Books

My Top 5 Devotionals

The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions Arthur G. Bennett, editor

Some 200 prayers exquisitely edited for rhythm and imagery, then labeled by needs, aspirations, repentance, occasions of the church, time of day, God’s works and attributes—and more.

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Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas

An essay a day from the best Christian writers, likely to return to the mind throughout the busiest of pre-Christmas days.

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Devotional Classics: Revised Edition: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, editors

Introduces 52 Christians from two millennia of history, an excerpt of each one’s writing, a related section of Scripture, reflection questions for meditation or discussion, and exercises in spiritual formation—a year of guided growth.

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Prayer Ole Hallesby, translated by Clarence J. Carlsen

If I were to read a single paragraph from this book each day—and only then begin to pray—I would become a better pray-er.

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The NIV Quiet Time Bible Cindy Bunch, editor

Read, study, live out, and pray your way through the entire Bible in two years.

Copyright © 2008 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight is available from ChristianBook.com and other retailers.

Previous Top 5 lists have featured books on how character shapes belief, food, Atheism, China, Presidents, World Christianity, Ancient-Future Faith, the Civil Rights Era, Social Justice, Church History, Popular Culture, the Civil War, Apologetics, Atheism, and Sex.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Our Latest

The Christmas Cloud

Dave Harvey

Christmas feels decidedly unmerry when our emotions don’t align with truth.

Night Skies and Dark Paths

Scott James

God is our unwavering guide through incomprehensible darkness.

The Light of Life

Joni Eareckson Tada’s Advent reflection on this dark-become-light season.

Christmas Tears

Jonah Sage

Christmas reminds us that God took matters into and onto his own hands.

From Limping to Leaping

Jared C. Wilson

A story of cancer, calves, Christmas, and the coming of Christ.

Darkness, Then Light

Ronnie Martin

Introducing Christianity Today’s 2025 Advent devotional.

Let There Be Hope

Chad Bird

God is still at work amidst darkness.

Christmas in Wartime

Daniel Darling

How can Christians possibly pause for Advent in a world so dark?

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