If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a Christian, wife, and mom, it’s that I need Jesus every single day, without exception. I need to be immersed in Scripture and other readings each and every day. That’s why I’ve put together what I call my Soul Stack, the best Christian books for you and me to read everyday.
And it’s really no surprise that I need God’s Word everyday when it reminds me of the Gospel. After all, I am just a sinner in need of a Savior. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about when I say, “Gospel,” find out here.)
These books that I’m about to share are wonderful. They have really saved me on some of my darkest days. And when I don’t feel like reading the Bible (yes, that happens), sometimes picking up one of these books helps me to get started in my Bible time.
How do I do it? I have no time!
Now, you might be thinking, “How does Deborah have time to read so much?” That is a whole ‘nother post (which I wrote here). But, in a nutshell, I don’t sit down to read them all at once unless my daughter is asleep. I will often just have time for a quick paragraph here and there throughout the day. That is another reason why I love and am suggesting these books to you, they are easy to read when you don’t have a dedicated half hour or hour to commit to reading.
Why read everyday?
The Bible is full of encouragement to study the Word. Take Psalm 1, “Blessed is the man [or woman] … whose delight is the law of the Lord, and on it he [she] meditates day and night.” This is not a promise of physical blessings, but rather a call to be encouraged and blessed in the Lord by reading and studying the Scriptures.
We also know from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that the Bible is profitable for training in righteousness so that we can be equipped for every good work. So, in order to be equipped for a life of pursuing holiness and honoring the Lord, we need to read and know the Bible.
There are many other reasons, but these two have especially been on my heart and have convinced me of the need to read everyday.
We all know the children’s song, “Read your Bible, pray everyday, and you’ll grow, grow, grow.” It’s a simple song, but filled with profound truth. We simply cannot grow in the Lord without knowing His Word.
My Soul Stack | The Books I Need Each Day
Bible
Hopefully this goes without saying, but first and foremost, I need to read my Bible everyday. All of God’s Word is important and needed for our Christian life.
Here is the Bible that I am using right now:
I really enjoy reading the NASB version and having small cross reference sections. My best method of learning is reading, which means I love to read every single word on a page. So, having the small reference section on each page helps me to stay focused on the text and not get caught up in the notes or references.
In the last couple of months I have been using the Bible Reading Challenge plan from Christ Church and it has helped me a lot. I like that the plan has “catch up” days scheduled into each section so that you can catch up if you miss a day. They also have a summer reading plan starting in June that takes you through the whole New Testament. (You should join me!)
Even if you don’t go through a specific plan, I’ve found that daily reading the Bible is essential for my sanctification and sanity. There have been numerous days that start out terrible and then get turned around as soon as I realign my thoughts with God’s Word. And I can’t do that without reading it!
A Gospel Primer for Christians
Along with my Bible reading, I love to read A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent. He has packed so much information and encouragement into readable, short paragraphs making this book a great addition to my daily reading. This is one that I often just pick up quickly to read a paragraph or short entry.
But even though the thoughts are succinct, they are SO encouraging. And Vincent includes footnotes with the Scripture right in the book itself, so you can see where he’s drawn all his points from the Bible.
This book has also shown me how much I need to spend focused time with the Lord, even if it is just five to ten minutes, they make a difference. Give it a try and let me know what you discover.
Valley of Vision | Puritan Prayers
My third book of choice to read each day is The Valley of Vision. It is a collection of prayers from puritan Christian in the 1700s. They are epic, eye-opening, and so heartening to read.
Read this one:
“Thou great I AM,
I acknowledge and confess that all things come of thee — Life, breath, happiness, advancement,
Sight, touch, hearing,
Goodness, truth, beauty —
All that makes existence amiable.
In the spiritual world also I am dependent entirely upon thee.
Give me grace to know more of my need of grace;
Show me my sinfulness that I may willingly confess it;
Reveal to me my weakness that I may know my strength in thee.”
Wow, what a difference those few lines made for me! I mean, “Give me grace to know more of my need of grace.” How I have felt that way many times!
These verses of poetic prayers have a way of changing my thinking. They often show me where I am sinning and what I need to change.
They also have completely encapsulated my own feelings when I do not have adequate words to express my thoughts in prayer. I have also found myself just praying these prayers for myself instead of just reading through them for encouragement.
My Notebook
Okay, this one is not really a book to read, but journaling or jotting down ideas in my notebook has also taught me so much throughout my study of the Bible.
The book doesn’t have to be anything special, just any notebook will do. I am using this notebook right now, isn’t it pretty?
My journaling has changed over the years. Sometimes it’s actually writing out my prayers to stay focused on what I want to pray. Other times it has been short notes of what I’m learning each day.
I have also journaled with thoughts and memories from the day and then included notes from my Bible reading as well.
Please use whatever method works for you. But having to think through what you are learning in the Bible and in the other books that I’m suggesting and then write it down in some form will help you understand what you’re reading and help you remember it for later.
And I do go back and read my notebook often. It is very encouraging to see the Lord at work in my life by reading old entries where I was struggling and newer entries where I’ve learned lessons.
Conclusion
These books have all been so meaningful and encouraging throughout my days as a believer I just couldn’t help but share them with you. What do you read each day? Do you use a Bible reading plan? Let me know in the comments!
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Related Posts:
How to Read Your Bible as a Busy Mom
How to Memorize Scripture
3 Reasons to Read the Genealogies in the Bible
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