“We never outgrow our need for the gospel! Sinners need the gospel for salvation; rescue from death. Saints need the gospel to grow in understanding of Christ and knowing how to live. And until Jesus returns, we continually need the gospel to sustain us, carrying us with hope, power, wisdom, and lasting joy. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 describes how the gospel saves us, keeps working to sanctify us, and continually sustains us as we cling to the truth of God’s Word.” TLBP Foundations Workbook, Gospel section
I love to sit down with my Bible to study God’s Word. When I am working through a study for our church, I can easily spend an hour or two focused on digging in to the Scriptures. I may have highlighters out, colored pencils, index cards, etc. However, there are times that I don’t have an hour or two to study. Yet, I know I need to constantly be reminded of God’s truth and my heart constantly needs to be reoriented. I love this quote from Jeff Medders, “Branches do more than meet with the vine for 30 minutes in the morning and then branch off to go about their day. Branches abide. Branches remain connected. Branches continue to receive sap, life, and nutrients from the vine. There is a vine-branch life.” Abiding throughout the day is an important discipline in my life. For example, when I first wake up I like to read a short devotional to start my day. At lunch, I open another book to reorient my heart again after the tasks of the morning may have taken over. Before a meeting, I pray and ask God to guide it. After a long day, I prepare to go to sleep by reading another small section from a different book. Below are just five books, trust me there are many more that I rotate through, to remind myself of the gospel. To be clear none of these books are my primary diet in studying God’s Word. They are simply helpful resources to keep focused on Christ throughout my day!
“Don’t make a resolution you know you’ll cast aside in February. Rather, build your life around soaking up God’s Word in as many ways possible.”
Glenna Marshall
New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp
If you have been following The Loved Bible Project for any amount of time, you have seen quotes shared from this book. It is clearly one of our favorites!
“365 devotional readings lead off with a compelling, gospel-centered thought, followed by an extended meditation for the day. Focused less on behavior modification and more on helping people encounter the living God, this resource equips readers with the good news that they need to trust in God’s goodness, rely on his grace, and live for his glory—day in and day out.”
Gospel: The 90 Day Devotional by JD Greear
This is another excellent book that you have seen in our TLBP Facebook and Instagram posts. In fact, a number of our girls use this to start their days. It has been so good to help root them in the truths of the gospel.
“Packed with Scripture and extra study features, as well as an ongoing “Gospel Prayer” emphasis, the Gospel Devotional takes you back to the roots of Christ’s work on your behalf so you can bear fruit for a lifetime.”
In the Lord I Take Refuge (150 Devotions through the Psalms) by Dane Ortlund
I have grown to love the Psalms. This devotional looks at a specific Psalm and follows with a short devotional reading. Each reading is five minutes or less so it is perfect for a quick heart re-orientation. If you are more of auditory learner, check out the podcast.
“The Psalms could be called the Bible’s devotional. Each psalm reflects on the greatness of who God is and how he cares for his people. Written with profound emotion, each psalm sheds light on the raw experiences of the human heart, revealing how God’s people should turn to him in times of anguish, pain, remorse, joy, and thanksgiving.”
The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament by Nancy Guthrie
“The Bible’s main character and hero is Jesus Christ. Although we don’t see his name in every book, all 66 books point to him.” TLBP Foundations Workbook, Jesus Section
“We tend to look to the New Testament to tell us about Jesus, yet it was the Old Testament about which Jesus said, “the Scriptures point to me!” Day by day throughout the year, readers will see the beauty of Christ in fresh new ways, creating a deeper understanding and appreciation for who Jesus is and what he accomplished through his Cross and Resurrection.”
The Gospel Changes Everything by The Daily Grace Company
We loved this book so much! In fact, we ordered copies as a thank you gift for all of our creative team members.
“When life feels busy or we’re faced with difficult circumstances, what do we turn to? Though we are tempted to turn to temporary comforts and pleasures, we must continually be reminded of the gospel when we need it the most. The Gospel Changes Everything is a theologically rich and accessible daily devotional that points to the power of the gospel in the life of the believer.”
Which of these books interests you the most? Let us know in the comments!