Daily Devotional/Prayer Book recommendations?

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ClarionUK

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Hello,

I'm curious which devotional or prayer book is most recommended.

I've seen the BCP mentioned in the past as well as Valley of Vision.

Lastly, I'm also curious how you incorporate this into your daily practice.

Many thanks,

Michael
 
ClarionUK said:
Hello,

I'm curious which devotional or prayer book is most recommended.

I've seen the BCP mentioned in the past as well as Valley of Vision.

Lastly, I'm also curious how you incorporate this into your daily practice.

Many thanks,

Michael
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There are six versions of 365 Days of Spurgeon (someone recommended the one for Calvin already). Many days I'll go through all six. Why settle for one when you can have six? Seriously.

Also, I'm a big fan of praying through the Psalms or Valley of Vision. Lastly, I aim to read a few chapters of the Bible as the very first thing I do before getting out of bed (but after praying), which allows me to get through the Bible in a year. There are reading plans like M'Cheyne and others which are available via Logos, but you can also create your own by choosing the book and when you want to finish it by. As long as it's indexed by the software, it'll neatly divide it all up for you.

Admittedly, not all of these have 'stuck' and become daily habits apart from the last bit, but when I supplement, that's what I find myself doing. Logos (Bible Software from Faithlife) has been a real treat to use because you can make Daily Prayer Lists, Daily Reading Lists, etc. I need to start using these more than I do now, but the little that I do use them already has proven to be very helpful.
 
I never saw the appeal of these when most people dont touch their Bibles daily. I guess if you want to supplement Bible reading for this stuff that is OK but why not focus your time in the word of God and journaling your own thoughts in response?
 
TheInquirer said:
I never saw the appeal of these when most people dont touch their Bibles daily. I guess if you want to supplement Bible reading for this stuff that is OK but why not focus your time in the word of God and journaling your own thoughts in response?
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Same here. I take CS Lewis's position on this: a good rigorous theology book does more for me in terms of devotion than a marketed devotional manual.
 
The best devotionals seem to be simply selections from good commentaries or sermons. I have used them with profit at times, and think they should encourage reading from the sources more deeply, like for example reading an entire Spurgeon sermon. Some people prefer different things for spiritual nourishment and growth, and that’s okay (as long as it’s doctrinally sound of course).

TheInquirer said:
I guess if you want to supplement Bible reading for this stuff that is OK but why not focus your time in the word of God and journaling your own thoughts in response?
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I have used things like devotionals instead of daily Bible reading in the past, generally for being in a rush. I don’t necessarily think it’s sinful but agree personal Bible reading should be encouraged as a priority.
 
alexanderjames said:
The best devotionals seem to be simply selections from good commentaries or sermons. I have used them with profit at times, and think they should encourage reading from the sources more deeply, like for example reading an entire Spurgeon sermon. Some people prefer different things for spiritual nourishment and growth, and that’s okay (as long as it’s doctrinally sound of course).


I have used things like devotionals instead of daily Bible reading in the past, generally for being in a rush. I don’t necessarily think it’s sinful but agree personal Bible reading should be encouraged as a priority.
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Same! A devotional for today from Spurgeon led me to read his annual sermon to a group of young missionaries, Sermon 806.

"16 APRIL (1868)
A young man’s vision
‘Your young men shall see visions.’ Acts 2:17
suggested further reading: John 1:35–51
Those who do not serve God at home are of no use anywhere. It is all very well to talk about what you would do if you could speak to the Hindus. Nonsense! What do you do when you are in the streets of Whitechapel? You will be of no use whatever in Calcutta, unless you are of use in Poplar or Bermondsey. The human mind is the same everywhere. Its sins may take another form, but there are just the same difficulties in one place as in another. It is all very well for you to turn into a sort of Don Quixote in imagination and dream of what you would do, if you went out upon a spiritual campaign as a heavenly knight-errant, tilting against windmills; just try your hand at the conversion of that young man who sits next to you in the pew. See what you can do for Jesus Christ in the shop. See whether you can serve your Master in that little Bible class of which you are a member. Rest assured that no missionary ardour really burns within that man who does not love the souls of those who live in the same house and dwell in the same neighbourhood. Give me that man for a missionary of whom it is said that, when he took a lodging in a house, all the other inhabitants were brought to God within six months; or one who was a son whose father was unconverted, but who gave the Lord no rest until he saw his parent saved; or one who was a tradesman who, while he was pushing his business earnestly, always found time to be an evangelist. That is the man who will maintain missionary fervour alive at home, and that is the man who will help to promote missionary effort abroad."
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It doesn’t replace my reading of Scripture, but it’s a blessed supplement (albeit, not as though the words of God should need the words of men to accompany them).
 
I use either the 1662 Book of Common Prayer International Edition's morning or evening prayer services or Jonathan Gibson's Be Thou My Vision's mini-liturgies.

I have found very little profit in brief little 2 minute excerpts of something, but I find putting some structure to personal daily worship to be helpful, especially with a mind as prone to drift and go every which way as mine when it's just me. If it's only enough time for scripture or the structure, scripture it is.
 
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