mind the latter in low concentration, but surely there are devotions out there suited to people who aren't very expressive in emotion. Can anyone comment on D.A. Carson's For the Love of God? Other suggestions?
Cheers,
James
Logos 6 Gold, Logos 7 Reformed Diamond
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Comments
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"More light on the path", if you're versed in the languages at all.
Spurgeon's morning and evening?
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James, I totally agree with you! I like thinking on the deep great things of God, and in so doing my heart is greatly affected!
The Valley of Vision is a collection of puritan prayers and is one of my favorites. I for the most part enjoy reading devotionals that have to do with the scripture that I am currently in, and really like reading Richard Hawker's commentaries because they have a "Reflections" section for the end of each Bible chapter (for the entire Bible!) and really help my Bible reading and devotional reading fit together seamlessly. My favorite though, is Philip Doddridge's New Testament Commentary The Family Expositor with similar "Relections" for each pericope (the whole New Testament) (It's now in community pricing). Doddridge was an incredible scholarly puritan writer, but his devotions could also warm the heart of your grandmother.
Of all these the only one available in Logos so far is Hawker.
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I own Carson and haven't read much of it yet, but so far it seems more like a commentary than a devotional (which may be good for what you're looking for). The previous ones I mentioned seem to elevate both head and heart in an amazing way. Carson seems more on the head side, Hawker slightly more on the heart. Doddridge is phenominal at both at once.
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Connect the Testaments is free and I think will fit your desires in the classic world I would tend to lean to My Utmost by chambers.
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I used the DA Carson For the Love of God, Volume One last year and am using Volume Two this year. I find it meaty and deeply focused on the Word. While it might be a bit 'commentary like' Carson focuses on points that should touch the life as well. If you want a scripture focused devotional this is a good choice. I don't like story based devotions myself - I prefer spending time in the Word. The devotion also takes you through the Bible as well using McCheynne reading plan of about 4 chapters a day (can cut it in half easily as well).
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A sample of DA Carson For the Love of God
JUNE 26
Deuteronomy 31; Psalm 119:97–120; Isaiah 58; Matthew 6HOW SELF-DECEIVED WE HUMANS ARE when it comes to matters religious. So many things that start off as incentives to repentance and godliness develop into vicious idols. What starts as an aid to holiness ends up as the triple trap of legalism, self-righteousness, and superstition. So it was with the bronze snake in the wilderness. Although it was ordered and used by God (Num. 21:4–9), it became such a religious nonsense in later times that Hezekiah destroyed it (2 Kings 18:4).
So it sometimes is with other forms of religious observance or spiritual discipline. One may with fine purpose and good reason start “journaling” as a discipline that breeds honesty and self-examination, but it can easily slide into the triple trap: in your mind you so establish journaling as the clearest evidence of personal growth and loyalty to Christ that you look down your nose at those who do not commit themselves to the same discipline, and pat yourself on the back every day that you maintain the practice (legalism); you begin to think that only the most mature saints keep spiritual journals, so you qualify—and you know quite a few who do not (self-righteousness); (c) you begin to think that there is something in the act itself, or in the paper, or in the writing, that is a necessary means of grace, a special channel of divine pleasure or truth (superstition). That is the time to throw away your journal.
Clearly, fasting can become a similar sort of trap. The first five verses of Isaiah 58 expose and condemn the wrong kind of fast, while verses 6–12 describe the kind of fast that pleases God. The first is bound up with hypocrisy. People maintain their fasts, but quarrel in the family (58:4). Their fasts do not stop them from exploiting their workers (58:3b). These religious people are getting restless: “We tried fasting,” they say, “and it didn’t work” (58:3). At a superficial level they seem to have a hunger for God and his way (58:2). The truth is that they are beginning to treat the fast as if it were a bit of magic: because I’ve kept the fast, God has to bless me. Such thinking is both terribly sad and terribly evil.
By contrast, the fast that pleases God is marked by genuine repentance (58:6–12). Not only does it turn away from self-indulgence but it actively shares with the poor (58:7), and intentionally strives “to loose the chains of injustice,” “to set the oppressed free and break every yoke” (58:7), to abjure “malicious talk” (58:9). This is the fast that brings God’s blessing (58:8–12).0 -
James said:
I don't mind the latter in low concentration, but surely there are devotions out there suited to people who aren't very expressive in emotion.
I tend to look for something similar in devotionals, and I'm currently enjoying Andrew Wilson's Incomparable.
This is my personal Faithlife account. On 1 March 2022, I started working for Faithlife, and have a new 'official' user account. Posts on this account shouldn't be taken as official Faithlife views!
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This is a great thread! I thought I was the only one who didn't really care for the overly story-based devotionals. That DA Carson looks like a good one.
Author of the Chronological Word Truth Life Bible Series
WordTruthLifeBible.com
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Thanks Mark for mentioning "Incomparable" I had forgotten that it was in my library. That will make good devotional reading.
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Thanks for this thread.
I have wanted devotionals that are not just full of stories and personal experience for sometime now but didn't know how to search my library for them.
From the suggestions here I discovered that I have in my L6 library: D. A. Carson's For the Love of God, Hawker's commentary, Incomparable, and Connect the Testaments. I will now have a closer look at these.
The Doddridge resource remains forever in CP.
But please suggest more devotionals along this line, preferably those available in Logos.
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I have also enjoyed "Devotions on the Greek New Testament: 52 reflections to inspire and instruct.
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I read through this devotional last year and I consider it one of the best I have ever read.
Unto The Hills: A Daily Devotional by Billy Grahamhttps://vyrso.com/product/13048/unto-the-hills-a-daily-devotional
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I like DA Carson a lot. George Morrison is not available in logos, if I recall, but they are the best devotionals I have ever read. http://devotionals.ochristian.com/george-h-morrison-devotional-sermons-devotional.shtml
Using Logos as a pastor, seminary professor, and Tyndale author
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Thank you everyone for your suggestions, they have been quite helpful. I will be sure to check them all out!
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Liam said:
My favorite though, is Philip Doddridge's New Testament Commentary The Family Expositor with similar "Relections" for each pericope (the whole New Testament) (It's now in community pricing). Doddridge was an incredible scholarly puritan writer, but his devotions could also warm the heart of your grandmother.
Of all these the only one available in Logos so far is Hawker.
Here's a link to a hardback and paperback 2 volume set of the Family Expositor. I ended up publishing it myself out of frustration with all other options. Enjoy!
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For the most part I too use My Utmost For His Highest. Also, I use Seeking God's Face , but FL doesn't carry it. I've made the suggestion but to no avail.
Just as an aside regarding using My Utmost. While in Seminary one of our professors wives suggested that we write the person's name who has a birthday on each day.
For example. If John or Kayloma had their birthday on March 17 their name would be written by that date and every time March 17th devotional came up you pray for that person. I loved that idea.
Hope this helps.
mm.
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James said:
I don't mind the latter in low concentration, but surely there are devotions out there suited to people who aren't very expressive in emotion.
This seems very apposite!
This is my personal Faithlife account. On 1 March 2022, I started working for Faithlife, and have a new 'official' user account. Posts on this account shouldn't be taken as official Faithlife views!
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Mark Barnes said:James said:
I don't mind the latter in low concentration, but surely there are devotions out there suited to people who aren't very expressive in emotion.
This seems very apposite!
Great quote. Great thread.
Using adventure and community to challenge young people to continually say "yes" to God
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I have been getting a Daily Devotional from Truth For Life, I really like Alister Begg sermons and wish that Logos/FL would add them for us.
But after looking closer at the Devotional, I see that Alister is using "Morning and Evening" by C.H. Spurgeon which i have in my Logos Library.L4 BS, L5 RB & Gold, L6 S & R Platinum, L7 Platinum, L8 Baptist Platinum, L9 Baptist Platinum, L10 Baptist Silver
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