4. 10 Questions About Pain and Suffering

4. 10 Questions About Pain and Suffering: 30 Devotions for Kids, Teens, and Families. Beth Broom. 2025. 128 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars, christian nonfiction, devotions]

First sentence: Have you ever broken a bone? Maybe you've been really sick. Or maybe you have trouble finishing your schoolwork. These are all painful things that can happen to us. 

There are ten questions addressed in Beth Broom's book. Each of the ten questions has three devotions associated with it. These devotions build upon one another so that by the end of the third day there is a succinct answer to the question being raised. Depending on the question, there can be layers to the answer, and the fact that multiple devotions address the same question can be helpful. It is like looking at the question from three viewpoints. The answers complement one another. 

The ten questions tackled in this book are as follows:

1. What is suffering?

2. Why do we suffer?

3. If God is good, why does he let bad things happen?

4. Do Christians suffer less than non-Christians?

5. When Christians suffer, is it punishment?

6. How does God help me when I'm suffering?

7. How should Christians respond to suffering?

8. What if God doesn't answer my prayer for suffering to stop?

9. What gives someone hope when bad things keep happening?

10. How can I help someone else who is suffering?

Each devotion concludes with a clear, concise answer to the question, a prayer, and a reflection. 

The answer to the first question given on the third day reads as follows, "Suffering is the experience of pain that everyone feels, because sin caused suffering to enter the world. But suffering doesn't last forever for Christians because God sent his Son into the world to suffer with us and rescue us."

I think the questions being discussed are good questions. I thought the answers were thoughtful and pointed to the gospel, pointed to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. I thought the repetition was helpful. Chances are readers will not read this one in one sitting. It is a thirty day devotional, so a refresher course on the question and the answer could be beneficial. I also think this could be a book that could be referred back to for reference. Perhaps the question doesn't weigh heavy now, but it might later. These answers might resonate more later as one's life experiences grow. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

84. A Wondrous Mystery

A Wondrous Mystery: Daily Advent Devotions. Charles H. Spurgeon. 2024. 144 pages. [Source: GIFT] [4 stars] 

First sentence: This [Genesis 3:15] is the first gospel sermon that was ever delivered upon the surface of this earth.

A Wondrous Mystery is a thirty-day devotional celebrating Jesus, specifically celebrating the first coming of Jesus the Messiah. It isn't exclusively on the birth of Christ. It does continue to expand to the fuller gospel, the bigger picture of WHY Jesus Christ came. It does go beyond the nativity to his life and mission. 

I am not the biggest fan of devotionals HOWEVER I make an exception for meaty, substantive ones like this. This is not a SHORT devotional. Well, all things are relative. Some devotionals literally take up three or four inches of one page--maybe. And of that half is filler, a mild story that truly fails to provide nourishment.  The other half is nice enough but hardly filling enough to be worth one's time. THIS is not that kind of 'short' devotional. Each devotional entry is three to four pages long. And these entries are compiled, I believe, from many, many, many Spurgeon sermons. THERE'S substance here. There's meat to nourish. 

If all devotional books were this well done, I'd appreciate them more. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

76. Everyday Gospel: Christmas

76. Everyday Gospel: Christmas Devotional. Paul David Tripp. 2025. 55 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars, advent, Christmas devotional]

First sentence: I love Christmas.

Paul David Tripp has a devotional, Everyday Gospel. I read and reviewed it last year, I believe. (Whatever year it released is when I read it. I enjoyed it. I was happy to recommend it. I don't always recommend devotionals, mind you.) He has selected twenty-five readings to count down to Christmas that cover the WHOLE gospel story--with readings that cover Genesis to Revelation. (To clarify, there is not a reading from EVERY book of the Bible. But the readings cover ALL the highlights from both testaments so that if one was reading this one could get a grasp of the 'big picture' of what the Bible is about. It would be an appetizer perhaps for further exploration. 

Each reading and accompanying devotion POINTS TO CHRIST. It was compiled to help FAMILIES have a resource to point their children of all ages to JESUS AS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON. Less stuff, more Christ. 

Each devotion has a Scripture to be read, a devotion, a reflection with a question or two, and a prayer. There is substance in this one. IT is short. I'm not 100% convinced that you need this one in addition to Everyday Gospel--the 365 day devotional, but it is a nice bonus. Perhaps one could try this one and if they enjoy go out and seek the year-long devotional. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

18. Knowledge of the Holy

18. Knowledge of the Holy. A.W. Tozer. 1961/1978. HarperCollins. 128 pages. [Source: Book I Bought] [5 stars]

First sentence from chapter one: What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like. We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of Christians that composes the Church. Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God, justas her most significant message is what she says about Him or leaves unsaid, for her silence is often more eloquent than her speech. She can never escape the self-disclosure of her witness concerning God.

I have read A.W. Tozer's Knowledge of the Holy four times now, I believe. I reviewed it in 2012, 2014, 2017,  2021, 2022,  2025. It is one of my all-time favorite books to read and reread. I always am struck by something new. I always find new quotes to share. 

Can a book be both theological and devotional? It's a tricky combination to pull off, I think. But A.W. Tozer's classic Knowledge of the Holy is one of the best examples I've ever read. It is both theological--of substance and depth--and devotional--written with the pure intent to make your heart love and love greatly your Lord and Savior. Why learn more about God? So you can love him more, so you can worship him in spirit and truth. Tozer is urging readers to meditate on God, to meditate on God's glory--his majesty. He's saying DELIGHT IN GOD.  

It is a short book that I'd recommend to just about anyone. It is a book EVERY Christian needs to consider picking up. Even if you're not typically a reader of theology.

Knowledge of the Holy is very reader-friendly. Each chapter is short--just three or four pages, which is why I think it would be a great choice for a devotional. The content has weight to it--it is a book ABOUT God how could it be anything else? Yet. At the same time, it is written in a style that is simple and straight-forward.  

  

Why read A.W. Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy?

Because…"It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate. If we would bring back spiritual power to our lives, we must begin to think of God more nearly as He is."

Because…"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."

Because…"Wrong ideas about God are not only the fountain from which the polluted waters of idolatry flow; they are themselves idolatrous. The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true."

Because... "If we insist upon trying to imagine Him, we end with an idol, made not with hands but with thoughts; and an idol of the mind is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand."

Because…"We can never know who or what we are till we know at least something of what God is."

Because…"It is not a cheerful thought that millions of us who live in a land of Bibles, who belong to churches and labor to promote the Christian religion, may yet pass our whole life on this earth without once having thought or tried to think seriously about the being of God."

Technically, all those reasons are reasons to read the Good Book, the Word of God, Holy Scriptures. But I think the Holy Spirit can and will use Tozer's words--long after he's dead--to inspire new generations to seek God.

Favorite quotes:

It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate. If we would bring back spiritual power to our lives, we must begin to think of God more nearly as He is.

Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God, just as her most significant message is what she says about Him or leaves unsaid, for her silence is often more eloquent than her speech. She can never escape the self-disclosure of her witness concerning God.

That our idea of God correspond as nearly as possible to the true being of God is of immense importance to us. Compared with our actual thoughts about Him, our creedal statements are of little consequence. Our real idea of God may lie buried under the rubbish of conventional religious notions and may require an intelligent and vigorous search before it is finally unearthed and exposed for what it is. Only after an ordeal of painful self-probing are we likely to discover what we actually believe about God.

Low views of God destroy the gospel for all who hold them.

The idolatrous heart assumes that God is other than He is - in itself a monstrous sin - and substitutes for the true God one made after its own likeness. Always this God will conform to the image of the one who created it and will be base or pure, cruel or kind, according to the moral state of the mind from which it emerges.

A god begotten in the shadows of a fallen heart will quite naturally be no true likeness of the true God.

The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place.

The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true.

If we insist upon trying to imagine Him, we end with an idol, made not with hands but with thoughts; and an idol of the mind is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand.

The study of the attributes of God, far from being dull and heavy, may for the enlightened Christian be a sweet and absorbing spiritual exercise. To the soul that is athirst for God, nothing could be more delightful.

An attribute of God is whatever God has in any way revealed as being true of Himself.

An attribute, as we can know it, is a mental concept, an intellectual response to God's self-revelation. It is an answer to a question, the reply God makes to our interrogation concerning himself.

The doctrine of the divine unity means not only that there is but one God; it means also that God is simple, uncomplex, one with Himself. He need not suspend one to exercise another, for in Him all His attributes are one. All of God does all that God does; He does not divide himself to perform a work, but works in the total unity of His being.

The divine attributes are what we know to be true of God. He does not possess them as qualities; they are how God is as He reveals Himself to His creatures. Love, for instance, is not something God has and which may grow or diminish or cease to be. His love is the way God is, and when He loves He is simply being Himself.

To meditate on the three Persons of the Godhead is to walk in thought through the garden eastward in Eden and to tread on holy ground.

Because we are the handiwork of God, it follows that all our problems and their solutions are theological.

The fact of God is necessary to the fact of man. Think God away and man has no ground of existence.

Sin has many manifestations but its essence is one. A moral being, created to worship before the throne of God, sits on the throne of his own selfhood and from that elevated position declares, "I AM." That is sin in its concentrated essence; yet because it is natural it appears to be good. It is only when in the gospel the soul is brought before the face of the Most Holy One without the protective shield of ignorance that the frightful moral incongruity is brought home to the conscience. In the language of evangelism the man who is thus confronted by the fiery presence of Almighty God is said to be under conviction.

The Christian religion has to do with God and man, but its focal point is God, not man. Man's only claim to importance is that he was created in the divine image; in himself he is nothing.

Unbelief is actually perverted faith, for it puts its trust not in the living God but in dying men.

For every man it must be Christ or eternal tragedy. 

Abounding sin is the terror of the world, but abounding grace is the hope of mankind.

The Christian witness through the centuries has been that "God so loved the world . . ."; it remains for us to see that love in the light of God's infinitude. His love is measureless. It is more: it is boundless. It has no bounds because it is not a thing but a facet of the essential nature of God. His love is something He is, and because He is infinite that love can enfold the whole created world in itself and have room for ten thousand times ten thousand worlds beside.

God cannot change for the better. Since He is perfectly holy, He has never been less holy than He is now and can never be holier than He is and has always been. Neither can God change for the worse. Any deterioration within the unspeakably holy nature of God is impossible. Indeed I believe it impossible even to think of such a thing, for the moment we attempt to do so, the object about which we are thinking is no longer God but something else and someone less than He.

In God no change is possible; in men change is impossible to escape. 

God never changes moods or cools off in His affections or loses enthusiasm. His attitude toward sin is now the same as it was when He drove out the sinful man from the eastward garden, and His attitude toward the sinner the same as when He stretched forth His hands and cried, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

God will not compromise and He need not be coaxed. He cannot be persuaded to alter His Word nor talked into answering selfish prayer. In all our efforts to find God, to please Him, to commune with Him, we should remember that all change must be on our part. "I am the Lord, I change not."

We can hold a correct view of truth only by daring to believe everything God has said about Himself.

We do God more honor by believing what He has said about Himself and having the courage to come boldly to the throne of grace than by hiding in self-conscious humility among the trees of the garden.

Hell is a place of no pleasure because there is no love there. Heaven is full of music because it is the place where the pleasures of holy love abound. Earth is the place where the pleasures of love are mixed with pain, for sin is here, and hate and ill will. In such a world as ours love must sometimes suffer, as Christ suffered in giving Himself for His own.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

17. A Collection of Blessings

17. A Collection of Blessings. Helen Steiner Rice. 2009. 160 pages. [Source: Bought] [nonfiction, poetry, christian poetry, 3 stars]

First sentence: As the New Year starts and the old year ends

There's no better time to make amends

For all the things we sincerely regret

And wish in our hearts we could somehow forget--

This is a paperback collection of poems by Helen Steiner Rice put together by the Helen Steiner Rice foundation. Her poems evoke warm, cozy, comfy feelings. The literary equivalent perhaps of a nice cuppa. (cup of tea). The subject matter varies to a small degree but all well within a narrow framework of spirituality--prayer, sorrow, joy, forgiveness, repentance, peace, love, etc. There is some repetition which I don't look down upon since rhyming can be tricky and when you find a satisfying rhyme, well, it's hard to not repeat it in other poems. To be fair, the first time I came across the lines, I was like THAT IS GOOD. The second or third time I was like, okay, okay, still true, still relevant. And to be fair, this is a collection. I doubt her intent was for anyone to read a couple dozen of her poems within a twenty minute period. 

The poems in the collection are arranged somewhat thematically with special poems for special occasions being first in the book. The book is not unlike a Bible Promise book in its topical approach or its general vibes. 

God speaks to us in many ways,

Altering our lives, our plans, and our days,

And his blessings come in many guises

That He alone in love, devises,

And sorrow, which we dread so much,

Can bring a very healing touch...

For when we fail to heed His voice

We leave the Lord no other choice

Except to use a firm, stern hand

To make us know He's in command...

For on the wings of loss and pain,

The peace we often sought in vain

Will come to us with sweet surprise,

For God is merciful and wise....

And through dark hours of tribulation

God gives us time for meditation,

And nothing can be counted loss

Which teaches us to bear our cross. (23)

Happiness is something we create in our minds--

It's not something you search for

And so seldom find.

It's just waking up and beginning the day

By counting our blessings and kneeling to pray.

It's giving up thoughts that breed discontent

And accepting what comes as a gift heaven-sent.

It's giving up wishing for things we have not

And making the best of whatever we've got.

It's knowing that life is determined for us

And pursuing our tasks

Without fret, fume, or fuss...

For it's by completing what God gives us to do

That we find real contentment and happiness, too. (28)

I LOVED some of the poems. I liked many more of them than loved. A few I didn't quite care for--a few I found could be interpreted/misinterpreted as being theologically questionable. Still, for the most part, I enjoyed this old-fashioned poetry book. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

16. Psalms for My Day

16. Psalms for My Day: A Child's Praise Devotional. Carine Mackenzie and Alec Motyer, Illustrated by Catherine Noel Pope. 2019. 96 pages. [Source: Bought] [4 stars, devotional, children's book]

First sentence: The book of Psalms is the largest book in the Bible.

Psalms for my Day uses a new translation by Alec Motyer. Selected psalms have been illustrated alongside light devotions. Each day's devotion has a prayer to pray. The book also includes a sprinkling of quotes by Alec Motyer. 

Readers should also know that this translation uses Yahweh. 

The psalms include the following:

• Psalm 1
• Psalm 8
• Psalm 13
• Psalm 19
• Psalm 22
• Psalm 23
• Psalm 24
• Psalm 25
• Psalm 27
• Psalm 29
• Psalm 32
• Psalm 34
• Psalm 37
• Psalm 40
• Psalm 46
• Psalm 51
• Psalm 63
• Psalm 67
• Psalm 72
• Psalm 73
• Psalm 78
• Psalm 84
• Psalm 95
• Psalm 100
• Psalm 103
• Psalm 107
• Psalm 117
• Psalm 121
• Psalm 133
• Psalm 139
• Psalm 150

I love, love, love the book of Psalms. While there are many, many, many, many storybook Bibles to share with children--of all ages, there are few that celebrate the Bible's songbook: Psalms. I think this book would be a good one to share before/during/after family devotions. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2. The Heart of Jesus

2. The Heart of Jesus: How He Really Feels About You. Dane Ortlund. 2024. 128 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 stars] [christian nonfiction, devotional]

First sentence: This is a book about the heart of Jesus Christ. Who is he? Who is he really? What is most natural to him? What flows out most freely? Who is he?

The Heart of Jesus is an abridged "concise" edition of the super popular  Gentle and Lowly by the same author. This one has been edited with "young readers, new Christians, and seekers" in mind. 

I read Gentle and Lowly twice last year--once in November, once in December. I was conflicted about Gentle and Lowly. On the one hand, I saw a lot of truth in it. It provided a lot to think upon, plenty to 'chew the cud' about. On the other hand, there were sentences or paragraphs that if taken at face value may lead down a slippery slope to some potentially dangerous unbiblical ideas. One could always give the author the benefit of the doubt, to assume the best. One could also question the author in terms of consequences of ideas. 

I wanted to read The Heart of Jesus particularly because it was concise. I found the book to remove a lot of the things that I found almost semi-problematic. I think this is because it was in the elaboration of details that my confusion began. When the book keeps to the point and on track, I found less confused. 

If I had to recommend one book over the other, I would recommend this one instead. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

62. Everyday Gospel

Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life. Paul David Tripp. 2024. 488 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, devotional, christian nonfiction]

First sentence: Genesis begins with the most brilliant, mind-bending, and heart-engaging introduction to a book ever written.

Usually devotionals are not my thing. Usually. There are always a few exceptions and Paul David Tripp's newest book is such an exception. This devotional walks you--the reader--through the Bible reading it cover to cover, Genesis to Revelation. It is a Bible reading plan and a devotional. 

The devotional entries spring [mostly] naturally from that day's reading. All tend to pointing readers back to gospel truths. Some tell more personal stories that shine a little more light in how one can live out Scripture. If it was just personal stories and the focus was only on his personal life, his ups and downs, his family, lessons he'd learned, then, I probably would not be gushing about this one. 

I really love the gospel focus. So many essential, foundational gospel truths are shared day after day after day after day. I do believe that we as believers do need to hear the gospel often, even every day often. 

There were so many sentences/paragraphs that I underlined/highlighted. This one isn't only occasionally good, it is frequently good. I could see myself sharing what I've read with others. 

How much did I love this one? After reading it from the library, I bought it for myself for Christmas. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

59. Daily Liturgy Devotional

Daily Liturgy Devotional: 40 Days of Worship and Prayer. Douglas Sean O'Donnell. 2024. 272 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, devotional, prayer, christian nonfiction]

First sentence: One day, after Jesus finished praying, a disciple asked him, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). Jesus responded with the Lord's Prayer (or the Disciples' Prayer!), a short and simple prayer that offers the perfect substance of and model for Christian prayer. The Daily Liturgy Devotional--with its prayers and patterns, Scriptures and songs--is designed to offer further help. If you struggle to pray, read God's word, or meditate upon what you have read, then this devotional will guide you; if you already practice good devotional habits, then this can serve as an additional resource to support you.

The basics: This devotional offers eight weeks of devotions (five devotions per week). Each week centers around one theme in Scripture: The Gospel, Faith, Love, Hope, Wisdom, Holiness, Perseverance, and Witness. Each of the eight weeks offer a memory verse. 

Each day blends historic prayers, scripture readings, commentary, and song. I would say the concise commentary and the memory verse segment--in addition to the themes--are what set it apart from other recent liturgical devotional books. (Be Thou My Vision, Psalms in 30 Days, Life of Jesus in 30 days, etc.) 

It also features suggestions on how to pray in italics. I haven't decided if this is micro-manage-y OR if it is a good thing. The italics almost read like stage directions in a play. Since my quotes appear in italics already, I'll bold what the book has in italics.

Pray the Agnus Dei. Then take time to ask God through Jesus to forgive specific sins. Also offer prayers of lament. Pray that God would deal with sufferings and injustices both now and when Christ returns. Cry out, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (Rev. 6:10), or "Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!" (Psalms 130:1-2)

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Grant us peace. Amen.

It is hard to review devotional books. I was not reading the book one devotion at a time for eight weeks. (For one thing it was a library book!) I read one week at a time--or sometimes two weeks--each day over the course of a week. As I was wearing my "book reviewer hat" (if you will) I wasn't following the stage directions either. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

57. Gentle and Lowly

Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. Dane Ortlund. 2020. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy] [3 stars] [christian nonfiction, theology, devotional]

First sentence from introduction: This is a book about the heart of Christ. Who is he? Who is he really? What is most natural to him? What ignites within him most immediately as he moves towards sinners and sufferers? What flows out most freely, most instinctively? Who is he?

I read this book twice--back to back. Why???? This is not typical for me, at all. Mostly I reread it because I spent so much time confused. Confused about if any particular sentence (or paragraph, or chapter) was true or false, biblical or unbiblical. Perhaps that might sound a little harsh. Often when people talk about distorting scripture they mean it's really been stretched and twisted and warped and is completely off. I think what I mean about this one is much more subtle, demure even. I think in some places certain scriptures are becoming the whole prescription through which the author views the whole Bible. And no one verse is really supposed to have that much hold that you don't take a more grounded big picture approach to all of Scripture. This book also seems to push a few extremes. The narrative has a shock factor to it. Which also puts me on edge slightly. If this book offers something so new and life-changing and shocking, it implies that Christians have been getting it wrong for thousands of years. 

Perhaps this book uses a shocking approach to wake people up--to engage with readers in a way that most other theology wouldn't. To wake and shake the mental slumber, to get readers to think and consider, to ponder. 

This book is heavy on Puritans and the Word of God. The book seems to hold an incredibly high view of Scripture. It is not dismissive of Scripture. Which makes it even more confusing because you naturally want to believe that their interpretation of Scripture is correct. I imagine that there are many places where they do in fact get it right. But still there's something unsettling about a few of their positions, interpretations, takes.

So the one verse that they use as a prescription to interpret the entire Bible--Genesis to Revelation is Matthew 11:29. I love that scripture in context. It's a wonderful passage of scripture. But to view the entire Bible and say that that one verse sums up everything--EVERYTHING--that the Bible has to say about the heart of God is a bit too much for me. The author says something to the effect that the Bible only talks about the heart of God [of Jesus] in one place. And again that doesn't sit right with me because I strongly disagree. SO much about God is communicated throughout all of Scripture. And this one verse is far from the only place where Jesus' heart is on display. 

The topic of this one is how does Jesus feel about sinners and sufferers. I think the answer to this is revealed in many, many, many places. Of course the book doesn't just cover Matthew 11:29. Each chapter focuses on a single verse or single passage. OR perhaps in certain cases a particular book by a Puritan (when the Puritan is covering one passage or verse). 

Again, I think there are probably many true statements in this one. But there are a few that have me uncertain and questioning. If it was just a matter of easily discerning THIS is true THAT is false, the book would not be confusing. It's this weighing doubt where I truly don't know if my instincts are right or wrong. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

56. Cloud of Witnesses

56. Cloud of Witnesses: A Treasury of Prayers and Petitions Through the Ages. Jonathan W. Arnold (editor) Zechariah Carter (editor). 2024. 345 pages. [Source: Library] [Prayer, devotional, christian nonfiction, history] [5 stars]

First sentence: He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.'"

Cloud of Witnesses is a collection of [historic] prayers. This book of prayer features exactly one hundred prayers covering a wide range of subjects, themes, topics. The book is organized relatively chronological. The first section of the prayer book covers the early church (100-500), the medieval church (600-1500), the reformation church (1500-1700), and finally the modern church (1700-1900). The second section isn't so much a 'prayer book' as a history lesson. It features mini-introductions of all the writers included in the one hundred prayers. Again these mini-biographies are arranged chronologically. They do provide greater context for appreciating the one hundred prayers. The third section is technically the appendix, this section might be the least practical, however it isn't without its charms. This third section features the one hundred prayers in their original languages--or the source material for which these English translations are made. 

If you are looking for a prayer covering a specific topic or subject, there is an index for that.

The prayers vary in length and style. Some are very short, concise, practical. Others are longer--much longer. A few seem a little too wordy to be practical. But overall, I enjoyed reading this devotional prayer book. 

Prayer number 14 (Old Gallican Rite)

Grant holiness to new believers, O Father. Give knowledge to the ignorant. Give aide to those who are running their course. Give sorrow to those who have erred without knowledge. Give passion to those who are lukewarm. To those who are mature, give a good ending. We ask all of this for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Lord, Amen. 

Prayer number 70 (Thomas Cranmer)

Blessed Lord, who has caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, allow us to hear them, read them, mark them, learn them, and inwardly digest them in such a way that, by the patience and comfort of your holy word, we may embrace and ever hold on to the blessed hope of everlasting life that you have given to us in our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I am so glad that I read this one! Don't be intimidated. The one hundred prayers make up a small part of this one. They can be read and reread. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

54. The Coming Golden Age

54. The Coming Golden Age: 31 Ways To Be Kingdom Ready. David Jeremiah. 2024. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [christian nonfiction]

First sentence from the introduction: I've been fascinated by biblical prophecy all my life, and nothing encourages me more than God's predictions about the future. But I don't make many predictions myself. The Bible is infallible; I'm not. 

The Coming Golden Age by its very topic may prove to be decisive. It is about the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Now there are dozens if not hundreds of positions on how to interpret the book of Revelation. All have a different view or take on the millennial reign. Some would argue that those thousand years are anything but literal. Some see the LITERAL reign of Christ on earth as the key to make sense of all the many, many, many loose ends of the Old Testament. Read the major and minor prophets, reading with the millennial perspective does bring clarity in many ways. Some choose not to engage in the battle exactly--to not argue about the details of prophecy and just focus on the glory of the coming kingdom, to focus on all the kingdom promises. So many rich promises are to be found in the book of Revelation. 

So from the get go, the perspectives you bring with you to the text might influence whether you enjoy this devotional book. Some people will automatically reject the theology--end of story. This isn't the one for you.

I don't engage in every battle regarding the details of Revelation. I see strengths and weaknesses to many of the different overall positions. Some I agree with more than others. I have my own leanings. But I also see them as more speculative than certain-certain. End of story GREAT confidence. How we get there--the details are fuzzier. But I do strongly lean towards a LITERAL interpretation of the millennial reign. [That being said, a LOT of authors I read hold different positions. It is not a deal breaker for me.]

I love the idea of this one. Thirty-one readings with the topic of the end days and millennial reign of Christ. Each reading is accessible enough and engaging. I do wish that each reading focuses a tiny bit more on Scripture itself. I wish that the book took a more methodical approach and walked readers through all the passages, the prophecies, the relevant texts. The book does value Scripture--no doubt about that. It just values stories--past and present--little factoids here and there. For example, I read the newspaper the other day and read about [fill in the blank] and then several paragraphs later drop in some verses. It makes for a casual, conversational read. Nothing unpleasant about it. I just wanted a little bit more meat. Because I DO agree with the literal reign and was hoping to learn about all the Old Testament bits in a more organized, focused, easy-to-follow way. 

I did enjoy it. I didn't necessarily love, love, love it. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

53. In the Lord I Take Refuge

53. In the Lord I Take Refuge: 150 Daily Devotions Through the Psalms. Dane C. Ortlund. 2021. 416 pages. [Source: Borrowed]

First sentence: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the ways of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

The Psalter uses the English Standard Version. Each psalm is followed by a devotion by Dane C. Ortlund. 

Definitely this is a case of what you see is what you get. Love the psalms? Definitely worth it for getting the psalms on such nice paper. Love devotions? Great. The devotions go with the psalms--so no extra steps for reading more Scripture.

I divided the psalms into daily portions according to the arrangement of the Book of Common Prayer. Readers could read one per day, five per day, ten per day, whatever. Definitely this is a a book that you can take at your own pace. There is no need to feel pressured to read it in one month. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

41. Psalms in 30 Days

Psalms in 30 Days: A Prayer Guide through the Psalter. Trevin K. Wax. 2020. 353 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars] 

First sentence: For generations, Christians have prayed and sung the psalms. It was the prayer book of Jesus. It is the Old Testament book most often quoted in the New. The songs found in this book form the bedrock of both corporate worship and individual devotion.

Psalms in 30 Days is a PSALTER using the Christian Standard Bible as its basis. This one is not the Book of Common Prayer. But it is similarly inspired. It is too similar to be a coincidence in my opinion. That is neither good nor bad. It is also somewhat similar to BE THOU MY VISION and its follow up books. 

Readers get a liturgical prayer book to follow for morning, noon, and evening for thirty days. This takes the Book of Common Prayer one step further. Since most Books of Common Prayer only have morning and evening liturgies. The 1979 has a midday prayer liturgy, however, the psalms remain the same for each day of the month. 

This one does not stick exclusively to the Book of Common Prayer's confessions and canticles, if you will. It does expand beyond that for quotes and songs. 

Morning prayers include 

Call to prayer

Confession of faith

Canticle

Psalms

Gloria

The Lord's Prayer

Intercessions and personal requests

Prayer of the church (quotes)

Blessing

Midday prayers include

Call to prayer

Psalms

Gloria

Lord's Prayer

Blessing

Evening prayers include

Call to prayer

Confession of sin

Canticle

Psalms

Gloria

Lord's Prayer

Intercession and personal requests

Prayer of the church

Blessing

I followed the Book of Common Prayer for about two years. I've read through Be Thou My Vision two or three times. I've done this book once. I will say that while I do appreciate the liturgy and devotional practice it encourages, I am not that big a fan of the CSB. I think if this book utilized a translation of the Bible that I appreciated more, I would in turn like this book more. That being said, I have nothing against the CSB in general or people who use it as their primary translation. I do think that this book could be a great fit for others. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

39. Advent for Exiles

Advent for Exiles: 25 Devotions to Awaken Gospel Hope in Every Heart. Caroline Cobb. 2024. [September 2024] 240 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 out of 5 Stars]

First sentence: The Old Testament tells the story of two tragic exiles. 

Devotional books are not my first go-to, usually. However, I wanted to read this one because I love, love, love, love, LOVE Caroline Cobb's music. One of the things I love most about her music is that it is saturated in Scripture. Every song, every verse and chorus--all can be drawn back to Scripture. There is something edifying about listening to her music. I think she is under-appreciated. Just my opinion. But if you haven't given her music a try, do so. 

There is a playlist that goes with this advent devotional. I HIGHLY recommend it. In fact, I'm not sure the devotional would be as impactful as it is without listening to the music. The music should not be seen as "an extra" but as the main attraction. Again, just my opinion. The playlist is on Spotify. 

The devotional is written "for those who have felt--or at least feel ready to acknowledge--the long groan of exile."

Caroline Cobb has used seven essential threads to weave together this advent devotional. The seven essential threads are: the season of Advent, the book of Isaiah, the theme of exile, biblical imagery and metaphor, music and lyrics, narrative storytelling, and responsive exercises. 

There are eight "parts" to this advent devotional: 

• The First Exile
• In the Darkness of Exile, a Sunrise
• In the Wilderness of Exile, a Seed and a Highway
• For the Lost Sheep in Exile, a Shepherd-King
• In the Silence of Exile, God Speaks
• In the Ashes and Ruin of Exile, a New Home for God
• In our Present Exile, a Future Hope
• Emmanuel

Readers do get to explore the big picture of Scripture which isn't always the case with advent devotional books.

I personally did not always "enjoy" the responsive suggestions. The suggestions--to me, again this is subjective--seemed unlikely activities for me to actually do. However, perhaps for others it's a better fit. Not every devotional reading has a physical activity to do. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

31. NKJV Spurgeon and the Psalms

NKJV Spurgeon and the Psalms, Maclaren Series, Thomas Nelson. Devotions by Charles Spurgeon. Psalms by God. 2022. 548 pages. [Source: Borrowed]

First sentence: Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

What I didn't love.....

The pages are VERY thin. There is a LOT of ghosting. Depending on the length of the psalm on the page, you can read other psalms through the paper. Thomas Nelson has published some great Bibles with minimal ghosting. I know that it is possible for them to design a Bible well, with minimal ghosting and beautiful layout.

These are short devotions. Do not expect Treasury of David. Just don't. If you've read even a little of Treasury of David you might expect something substantive and meaty about each psalm. These are short, concise devotions. Not exactly fluffy and superficial but not as substantive as reading other Spurgeon books.

What I loved....

Each psalm gets its own page. Each psalm has a "devotion" by Charles Spurgeon. I absolutely love the premise of a stand-alone book of psalms. I love the light-weight, take-it-with-you notion of reading and rereading Psalms. Psalms are meant to be read again-again-again. The book of Psalms should be SO familiar and beloved by Christians. This book does encourage you to make psalms part of your daily life.

It uses the New King James Version. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

83. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

O Come, O Come Emmanuel: A Liturgy for Daily Worship from Advent to Ephiphany. Jonathan Gibson. 2023. 380 pages. [Source: Borrowed]

First sentence: Christmas is my favorite time of year.

Premise/plot: O Come, O Come Emmanuel is a companion book to Jonathan Gibson's Be Thou My Vision (2021). The original provides readers with thirty days of liturgical daily worship. It weaves traditional liturgical elements with Scripture and church history. O Come, O Come Emmanuel has devotions for November 28th through January 6th. Is it absolutely necessary? Perhaps not. After all, one could simply use the original Be Thou My Vision in December and January like you have been doing the rest of the year. What has changed between the two books? The Scripture readings are specifically chosen for the season--about a chapter sometimes not even a full chapter. The catechism portion is reduced to those questions that specifically deal with the incarnation. The meditations are about the incarnation as well. But I would say the basic structure and most of the elements are exactly the same as the original. (I forgot to mention that each day has a 'song' to read or sing.) 

Is this one more substantive than your average advent devotional? Probably. Is it more substantive than the original Be Thou My Vision? No. It's about the same. If you have the first book, this one is a luxury addition. 

Scripture readings include:

Genesis 3:1-15

Genesis 22:1-19

Genesis 49:1-12

Numbers 24:1-19

Deuteronomy 18:1-22

2 Samuel 7:1-16

Psalm 2

Psalm 16

Psalm 45

Psalm 68

Psalm 89

Psalm 110

Psalm 118

Job 19

Isaiah 7:10-17; and Isaiah 9:1-7

Isaiah 11

Isaiah 40

Isaiah 42

Isaiah 49

Isaiah 50

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Jeremiah 23:1-6; 33:14-26

Micah 5

Zechariah 9:9-17; 13:1-9; Malachi 3:1-4

Luke 1:26-56

Luke 1:57-80

Luke 2:1-21

Luke 2:22-40

Matthew 1:1-25

John 1:1-18

Colossians 1:1-20

Ephesians 3:1-12

Romans 1:1-17

Philippians 2:1-11

Isaiah 60

Hebrews 1

Hebrews 2

John 5

Psalm 72

Matthew 2

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

82. The Book of Common Courage

The Book of Common Courage. K.J. Ramsey. 2023. [January] 224 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Lord Jesus,

who stepped down

onto the muddy banks

of the Jordan where

your cousin John

pulled you under

to be drenched in the baptism

of a repentance God surely didn't need

so that every waterlogged ear

could be freed to rise to the sound

of the Voice of Love coming down:

we want to hear

what you heard

that strange day.

The Book of Common Courage is a devotional written in verse. Are these verses poems? Maybe. Maybe not. Probably. Think of the 'verse' in a verse novel, this is similar. There are verses and verses. (Pun intended. Each bit of poetry is introduced with Scripture verses.) Some seem to be intended to be prayers. Though not all of them have that prayer vibe going. (Though to be fair there's always more than one style of prayer.) What keeps some of them from being prayer--in my own subjective opinion--is that they have more of a vibe of being an uplifting message from Jesus to you. Christ does speak to us in his Word. I think Genesis to Revelation, you can certainly hear God speaking--plainly, clearly. With the indwelling Holy Spirit as both your guide and the author, without a doubt the Word of God is speaking. 

This is definitely a devotional more than a prayer book. Though devotional books can contain plenty of prayers. Is this one meaty enough? That's a subjective question. It isn't as meaty theologically as I personally want in a devotional book. However, I think the goal is emotional and spiritual health. 

Quotes:

I shall not want

except that I do.

I want a Shepherd

who comes through.

I want my stress

to be wrapped

in God's arms.

I want my life

to be healed

from all harm.

Perhaps it would

be better to say

I lack nothing

because Love

will stay.

Jesus,

You say the words

we hate hearing,

but you never

demanded anything

you were not willing

to live first.

Tune our ears

to recognize the syllables of love

thrumming through the sentences

that make us shudder

For your resurrection

reminds us

that suffering

can shift us

into a better story.

Amen.

Jesus, the Promised Shepherd,

you who are always making a way

for your people to rest

when other shepherds demand

performances and success:

reveal the green pastures

where we can heal

that we, the plundered,

may become those

who thunder

kindness as the sound

of a Shepherd's kingdom

where mercy 

abounds.

Amen.

Blessed are the broken,

those shattered in spirit by those

who should have made them strong.

Blessed are the grieved

in a world that pretends

positivity will take away pain.

For while the kingdoms 

of the able and affluent

corral and crush,

the kingdom of God

is a seed 

split open.

May you know 

your breaking

is a broadening.

May you trust

your ache

is an awakening>

The kingdom of God

is a seed split open

and the kingdom 

belongs to you.

If God keeps track of your tears

and holds them safe in a bottle,

then perhaps

your pain is precious.

Perhaps

your tears

tell truth.

Perhaps 

you don't have to stop

the flow of what God

wants to hold as a treasure.

---crying is holy. 

Prayer 

is not

constant 

positivity.

It is honesty

held in our hands

and hurled at the sky.

When David dared

to curse at the air

and Christ cried

from the cross

that the Father

was not there,

they both pierced a hole

in the 

universe's clouds,

and now Love's ears

are tuned to the sound

of candor and cries

as much as praise

rings out.

The world has forever

been widened

for worship.

Our worst words

of self-pity and 

loudest wails

now have become

welcomed prayers.

Christ's prayer

pierced

the veil. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

79. The Practice of the Presence of Jesus

The Practice of the Presence of Jesus: Daily Meditations on the Nearness of Our Savior. Joni Eareckson Tada. 2023. [October] 255 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: I love practicing the presence of my Savior in the dark of night when I cannot sleep. Rather than contend with anxiety, I empty out my heart and pour the beauties of Jesus into it. I fill it with love words for him, each borrowed from the Bible. 

This is not the same book as the Practice of the Presence of God. Don't be fooled! Instead delight at this inspirational 'spin-off' of sorts. There are quotes from Brother Lawrence sprinkled throughout, but this is a new devotional book by Joni Eareckson Tada. There are over a hundred devotions. 

I am not usually a fan of devotional books, key word being usually. But I am a BIG fan of Joni Eareckson Tada. I do love a good devotional book that is substantive spiritually. I don't like light, fluffy, superficial. This one was absolutely wonderful. It was an amazing read. One that I would highly recommend.

Quotes:

True, God remedied our “mischief,” but, oh, at such a cost! So I practice the presence of Jesus every time I take sin seriously and refuse to sweep small sins under the carpet of my conscience. God forbid that I should ever call an offense against God “tiny” when it has caused my Savior unimaginable pain. May I never minimize the sin that made him suffer.

 

Expect to meet Jesus in your pain, and you most certainly will. For he has already entered that awful place ahead of you. He transformed it by his power and presence and came out the other side. He uprooted its dread and left it a place of resurrection and hope. So take a deep breath and step into your agony, anticipating that you’ll see Jesus.

 

It is a fight to trust Jesus. I must trust that everything my heart could ever long for is wrapped up in him and that he is far superior to anything the world offers. To not believe this is to demonstrate an utter lack of trust in my Savior.

 

God allows only those things that are designed to strengthen my soul, stretch its capacity for himself, and increase its hunger and thirst for the grace of Jesus.

 

If you are perplexed by the secret ways of God in your troubles, always filter them through Jesus, the Way that can be trusted … no matter what.

 

But Jesus wants to be bothered. It pleases him when we bring him our shame. Pain may insist that prayer will not “make it go away,” but prayer always engages me with the power and presence of Jesus Christ, who gladly pours out a deluge of courage, a reservoir of perseverance, a wellspring of endurance and patience, and a marvelous peace that goes far beyond my understanding. When I remember this, it brings Jesus pleasure. He smiles when I listen to his voice rather than the voice of my agonies.

 

Jesus doesn’t have what my soul needs; he is what I need.

 

The best thing you can do for yourself, as well as for the people around you, is to trust God. The harder things are, the better you make God look when you put your faith in him.
If my faith meant only what I believe about Christ in my mind, it would not be faith at all. Faith in Christ will always stay in the world of theory and shadows, ambiguous and hazy, until it is called forth and put to the grind. Faith needs exercise so that when someone asks me, “Who is this Jesus, and what do you believe about him, Joni?” I can confidently respond, “He is my fountain of joy in all my sufferings, and let me prove that by the way I trust him.”

 

The incomparably great power of Christ is within your grasp. So draw close enough to Jesus to reach out and touch the hem of his garment. He will give you power. Power to endure, hold on to hope, and find courage.

 

Jesus did not die to make us healthy but to make us holy. He came not to make us comfortable but to heal us of our propensity to sin. The best cures have to do with eschewing sin and drawing closer to Jesus Christ. It’s better than any amount of walking.

 

I grab my thoughts by the scruff of the neck; I push them into the pages of Scripture to give them a good dose of gospel truth. I show my idle thoughts who is the real boss of my soul, for I must not allow shiftless thinking to rule over me. I am like the psalmist who commanded his foolish musings, telling his soul, “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42: 5).

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

35. Mornings with Tozer

Mornings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings. A.W. Tozer. 2008. 416 pages. [Source: Bought]

First sentence: Men and women without God are helpless and hopeless human beings. We do well to remember that sin is to the human nature what cancer is to the human body! Can can argue with the fact that sin has ruined us?

I can be harsh when it comes to devotions. I can. But I can't be harsh with a TOZER devotional. One of my main issues with many devotionals is that devotionals tend to be shallow, story-oriented, light on Scripture, focused more on warm-fuzzies than on teaching truth. Tozer is almost always substantive, thought-provoking, tell-it-like-it-is, zealous and passionate for God's glory. 

I love, love, love A.W. Tozer. I love his zeal, his passion, his enthusiasm. This book is a collection--366 devotions? 365 devotions--of quotes from his sermons and published works. Each entry was short--about one and a half pages--but substantive.

I definitely recommend this one. 

Quote: 

I hope that if I am remembered at all, it will be for this reason: I have spent my efforts and my energies trying to turn the direction of the people away from the external elements of religion to those that are internal and spiritual. I have tried to take away some of the clouds in the hope that men and women would be able to view God in His glory. I would like to see this sense of glory recaptured throughout the church—too many Christians do not expect to experience any of the glory until they see Him face-to-face!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible