As you might know, I have a (somewhat slow) ongoing series on how scholars organize their devotional lives and increase their love for the Lord. This became interesting to me five years ago when I was in seminary. Perhaps because I always want to do too much, I was becoming antsy in my daily Bible reading. Should I add a commentary? Should I just read the text, then study? I started surveying a number of scholars (60 so far), I’ve seen that there is no single way to structure your devotional time. That said, you might still want some help (I know I do), and Jonathan Gibson has offered a helpful path for us to have 31 days of devotions.
There are two parts to this book along with four appendixes. Part 1 surveys the scriptural foundation for daily worship and the structural format for daily worship (the flow of each day’s devotional time). Part 2 takes you through 31 days of devotional worship with the Lord.
Gibson admits that there is no one Scripture that commands that we have an intentional daily devotional time, he points to Scripture which at least implies that God’s people would be doing this regulalry. God told Abraham that he chose him so that he would command his family and household to keep the way of the Lord (Gen 18:19). God tells Israel to love him with their whole selves and for parents to take every opportunity to teach their children about God’s wonderful character and ways (Deut 6:5-6). In the Psalms, Israel is encouraged to tell of god’s glorious deeds to the next generation (Ps 78:4). Jesus constantly asks the Pharisees “Have you not read?” assuming that they are to be constantly reading God’s word, and he then rebukes them for not knowing that same word.
While a systematic approach to reading the Scripture has become popular (reading from Genesis to Revelation, or at least in some way reading the whole of Scripture in a year), there ought to be more to one’s devotional time than reading the Bible. And I am in full agreement with Gibson’s statement that “prayer is the hardest part of our devotions and often leaves us feeling distracted and directionless” (29, which see here). However, we have help from the past, others who have gone before us and who wrote down their prayers. Gibson’s aim is to help us prepare “for corporate worship on the Lord’s Day by improving our personal or family worship each day” (30).
There are 13 elements to each day. This might sound like a lot, but it really doesn’t have to take much time.
- Call to worship—31 Scripture readings provided for you;
- Adoration—31 prayers from men throughout church history like Richard Baxter, Martin Luther, Heinrich Bullinger, Augustine, Henry Thornton, and others;
- Reading of the law—7 Scripture readings to hear God’s law as his will for your life;
- Confession of sin—31 prayers from men throughout church history like Wilhelm Loehe, Baxter, William Wilberforce, Huldrych Zwingli, Anselm, and others;
- Assurance of pardon—31 Scripture readings of comfort from God;
- Creed—texts from the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, or the Athanasian Creed;
- Praise—2 versions of the Gloria Patri (alternating weekly);
- Catechism—1 question from either the Heidelberg or the Westminster Short Catechisms (appendix 2);
- Prayer for illumination—7 prayers from church history asking God to enlighten your mind and heart;
- Scripture reading—Read a portino of God’s word based on the M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan (appendix 3);
- Prayer of intercession—31 prayers from church history from men like John Calvin, Zacharias Ursinus, Anselm, Martin Bucer, and others;
- Further petition—these are further prayers for your personal life, the church, and the world;
- Lord’s Prayer—you end by praying Jesus’ words that he taught his disciples to pray.
Recommended?
This is a really cool work and a beautiful book. It guides you through 31 days of soul-strengthening devotions, building up your time in the word and assisting you in your prayers. It helps you to focus your mind on God by following the words of others and their praises to him. It reminds you both of your sin and natural evil as well as God’s abounding love for us in Christ. You read through the ancient creeds that have stood the test of time and so remind you that you are carrying on the ancient faith that is living even today and will continue on into tomorrow. This is a terrific resource to have next to your Bible. And who can disagree with Don Whitney when he writes, “All in all, Be Thou My Vision is perhaps the best, and certainly the most thorough and meaty, daily devotional guide I’ve ever read.”
Lagniappe
- Author: Jonathan Gibson
- Hardcover: 345 pages
- Publisher: Crossway (December 7, 2021)
- Read the Intro + Chap 1
- Previous Reviews by Gibson:
Buy it from Amazon or Crossway
Review Disclosure: I received this book free from Crossway. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.
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