The days before the start of a new year are often the crucial moments of self introspection; those times when you pause and reflect upon the happenings of your life the past years and ponder on how you can make your life more meaningful or perhaps answer the question on how you can live a life that is more peaceful and free from chaos and (too much) drama. Like any other mortal, I have been on that road these past weeks. I have not been “me” in the sense that I have skipped most of my morning and night time habit of spending time communicating with God and myself. The daily grind of getting up – taking care of the twins and the baby – overwhelmed me but even that is no excuse. Whether you are a Christian or not, I believe it is important to spend a few minutes of peace every day: alone, in solitude. This world is crazy and noisy as it is – whether you’re managing a home with three children below three years old or working in one of the busy buildings of New York – and you need all the stillness you can get just to reconnect with yourself.
New York Times bestselling author Max Lucado comes out with God is With You Every Day, a 365-day devotional that can serve as our guide in having that daily dose of peace and quiet. Lucado, a well-known author and preaching minister, has written and published over 75 books for children and adults. Anyone who has lived a life in the fast lane or who can’t seem to put order in her life may find a devotional a good starting point in creating some semblance of organization in her life.
Trust me, I know how it is. I try every day to make our home as orderly as possible but with three kids, a husband, and myself (who is going through a lot these days), it is almost impossible to find time for peace and quiet. I find my devotional my trusted companion, a friend who won’t leave me when the going gets tough, a guide that keeps me focused when it is easy to get lost.
So what’s a devotional?
A devotional is a spiritual guide. It gives specific Bible reading and reflection points for each day and invites us to spend time to reflect on these words and see how these words are related or can be applied in our lives. Some times it is easy to connect the message(s) to whatever we are experiencing; other times it’s confusing because there seems to be no connection at all.
Lucado’s devotional comes in clean white cover with 10 leaves in different earthen colors which remind me of my grandmother’s garden back in the Philippines. Layout is uncomplicated and show different colors and shapes of an object (leaf) that one can see every day. Leaves are unassuming parts of a tree or a shrub. They grow and fall all the time. Their nature is ephemeral. But without them there will be no flowers or fruits; no tree to speak of because each leaf is a crucial part of a whole. Prayer or meditation or alone time is just like that. You can’t expect to live a good life – grow as a well-nourished tree – if your leaves aren’t there.
I am Catholic who is married to a Mormon, have close Muslim friends, and breaks bread with people from different religious denominations. Each of this person taught me about love, forgiveness, letting go, and sacrifice. I hope to relearn these values this coming year.
A very conservative Catholic relative once told me to stop reading or buying the works of Christian pastors and preachers because they are not of the same religion as I am. I did not listen to that relative. I have always believed that we should not judge the character of the person based on his or her religion. If we all did, then this world will be more chaotic than it already is.
Lucado’s new devotional embraces any faithful with his signature encouraging and inspiring voice. Somehow, it is easier to wake up each day knowing that a Higher Being is with you in every step of the way. This devotional is a timely daily companion as it is neither too short nor too long to help you out in your reflecting moments.
Reading a devotional alone won’t help us become better persons, that’s for sure. But if we use a devotional to guide us in living a good life and pair up faith with works or as my high school Benedictine motto used to remind me “ora et labora” (pray and work), then the chances are higher that we will all live lives where we become channels of peace as St. Francis of Assisi would love to put it.
If you do decide to get a copy of God is With You Every Day or any devotional for that matter, please let me know. It will mean a lot to me if I know of someone who is walking on the same road as I am.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from the Booklook Bloggers program in exchange for honest review. I was not required to write positive reviews. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
