Opinion on a Good Devotional Please

Hello All:

As the year is wrapping up, I need a new devotional. The thing is this. I tend to not be a devotional kind of person. It is part of what I have to work on very hard in my teaching. I love all the "technical" (for lack of a better word) part of the Word, and struggle with the more "warm and fuzzy" part of it. I always tend to think that my job is to teach my students to love the Word enough to dig into it for themselves, and allow God to deal with the heart part. I am not saying my thoughts are fully correct, I'm just saying that is what I struggle with.

Anyway, I am wrapping up a devotional plan and in looking for one next year, I see I don't really own great devotionals. I don't like super short ones, and I don't like ones that don't have you read Bible text. I also don't like all warm and fuzzy without pondering the depths of God.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good devotional. One that might fit my needs and equally balance time in the Word with commentary that hits both the heart and the head?

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Comments

Whyndell Grizzard

Cynthia,

I would open library- type in subject:devotional- see what you have available.

After you make a couple choices "prioritize" them by right click and select prioritize. These should show up as your chosen devotionals on the home page.

I use MacArthur, R C Sproul, Charles Stanley and Chambers- this gives me a wide perspectives of thought.

William Gabriel

I highly recommend Carson's For the Love of God [in Logos: Vol 1, Vol 2]. They are a really good balance for the heart and the head.

I should mention that you can also get the pdfs for free if you'd rather: Vol 1, Vol 2

Everett Headley

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/666746#Comment_666746

I like Carson's work as well.

If you are looking for a pure devotional, I actually read three each day: My Utmost for His Highest, Spurgeon's Morning and Evening and Moody's and Tozer on Christian Leadership. I use them to spur on deeper thought or take me in a different way than I had been going. They are not my deeper study materials. FWIW, Tozer's work is a selection from his other works which drives me to the actual book the excerpt was taken from.

William

My Favorite: https://www.logos.com/product/8099/daily-treasures-from-the-word-of-god

It's not only a great devotional, it's a great starter for sermon and lesson ideas.

Bill

mike

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/666771#Comment_666771

Any devotionals that's charismatic style? (Joseph Prince, Joyce Meyers, etc..)

Cynthia in Florida

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/666728#Comment_666728

Cynthia,

I would open library- type in subject:devotional- see what you have available.

After you make a couple choices "prioritize" them by right click and select prioritize. These should show up as your chosen devotionals on the home page.

I use MacArthur, R C Sproul, Charles Stanley and Chambers- this gives me a wide perspectives of thought.

Thank you! When I did a search initially, I just typed in "devotional" and only got a few hits. Your way returned a lot of really good products.

By far....searching in Logos is the main thing I wish I knew better!!! Honestly, I wish someone made a cheat sheet! I would laminate that thing and stick it to my desk!

Cynthia in Florida

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/666771#Comment_666771

My Favorite: https://www.logos.com/product/8099/daily-treasures-from-the-word-of-god

It's not only a great devotional, it's a great starter for sermon and lesson ideas.

Bill

Okay, I have that...and I LOVE the look of it! Thank you very much. I will spend more time going through it, but I think that is the feel I was looking for! THANKS!

Cynthia in Florida

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/666746#Comment_666746

I highly recommend Carson's For the Love of God [in Logos: Vol 1, Vol 2]. They are a really good balance for the heart and the head.

I should mention that you can also get the pdfs for free if you'd rather: Vol 1, Vol 2

I hear that one is very good. I'll look at the pdfs before making an investment in the Logos book. Thanks so much!

Cynthia in Florida

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/666769#Comment_666769

I like Carson's work as well.

If you are looking for a pure devotional, I actually read three each day: My Utmost for His Highest, Spurgeon's Morning and Evening and Moody's and Tozer on Christian Leadership. I use them to spur on deeper thought or take me in a different way than I had been going. They are not my deeper study materials. FWIW, Tozer's work is a selection from his other works which drives me to the actual book the excerpt was taken from.

Hello Everett: I have done MUfHH and Spurgeon's and am currently using Moody's with my other one. Just bought Tozer this year, so that is a possibility. Like you, I have a couple open each day. My main one is the Daily Reading (4 Volumes which I keep open together, it's a cross between a super light study and a devotional), and with that I have Moody and Ironside open for that little added oomph! Thanks for the recommendations.

David Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/667255#Comment_667255

I highly recommend Carson's For the Love of God [in Logos: Vol 1, Vol 2]. They are a really good balance for the heart and the head.

I should mention that you can also get the pdfs for free if you'd rather: Vol 1, Vol 2

I hear that one is very good. I'll look at the pdfs before making an investment in the Logos book. Thanks so much!

I am almost finished with my second year of For the Love of God. Since I struggle with consistency I use 3 reminders. 1. I have the devotional as a LOGOS reading plan. I have my default (open to...) layout as a devotional with FTLOG and my preferred Bible. each day when I close the program I update to tomorrows reading and the related text then I UPDATE ACTIVE LAYOUT so when I open Logos it is right in front of me. Third, I subscribe to the daily email from the Gospel Coalitions devotional page. With 3 reminders I am a LOT more consistent.

George Somsel

Calvin's Institutes.

Joshua Yates

It's not in Logos, but my mainstay is called the Quiet Time Bible at: http://www.ivpress.com/bible/. I picked up this Bible when I was in college years ago and it is no longer in print. However, IVP puts the QTB posts up daily. I copy the text into Evernote and I use Logos while doing the devotional in Evernote. I like all kinds of devos, but this one isn't just about reading someone's nicely wrapped 1-5 minutes. You put yourself in it.

Anyway...that's a good one!

Brother Mark

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/666769#Comment_666769

... My Utmost for His Highest, Spurgeon's Morning and Evening and Moody's and Tozer on Christian Leadership. I use them to spur on deeper thought or take me in a different way than I had been going. They are not my deeper study materials. FWIW, Tozer's work is a selection from his other works which drives me to the actual book the excerpt was taken from.

For what it's worth, and for the sake of both affirmation and emphasis: I second Everett's selections. Additionally, I suggest that you create a layout specific to your devotions and link the books you use daily (provided they are "calendarized"), so that January 1st in Spurgeon will automatically give you January 1st in Chambers on the next tab. I also have a Highlight pane open so that I can mark up my devotionals for subsequent reflection. My layout looks like this:

Cynthia in Florida

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/667278#Comment_667278

... My Utmost for His Highest, Spurgeon's Morning and Evening and Moody's and Tozer on Christian Leadership. I use them to spur on deeper thought or take me in a different way than I had been going. They are not my deeper study materials. FWIW, Tozer's work is a selection from his other works which drives me to the actual book the excerpt was taken from.

For what it's worth, and for the sake of both affirmation and emphasis: I second Everett's selections. Additionally, I suggest that you create a layout specific to your devotions and link the books you use daily (provided they are "calendarized"), so that January 1st in Spurgeon will automatically give you January 1st in Chambers on the next tab. I also have a Highlight pane open so that I can mark up my devotionals for subsequent reflection. My layout looks like this:

Looks Fabulous! Thanks for the visual! It helps a lot!

Doc B

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good devotional.

My favorite, by far, is Sproul's Before the Face of God. There are four volumes. I use them regularly, and like you, I'm not really a 'devotional kind of person.'

I'm not sure if they are available individually. IIRC, I got them in a package.

Joseph

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good devotional. One that might fit my needs and equally balance time in the Word with commentary that hits both the heart and the head?

I am personally using "Connect the Testaments", written by John Barry and Rebecca Van Noord (Published by Faithlife's Lexham Press). The Logos version can be found here, and is included in most base packages. There is also a print version. Spiritually it is both solid meat (in terms of theological substance) and down to earth (in terms of style).

Mark Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/667893#Comment_667893

Cynthia, I don't do devotionals, but I was looking at the 365 Day Devotional Commentary the other day, and it seems that it might be along the lines of something you might like.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/667897#Comment_667897

I also don't do devotionals, but the Daily Office is fairly good.

Doc B

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/667893#Comment_667893

I should also add that, while it is a monograph and not styled as a devotional, John Piper's 50 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die makes an excellent devotional. The chapters are not long, but are more than a paragraph like some devotionals. It works well as a reading plan.

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/667903#Comment_667903

I also don't do devotionals, but the Daily Office is fairly good.

Tends to be what i use but i go into devotionals now and then... I am surprised no one mentioned Logos ones... Below are samples for the two (or two of) the ones published by Logos.

-Dan

November 27: When Hezekiah Gave Away the Farm
2 Kings 18:13–19:37; Ephesians 2:1–3:21; Proverbs 8:19–26

After the announcement that Hezekiah “did right in the eyes of Yahweh,” the next description comes as a surprise: “At that time, Hezekiah cut off the doors of the temple of Yahweh and the doorposts which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and he gave them to the king of Assyria” (2 Kgs 18:3, 16).
For a moment Hezekiah was a strong king over Israel—he abolished idolatry and refused to obey the king of Assyria (2 Kgs 18:4, 7). As 2 Kings 18:6 describes, “He held on to Yahweh; he did not depart from following him, and he kept his commands that Yahweh had commanded Moses.” But Hezekiah did not possess fortitude (see 2 Kgs 18:13–18). In an attempt to gain peace, he gave away not only treasures, but even pieces of Yahweh’s temple itself (2 Kgs 18:15–16).
We’ve all been in situations where it’s tempting to do anything for peace. Perhaps we’ve even compromised our ethics or values in these moments. But no matter the situation, giving away the farm like Hezekiah did is never the answer. Politicians often talk about “peace at all costs,” but our world is full of dilemmas that don’t allow for that option.
When desperate situations arise, we must have fortitude. We must seek solace in God and His will instead of giving in. If we make a decision based on the circumstances, it will be the wrong one. If we make our decisions based on prayer, we will make the correct moves.
Hezekiah could have relied on God when Sennacherib came knocking on his door and knocking down the cities of Judah, but he didn’t. He paid a high price for his decision; the cost was his relationship with Yahweh. Even death is preferable to that.
Sometimes our decisions are more important than we realize because they may involve our relationship with God. We must let that relationship drive our decision-making. Rather than being distracted by fear, anxiety, pressure, or even concern for anyone else, we must focus on God and His will; He alone will look out for us and others. We must give Him the opportunity to act.

What decisions do you need God’s intercession for?

JOHN D. BARRY

John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

November 27

INTRO
Welcome to Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Today’s reading is Obadiah and Jonah. Our lesson is from Jonah 1:16, “Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.” (NASU)

LESSON
The book of Jonah is captivating. The prophet who is called by the Lord goes running the other way when specifically asked to do God’s mission. He tries to flee from God as if it was possible. However, in today’s lesson we learn from the sailors a moral lesson rather than from Jonah because they had an encounter with the living God. Let’s see three actions of the sailors.
First, the sailors feared the Lord greatly. Fearing God has to do with respect and honor. We do not know with certainty the nationalities of the sailors but it can be assumed they were not part of Israel. At the beginning of the storm, each person prayed to his god. The storm became fiercer. The captain then approaches the sleeping prophet and tells him to pray to his God. Lots are drawn and Jonah upon being questioned by the men admits his guilt before the Lord. He identifies his God as the God of heaven who created the sea and dry land.
The prophet then instructs the sailors to throw him overboard. They do so and the storm subsides. However after the storm, they give allegiance to the living God.
Second, the sailors offered a sacrifice to the Lord. Although the sailors were not of Israel yet they came to the realization that the God of heaven that Jonah served was more powerful than their gods. The result was that they offered a sacrifice to Him.
Offering sacrifices in the biblical days was a common practice both within Israel and in the surrounding nations. The significance in our story is the recognition of the living God’s power over that of their gods. The sailors acknowledged Jonah’s God over their own deities. By offering a sacrifice to the living God, they demonstrated their gratitude to Him.
Last, the sailors made a vow to the Lord. The text does not give the details but the action of making a vow shows a certain ongoing promise. It may have been to offer other sacrifices to the living God or continued commitment to Him.
In conclusion, the sailor feared the Lord greatly. The sailors offered a sacrifice to the Lord. And the sailors made a vow to the Lord.
May we be able to see the Lord greater than our own nationalistic or limited perspective. God is the Lord of all nations and wants all peoples to know Him as the only true and living God. This is why we as God’s people must be His missionary people to all the nations of the globe. Pray for global outreach!

END
It has been a pleasure to share with you Daily Treasures from the Word of God. Tomorrow’s Bible reading is Micah 1 through 4. Let’s not forget the words of the psalmist, “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” Until tomorrow and may God bless you in abundance as you study the Word of God.

Leona Venditti and Nicolas Venditti, Daily Treasures from the Word of God (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2012).

Nathan Parker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/667986#Comment_667986

Check out Charles Stanley's "Every Day in His Presence" at Vyrso.com. That's what I'm reading next year. I'm wrapping up Chamber's Utmost this year.

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/668003#Comment_668003

I can't speak about this devotional, but I just picked it up on sale. Note: since it is a vyrso resource, it won't be seen as a "calendar devotional" within Logos.

https://vyrso.com/product/43607/the-52-greatest-stories-of-the-bible-a-devotional-study

Liam

Philip Doddridge's Family Expositor is a commentary, paraphrase, and devotional on the entire New Testament. I love it for how it hits deep to both the head and the heart. It was Jonathan Edwards' favorite commentary, who also goes deep in both head and heart. Highly recommend it! -it's tough to find, but well worth the effort!

Liam

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/667263#Comment_667263

Third, I subscribe to the daily email from the Gospel Coalitions devotional page.

Hey David, I hadn't heard of this before. I can't find the web page for this. Do you have the link for it?

Thank you!

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/668027#Comment_668027

Philip Doddridge's Family Expositor is a commentary, paraphrase, and devotional on the entire New Testament. I love it for how it hits deep to both the head and the heart. It was Jonathan Edwards' favorite commentary, who also goes deep in both head and heart. Highly recommend it! -it's tough to find, but well worth the effort!

If you really want it, you can make it not-so-hard-to-find. https://www.logos.com/product/20427/the-works-of-rev-philip-doddridge

Jeffrey S. Robison

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/668050#Comment_668050

Valley of Vision edited by Arthur Bennett has been my favorite for a long, long time.

Cynthia in Florida

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/668393#Comment_668393

Valley of Vision edited by Arthur Bennett has been my favorite for a long, long time.

Wow...just reading the prayers made me feel like worshiping. Don't know that I would use it as a full blown devo, but I do believe I will have to get this one just to have it.

Cynthia in Florida

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/668479#Comment_668479

Thanks for all these great suggestions. I am looking up each one of them!