Dear church family, happy new year!

It’s perfect time to reflect on our spiritual practices and renew our commitment to growing closer to Jesus.

A small but impactful change is adjusting our devotional life. Daily devotions is time spent with our Lord and listening to and absorbing His Word. It sustains us each day, making it essential for followers of Jesus.

The practice of devotion involves dedicating time to read scriptures, reflect on the day ahead, and engage in prayer and communion with God. It can be enriched by devotional books, offering daily reflections on scripture that encourage spiritual growth.

If you are a new believer or someone who is learning this spiritual practice, I invite you to take small bites:

Read a small passage or a few verses each day.
Reflect on the passage and in your prayer ask God to teach and reveal His grace and mercy to you.
You can also pick a devotional book to get you started in your practice. The Our Daily Bread booklet is a fantastic start and it's free at the welcome desk at church!

If you are a long-time Christian, consider adding to your practice:

Start the day with a scripture passage (e.g., a Reading plan), and prayer.
During your afternoon break, pick one of the devotional books below to supplement your reflections.
You can also go with a devotional like Paul D. Tripp's New Morning Mercies which includes a reflection section and a meaty scriptural passage to pray and meditate on at the end of each reading.
Before bed, reflect on the day's events and how God spoke to you through your devotional readings. Morning devotions help you stay attuned to His guidance throughout the day. End with a prayer of thanks and seek His rest for the night.

Devotional practice is essential for every disciple, helping us grow closer to Jesus daily. That's why it's important to have a routine I can fully commit to.

Here are a few recommended devotional books for you to try out this year. Each of these resources is different in style and tone, and I recommend you see their sample content to get a sense of their purposes and goals:

Our Daily Bread (Free and at the Welcome Desk)
New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp
Catching Whimsy by Bob Goff
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

You can also see some of the reviews of these books here: https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/books/8-devotionals-to-try-in-2025-that-have-depth/

I would love to hear about your devotional journey this year and to encourage you through the growth and challenges you might encounter. Do send me your reflections and learnings! Contact me at [email protected]

Happy New Year, and may your year be filled with new mercies every morning.

Blessings,

Calvin Sun