When it comes to devotional books, I've never made it through the whole thing. It's not that I don't like devotionals. They just aren't my thing. To read the Bible, I prefer to do it at my own pace. I don't want to just read the Bible and feel like I'm just going through the motions.

Then, why not share a list of devotionals that are good for you? I thought it would be good because so many people have asked me. What I'm going to show you below is a wide range of devotionals that are based on the Bible and can help you grow in your faith. All of them are for both men and women and/or the whole family. When I can, I share links to free online versions. In a few places, I give my own opinions about things. A good devotional that meets these rules is welcome to be shared in the comments.

Recommended Daily Devotionals

For the Love of God Volume 1 (and Volume 2) by D.A. Carson (available free on The Gospel Coalition and in Spanish Por el Amor De Dios Volumen 1, Por el Amor De Dios Volumen 2)

Use this devotional and reading plan with the men I meet each week for two years. I have also used this with them. People who know a lot about biblical theology would expect Carson to explain and apply one of the four passages in the plan and give them a good sense of the Bible's overall story. Even though the rest of this list (4-20) isn't in any specific order, this is my favorite.

It has the same 365-day plan as its companion volume, "For the Love of God-Volume 2," which is based on the M'Cheyne Bible-reading schedule. It will guide you through the New Testament and Psalms twice, and the rest of the Old Testament once, in a year.

D. A. Carson has also written thought-provoking comments and reflections about each day's scripture passages in an effort to help people keep their minds and bodies in line with the Bible. He also gives you a unique perspective that puts each reading in the context of history and God's long-term plan. This helps you better understand God's power and the unity and strength of God's Word.

The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions compiled by Arthur Bennett (now available in Spanish)

These prayers and devotions are important to have. This is a must-have book.

The words in this work are rich and poetic, and they make me want to pray and look at God. A lot of people will be happy with it.

They were strong because they spent a lot of time in prayer and contemplation. In this way of praying, the spirit of prayer was thought to be the most important thing and the best way to pray, because living prayer is a sign of true spirituality. Yet, prayer is also spoken, and it can sometimes be written down. As a result, there are a lot of written prayers and meditations in the Puritan tradition that are important sources of inspirational devotional literature. Too often, spontaneous prayer doesn't have a lot of variety, order, or specificity, so it's not very good. Part of the reason for this is that people don't plan well enough. People who have looked to God with a lot of care and read a lot of scripture may be able to help you. Rather than giving prayers, this book is meant to help and encourage Christians as they follow in the footsteps of those who came before them.

The One Year Unlocking the Bible Devotional by Colin S. Smith and Tim Augustyn

When it comes to this list, I'm not going to hide the fact that I love this book. Colin Smith is the pastor of the church I went to as a child. I also worked at Unlocking the Bible with Tim Augustyn while I was in seminary. Also, unlocking the Bible Story 4 Volume Set and the LifeKeys Daily Bible Devotional Booklet are also very good.

As a whole, have you ever thought about how the Bible works? Or how the events of the New Testament were foreseen in the Old Testament, as well. Pastor Colin Smith, who hosts the popular national radio showUnlocking the Bible, is the best person to help you answer these questions and point out important events and circumstances in the Bible. Pastor Smith, as he walks you through the Bible, will help you find important truths about the Bible story. He will help you understand what happened, why it happened, and how God put the whole story together. In each day's devotion, there is a selection from the Bible, an insightful teaching devotional, and a Scriptural reference for more study, too. People who have read the Bible will be able to see how the main stories and events can and do affect their lives today.

New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Tripp

Getting up in the morning can be hard sometimes. There are times when a hearty breakfast and a good cup of coffee just aren't enough. Paul David Tripp, a best-selling author, wants to give you more than a quick shot of caffeine. He wants to give you the most powerful encouragement possible: the gospel.

You don't need "behavior modification" or "feel-good" quotes. Tripp knows that what we really need is a meeting with God. Then we'll be ready to trust in God's goodness, rely on his grace, and live for God's glory every single day.

Through the Bible, Through the Year: Daily Reflections from Genesis to Revelation by John Stott

Through the ages, the church year has been based on God's story in the Bible. New seasons have brought new opportunities for people to read God's word more, which has helped them grow closer to him through his word. His best-known book is Through the Bible: Through the Year. John Stott is a well-known pastor, and he takes people through the whole Bible one day at a time. Each of the 365 devotions is based on a key Bible verse and includes other Bible verses for more reading. Readers learn about the Old Testament story from September to Christmas. They see how the world was made until Christ came to earth. They study the Gospels from January to April. From May to August, they retell the story of Acts to Revelation, which includes God's power for living now and his promise of what we'll get when Christ comes back. People will grow closer to God and understand more of his Word with each reading. This is how it works:

Living in the Spirit: A 30-Day Devotional by J.I. Packer

These 30 daily devotionals from one of the most well-known names in Christianity are a good place to start if you want to live a life filled with the Holy Spirit. In the words of J.I. Packer, "Use them as a springboard or trampoline when you come to the Lord." Jump on them, jump off of them, and see how high your heavenly Father lets you go.

Voices From The Past – Puritan Devotional Readings by Richard Rushing

He put together this book of daily devotional readings from his favorite Puritan authors because they have helped him so much. Puritans wrote about the glory and attributes of God, fellowship with God, holiness of life and mortification of indwelling sin. Heavenly-mindedness, prayer, evangelistic passion, and trusting in God during times of hardship were also important to them. At every turn, these truths are taught in a way that is both beautiful and true, and they are also offered as a sweet spiritual meditation. In this book, we pray that it will lead people to the many treasures found in the Puritan writings. We also hope that it will inspire people to keep looking into this rich spiritual heritage.

Morning and Evening Daily Readings by Charles Spurgeon

There are a lot of Biblical reflections from Spurgeon with applications that are still relevant for today's Christians, like this. Spurgeon's well-known wit and elegance aren't found in many other pieces of writing. This is a good book for Christians of all ages because it will be both challenging and interesting to read.

You might also like Charles Spurgeon's book Gospel Hope for Anxious Hearts: Trading Fear and Worry for the Peace of God, which is about giving up fear and worry for God's peace.

Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith by Scotty Smith (also read Scotty Smith’s blog for prayers)

How would your life be different if you could think, see, and act all in the light of Jesus? Pastor Scotty Smith has put together a collection of 365 Bible-centered prayers that will help you pray the Scriptures through the lens of the gospel. This way, you can use the great resources of God's grace in every season of your life. In this case, there will be no posing. It's not going to be a lie. A relationship with a God who says he loves you and wants to be your friend is all you need. Each day has a Bible verse and a prayer that was written by someone who had a lot of faith and was going through a hard time. Everyday Prayers is like a modern-day book of Psalms. It's a way to grow in grace that you'll want to keep looking into year after year.

Streams in the Desert: 366 Daily Devotional Readings by L. B. E. Cowman and Jim Reimann

L. B. Cowman found a fountain in a desert long ago that kept her going, and she shared it with the world. One of the most popular devotionals of all time is Streams in the Desert ®, which was first published in 1925. It's a collection of prayers, Christian writings, and God's written promises. This book has been a favorite of Christians for a long time. It gives a lot of information about how much God provides and why he did what he did. All around me, birds were singing, and angel wings were flapping in the air. I could hear them from a long way away.

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