Disciplines for the Inner Life

Good aid for dai.y devotional and prayer time.

I like that it is not some fluffy feel good devotional but also not quite so hard to grasp in some ways and has more variety than Oswald Chambers’- My Utmost for His Highest. It has scripture readings, a hymn, and various readings from various authors - many from centuries ago, in each devotional. So you could go through it over many years and read something different in the same devotional. Very theologically rich.

Disciplines for the Inner Life's usefulness has outlived its publication. The only place to get new copies is Michael Benson, one of the authors and the chaplain at Olivet University in IL.But the book, modeled after Job's "A Gudie For Prayer" books from the Upper Room, is excellent. 52 weekly chapters, each with scriptures, prayers, a hymn and writings around a common theme are wonderful. The writings are best. They highlight the theme each week, and are taken from 2000 years fo Christian writers- people you know and people you don't- in fact, I have met over 20 authors here and gone on to read their source or other works after reading them.The book takes you through the disciplines, distractions, fruits and models of a Christian life and makes the year much more God-filled than many other resources. Get it where you can- it's worth it!

I usually don't like devotional books. I especially don't like when they have dates at the top of the page to tell you exactly what pace you are to go. The thing I like the most about this one is that it is mostly scripture. My girfriends and I are using it in our small group Bible study. When we discuss each chapter, we usually don't ever get past the scripture... which is great. Some of the readings with each chapter are weighty, requiring a second reading and making you think past the surface. Since this book is out of print... we all ordered used from Amazon. Love it!

Good for a deeper understanding of biblical practices

This book helped cultivate a biblical view of the world in my life. It's every day readings from Scripture, prayers, insights from heroes of the faith, and hymns satisfy my soul when I'm struggling and makes my heart soar in praise and adoration for our great God. A prisoner/pen-pal sent it to me many years ago and of all the books I treasure, this one ranks at the top. It's worth every penny to get a new copy so all the markings you make are your own.

I received a copy of this wonderful devotional as a gift from my wife in 1992. This year in 2018, I pulled it off my bookshelf and started it again - a year of prayer and devotion.So I bought several copies as gifts for family and friends!

This book - especially if you walk through it from beginning to end - is encouraging and challenging as it points you to the scriptures. Then rather than interpret those scriptures for you, it leaves you to ponder the message there. Beyond that there are readings from a wide variety of authors that enhance each week's topic. I've been reading this devotional for over 25 years and it never gets old.