I write to illuminate the journey of faith.

The Quiet Encourager

9 Nov 2026

Devotions

They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. Luke 24:14

Selah

Be still and know…

Remember someone who believed in you.

Someone who spoke hope when you were uncertain.

Someone who saw potential before you could see it yourself.

Give thanks for their voice.

Be still and know that I am God.

Reflection

Many of us can identify moments when a single encouraging word changed our direction.

A teacher who saw a gift.

A friend who offered confidence.

A parent who spoke hope.

A minister who recognised a calling.

Encouragement is one of God’s most underestimated gifts.

The disciples on the Emmaus road were discouraged. Yet Christ walked beside them, patiently restoring hope.

We are often called to do the same for one another.

A word of encouragement does not remove every obstacle. But it can provide enough light for the next step.

Years later, we may forget the exact conversation.

Yet we remember how someone made us feel.

Seen.

Valued.

Capable.

Loved.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for those who encouraged me along the way. Help me to become an encourager for others. Amen.

Road Question

Who might need a word of encouragement today?

Emmaus Refrain

Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road? Luke 24:32

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Week 2: Through Us

8 Nov 2026

Devotions

They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. Luke 24:14

Be still and know Christ through those who shaped you.

This week we give thanks for the faithful companions of the road. The people whose lives became signposts pointing us towards grace, kindness, courage and faith.

The Quiet Volunteer

They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. Luke 24:14

Selah

Be still and know…

Think of someone who quietly serves others.

Someone who sets out chairs. Makes tea. Visits neighbours. Offers lifts. Answers the call.

Pause and give thanks for them.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Reflection

Most communities are held together by people whose names never make the headlines.

They arrive early and leave late.

They see a need and simply get on with it.

They are the volunteers of churches, charities, schools and neighbourhoods. People who rarely seek recognition but whose absence would be immediately noticed.

The kingdom of God has always depended upon such people.

When Jesus fed the crowds, someone offered a few loaves and fish.

When the early church grew, ordinary believers opened doors, shared meals and cared for one another.

God often works through people who would never describe themselves as important.

November is a good time to remember them.

Their faithfulness teaches us that greatness is not measured by applause but by love.

Perhaps the most Christlike acts are often the quietest.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for those who serve without recognition. Bless every volunteer, helper and giver. Teach me to serve with the same generosity. Amen.

Road Question

Who has quietly strengthened my community?

Emmaus Refrain

Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road? Luke 24:32

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The Quiet Silence

7 Nov 2026

Devotions

But they were kept from recognising him. Luke24:16

Selah

Be still and know…

Sit quietly for a moment.

Resist the urge to fill the silence.

Simply breathe.

Simply listen.

Simply be.

The disciples could not see Christ.

Yet he was there.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Reflection

Silence can be unsettling.

We live in a noisy world. Even when we are alone, there is often music, conversation, news or distraction nearby.

Yet sometimes the hardest silence is not around us but within us.

The silence of an unanswered prayer.

The silence of waiting.

The silence that follows loss.

The silence that makes us wonder where God might be.

The disciples on the Emmaus road knew something of that silence. They had heard the stories of the empty tomb, yet their hearts remained heavy. Jesus was beside them, but they did not recognise him.

From their perspective, God seemed absent.

Looking back, however, they discovered a different truth.

Christ had never left them.

The road had felt lonely, but it was not.

The walk had felt hopeless, but it was not.

The silence had felt empty, but it was not.

Many of us only recognise God’s presence in hindsight. We look back and realise that strength appeared when we needed it. Comfort arrived through a friend. Hope emerged when all seemed lost.

The silence had not been abandonment.

It had been a chapter in the journey.

And so today, if God feels distant, do not lose heart too quickly.

The stranger on the road may be nearer than you think.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, when I cannot see you, help me trust that you are still near. Give me patience in the silence and peace in the waiting. Amen.

Road Question

Can I believe that God may be at work even when I cannot see it?

Emmaus Refrain

Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road? Luke 24:32

Next Week

As the first week ends, the disciples have not yet recognised Christ. Yet something is beginning to change. The conversation continues. The memories continue. The story continues.

Next week we will explore the people who walk with us on the road of life: the volunteers, teachers, encouragers, friends and faithful saints whose influence remains long after they have gone. Sometimes Christ comes to us through the lives of others. Sometimes the people who shaped us help us recognise him.

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Clothed in the Word

7 Nov 2026

book review

The Embodiment of Scripture in Church History

by David Ney

A Book Review

#ClothedintheWord #NetGalley

Every now and then a theological book introduces a word that initially makes you think, “I’m going to have to work for this one.” Clothed in the Word certainly does that. David Ney uses the language of “enscripturation”, by which he describes the way Christians have found their own identity within the people and stories of Scripture.

It sounds complicated. The idea itself is actually rather compelling.

We normally think about ourselves as people who interpret the Bible. Ney asks us to consider something slightly different: what happens when the Bible interprets us?

So, What Is This Book About?

At the heart of Clothed in the Word is the idea that Christians haven’t simply read biblical characters as people who lived long ago. Across Christian history, believers have sometimes understood their own lives through those characters.

They have, in a sense, stepped into the biblical story.

The examples outlined in the book range widely across Christian history. John the Baptist is understood in relation to Elijah. Early Christians identify with Paul as an athlete persevering through hardship. Hildegard of Bingen identifies herself with Mary. Reformation figures understand themselves through Cain and Abel. In a later example, Harriet Tubman understands her vocation in terms of Moses leading people towards freedom.

The contents suggest that Ney develops the argument historically rather than simply collecting interesting examples. Chapters move from Elijah and the New Testament, through Paul and ancient Christianity, Mary in the medieval church, and Cain and Abel during the Reformation.

That historical sweep is one of the things that immediately made me interested.

Reading the Bible, or Being Read By It?

This, for me, is where the book’s central idea becomes much more than an academic exercise.

We often approach Scripture asking, “What does this passage mean?” We may then move to, “What does this mean for me?”

Ney appears to be suggesting something deeper.

What if Scripture gives us language with which to understand who we are?

That isn’t particularly foreign to Christian experience. Christians already talk about being children of God, members of Christ’s body, disciples, servants and saints. Biblical language becomes part of the way we understand ourselves.

But Clothed in the Word pushes further into what happens when individuals and communities recognise their circumstances within particular biblical people and stories.

Suddenly church history becomes filled with people not merely quoting Scripture, but inhabiting it.

An Idea I Want to Keep Thinking About

I find this fascinating because it challenges the distance we can sometimes put between ourselves and the biblical text.

It is perfectly possible to study Scripture carefully while remaining safely outside it.

We can analyse Moses.
We can discuss Mary.
We can preach about Paul.

But what happens when their stories begin providing the language through which we understand our own calling, suffering, faithfulness or identity?

That is a much less comfortable way of reading.

It also raises questions that interest me enormously as someone who preaches. A congregation isn’t simply listening to an explanation of an ancient text. Somehow the task of preaching involves helping people discover where their own lives encounter the story God has given us in Scripture.

That is where I think Ney’s central idea potentially has considerable pastoral as well as academic value.

But There Is a Danger Here

And this is the question I would want beside me throughout the book.

If we identify ourselves with biblical characters, who gets to decide which character we are?

It would be very easy to cast ourselves as Moses while conveniently making someone else Pharaoh. We might see ourselves as Abel and our opponents as Cain. Identifying ourselves with the hero of a biblical story could reinforce our existing view of ourselves rather than allow Scripture genuinely to challenge it.

Interestingly, the description of the book itself gives us a glimpse of precisely this complexity. During the Reformation, figures could identify themselves as Abel while understanding opponents as Cain.

That makes “enscripturation” potentially powerful, but also something requiring humility.

If Scripture really interprets us, presumably we don’t always get to choose the flattering role.

Is It Accessible?

This is the point at which Clothed in the Word differs substantially from the devotional books I’ve been reviewing.

The publisher describes it as suitable for church history courses, seminaries, advanced undergraduate study and interested lay readers. The contents and terminology certainly suggest a scholarly work.

“Enscripturation” is unlikely to become everyone’s favourite word over breakfast.

But the underlying question is surprisingly accessible: how have Christians discovered their own lives inside the Bible’s story?

For an interested general reader, therefore, I suspect the challenge will not be whether the central idea is relevant, but whether they are prepared for the historical and theological depth with which Ney develops it.

Would I Actually Read It?

Yes, because it makes me want to test the idea.

I want to think about the characters with whom I naturally identify when reading Scripture, and perhaps more importantly, the characters with whom I don’t.

I also want to think about what this means for preaching and teaching. Are we merely explaining Scripture to people, or helping communities discover that this great biblical story somehow names and addresses them?

That feels worth exploring.

My Verdict

Of the books I’ve looked at so far in this semester, Clothed in the Word is undoubtedly the most academically demanding. It isn’t a devotional to dip into for five minutes before beginning the day.

But its central idea is wonderfully provocative.

The suggestion that generations of Christians have not simply interpreted Scripture but have discovered themselves within Scripture opens up questions about identity, discipleship, preaching and the way the Church reads the Bible.

I think I would approach this one with a pencil in my hand and expect to disagree, question and scribble things in the margins.

And perhaps that is exactly what an interesting theological book should make us want to do.

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The Secure Soul:Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn’t Come Easy

7 Nov 2026

book review
A Book Review

Author: Dr Alison Cook
Narrator: Dr Alison Cook
Length: Approx. 8½ hours
Genre: Christian Living / Psychology / Spiritual Formation

Overview

In The Secure Soul, psychologist and author Dr Alison Cook explores the connection between attachment theory, emotional health, and Christian spirituality. Drawing on her own story as well as her clinical experience, she argues that many of the patterns that limit our relationships with others, ourselves, and God are rooted in unmet attachment needs and unhealed emotional wounds.

Rather than offering quick fixes, Cook provides a framework for understanding the protective strategies we develop in response to hurt and introduces readers to the concept of the “Controller”, the part of ourselves that attempts to manage pain by staying in control, avoiding vulnerability, or striving for approval.

What I Liked

What impressed me most was Cook’s ability to bring together psychology and faith without diminishing either. She takes attachment theory seriously while remaining deeply rooted in a Christian understanding of grace and transformation.

The book is particularly strong in helping readers understand themselves with compassion rather than shame. Many Christian books on personal growth focus on behaviour. Cook goes deeper, inviting us to explore the wounds beneath the behaviours.

I also appreciated the way she challenges over-functioning, people-pleasing and self-neglect. Many caring and responsible people will recognise themselves in these pages. Rather than condemning these patterns, Cook gently asks what fears and experiences might lie beneath them.

One of the book’s most helpful themes is the distinction between the true self and the defensive strategies we develop to protect ourselves. The goal is not self-improvement but becoming secure enough to live honestly before God and others.

The Narration

Having the book read by the author is a significant strength.

Cook’s narration feels personal and authentic. You get the sense that she genuinely believes what she is saying because she has lived it herself. Her pacing is measured and reflective, which suits the material well.

Some audiobooks can feel like a performance. This feels more like sitting across from a wise and compassionate counsellor.

Because of the subject matter, I found the audio format particularly effective. The warmth in her voice reinforces the book’s emphasis on grace, gentleness and healing.

Any Weaknesses?

At times the concepts can feel repetitive, particularly if you are already familiar with attachment theory or inner healing approaches.

Listeners looking for a more theological treatment may also wish for deeper engagement with certain biblical themes. Cook’s emphasis is primarily pastoral and psychological rather than doctrinal.

However, neither of these issues significantly detracts from the value of the book.

Standout Moment

The most memorable insight for me was the idea that many of our unhealthy patterns are not signs of failure but attempts to stay safe.

That shift changes everything.

Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with me?” Cook encourages us to ask, “What happened to me?” and “What is this part of me trying to protect?” The result is a posture of curiosity, compassion and healing.

Who Would Enjoy This?

This book will resonate with anyone who:
- Struggles with anxiety, people-pleasing, or perfectionism.
- Finds it difficult to trust others.
- Feels exhausted from always holding things together.
- Wants to integrate emotional health and Christian faith.
- Has benefited from writers such as Curt Thompson, Dan Allender, or Aundi Kolber.
Final Verdict

The Secure Soul is one of the most accessible and compassionate books I have encountered on attachment, emotional healing and spiritual formation. Alison Cook combines psychological wisdom with a deeply gracious vision of God and offers readers practical pathways towards greater security, freedom and connection. The audiobook is particularly strong because her own voice carries both conviction and kindness.

Highly recommended for anyone who longs to move from merely surviving to living with a deeper sense of security, connection and peace.
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The Quiet Walk

6 Nov 2026

Devotions

While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself came near and went with them. Luke 24:15

Selah

Be still and know…

Think about the road ahead of you.

The appointments. The responsibilities. The decisions. The unknowns.

Don’t try to walk tomorrow’s road today.

Just consider the next step.

Picture Christ beside you.

Walking at your pace.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Reflection

Life is usually lived one step at a time.

We may wish for a map, but more often God gives us a companion.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus did not know where the conversation was leading. They did not know that resurrection was walking alongside them. They simply kept putting one foot in front of the other.

There is wisdom in that.

When we face uncertainty, we often want the whole journey explained. We want clear answers, fixed outcomes and guaranteed results.

Yet faith rarely works that way.

Faith is trusting enough to take the next step.

A conversation.

A phone call.

A visit.

A prayer.

An act of kindness.

A new beginning.

Most journeys with God are made up of ordinary steps faithfully taken.

And while we may not always recognise him, Christ continues to walk beside us.

The destination may seem distant, but the Companion is near.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for walking with me. Give me courage for today’s step and trust for tomorrow’s road. Amen.

Road Question

What is the next faithful step God may be asking me to take?

Emmaus Refrain

Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road? Luke 24:32

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The Quiet Prayer

5 Nov 2026

Devotions

Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days? Luke 24:18

Selah

Be still and know…

What would you say to God if you spoke completely honestly?

Not what you think you should say.

Not the polished prayer.

The real prayer.

The one beneath the smile. The one beneath the busy schedule. The one beneath the brave face.

Offer that prayer now.

Perhaps only a few words.

Perhaps only a sigh.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Reflection

One of the most striking things about the Emmaus road is how much talking there is.

The disciples pour out their disappointment. They tell the story of what has happened. They speak of their confusion, their grief and their shattered hopes.

They are not careful or composed. They are simply honest.

Prayer often begins there.

Many of us were taught that prayer means finding the right words. Yet the Bible suggests something much simpler. Prayer is bringing our real selves into the presence of God.

The psalmists did it.

Job did it.

Jeremiah did it.

Even Jesus prayed with honesty in Gethsemane.

God is not shocked by our questions. He is not offended by our doubts. He is not impatient with our fears.

The risen Christ joined the disciples while they were speaking honestly about their confusion. He did not wait until they had everything figured out.

Perhaps today God is less interested in eloquent prayers and more interested in truthful ones.

The prayer that changes us is rarely the perfect prayer.

It is the honest one.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me to bring my true self before you. Receive my questions, my hopes, my fears and my thanksgivings. Teach me that I never need to hide from your love. Amen.

Road Question

What is the most honest prayer I could pray today?

Emmaus Refrain

Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road? Luke 24:32

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The Quiet Hospital Room

4 Nov 2026

Devotions

Jesus himself came up and walked along with them. Luke 24:15

Selah

Be still and know…

Think of someone who is struggling.

Someone waiting.

Someone receiving treatment.

Someone caring for another.

Hold them before God.

Be still and know that I am God.

Reflection

Hospital rooms are often places of waiting.

Waiting for news.

Waiting for treatment.

Waiting for answers.

Waiting for strength.

Few people would choose to spend time there. Yet those who walk hospital corridors often discover something important. Human kindness shines brightly in difficult places.

A nurse offering reassurance.

A hand reaching for another hand.

A whispered prayer.

A quiet presence beside a bed.

The Emmaus Road was also a road of uncertainty. The disciples did not know what was coming next. Their future felt fragile.

Perhaps that is why Christ chose to meet them there.

Not after certainty arrived.

Not after the questions disappeared.

But right in the middle of uncertainty.

God specialises in meeting people on difficult roads.

If today finds you waiting, worrying or wondering, remember this:

The risen Christ is no stranger to suffering.

And he still walks beside those who carry it.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, be close to all who are sick, anxious or caring for loved ones. Let your peace be known in every place of pain. Amen.

Road Question

Where have I seen kindness shining in difficult circumstances?

Emmaus Refrain

Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road?

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The Quiet Chair

3 Nov 2026

Devotions

Jesus himself came up and walked along with them. Luke 24:15

Selah

Be still and know…

Picture a place filled with memories.

A chair. A kitchen table. A favourite corner.

Sit there in your imagination for a moment.

Notice what rises within you.

Be still and know that I am God.

Reflection

There are chairs that become sacred.

Not because they are special chairs, but because special people sat in them.

A grandfather’s armchair.

A place at the dinner table.

A favourite pew in church.

Sometimes an empty chair speaks loudly.

It reminds us of those who are no longer with us. It reminds us of conversations shared and laughter enjoyed. It reminds us how deeply our lives are bound together.

Yet empty chairs tell only part of the story.

When the disciples walked to Emmaus, they thought they had lost Jesus completely. They assumed absence.

In reality, Christ was closer than ever.

Perhaps there are moments when we need to look beyond what is missing and pay attention to what remains.

Love remains.

Memory remains.

Faith remains.

And Christ remains.

God often meets us in familiar places. Not because he lives in furniture or buildings but because our hearts become attentive there.

The empty chair may remind us of absence.

It may also remind us of gratitude.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, meet me in places rich with memory. Turn my sorrow into thanksgiving and my loneliness into awareness of your presence. Amen.

Road Question

What place helps me remember God’s faithfulness?

Emmaus Refrain

Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road?

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The Quiet Grave

2 Nov 2026

Devotions

But we had hoped… Luke 24:21

Selah

Be still and know…

Bring to mind someone whose absence you still feel.

Give thanks for their life.

Remember a smile. A kindness. A conversation.

Hold them gently before God.

Be still and know that I am God.

Reflection

There may be no sadder words than these:

“We had hoped.”

The disciples had hoped for a future they could see clearly. Instead, they found themselves standing among ruins.

Loss has a way of teaching us new languages.

We had hoped for more years.

We had hoped for healing.

We had hoped for one more conversation.

November is a month of remembrance. Names return to our minds. Faces appear in memories. We revisit places where love once lived.

The Christian faith never asks us to pretend that loss does not hurt.

Jesus wept.

The disciples grieved.

The early church mourned.

Love leaves empty spaces behind.

Yet the empty spaces also testify to something beautiful. We grieve because we loved.

Today, as we remember those no longer physically present, we do so with gratitude. They remain part of our story. Their fingerprints are still visible in our lives.

And beyond our remembering stands the God who remembers too.

No life is forgotten.

No name is lost.

No beloved child slips from God’s care.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for those who have shaped my life. Comfort those who grieve and strengthen those who carry loss today. Amen.

Road Question

Who am I grateful to remember today?

Emmaus Refrain

Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road?

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Week 1: Unrecognised

1 Nov 2026

Devotions

They stood still, looking sad. (Luke 24:17)

Introduction to the Week

Not every road is a road we choose.

The Emmaus road began in disappointment. Two disciples walked away from Jerusalem carrying broken hopes and unanswered questions. They did not know that the risen Christ was beside them.

November can feel like that. We carry memories, losses, worries and regrets. Yet the Emmaus story reminds us that God is often closest when he seems furthest away.

This week we will explore the quiet places where sadness and grace meet.

The Quiet Tear

They stood still, looking sad. Luke 24:17

Selah

Be still and know…

Before you read any further, pause.

Take a slow breath.

What sadness are you carrying today? What disappointment has settled quietly within you?

Do not try to fix it or explain it.

Simply place it before God.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Reflection

The Emmaus story begins with sadness.

Not faith. Not hope. Not understanding.

Sadness.

The two disciples stop in the middle of the road. Their dreams have collapsed. Their expectations have been shattered. They had believed Jesus would change everything, and now all they have are questions.

Perhaps that is why so many people love this story. It speaks honestly about life.

Most of us know what it feels like to stand still looking sad.

A diagnosis changes everything.

A beloved person dies.

A friendship ends.

A door closes.

A prayer seems unanswered.

Yet what the disciples do not know is what Luke’s readers do know. Jesus is already there. Before their questions are answered. Before their hearts are healed. Before hope returns.

The risen Christ is already walking beside them.

Sometimes we imagine that we must be strong before we come to God. The Emmaus road tells a different story. God comes to us while we are sad, confused and weary.

Your tears do not keep God away.

They may be the place where you discover he has been beside you all along.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you know every sorrow I carry. Walk beside me today. Help me to trust your presence, even when I cannot see you. Amen.

Road Question

What sadness do I need to place in God’s hands today?

Emmaus Refrain

Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road?

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God Sees Her

31 Oct 2026

book review

365 Devotions for Women by Women

by Our Daily Bread Ministries

A book review

#GodSeesHer #NetGalley

What Is This Book?

Sometimes what we need most is not an answer but the reassurance that we have been noticed.

That is the simple idea at the heart of God Sees Her, a collection of 365 short devotions written by women for women. Its central message is that the God who created the universe is neither remote nor indifferent. God sees the joys, struggles, disappointments and ordinary details of our lives, and all of them matter.

Each daily reading brings together Scripture with a story or experience from everyday life, offering encouragement that God’s presence is not confined to the obviously spiritual moments.

It is a straightforward devotional format, designed to be accessible rather than demanding. But perhaps there is something particularly appropriate about that simplicity. After all, most of our lives are not lived in dramatic moments. They are lived in kitchens and workplaces, conversations and car journeys, responsibilities and unfinished jobs.

A devotional book which wants to find God there is beginning in an interesting place.

Who Is It For?

The book describes itself as “365 Devotions for Women by Women”, and the contributions are intended to speak into women’s experiences of difficulties, joys and everyday faith.

That shared voice may be significant for readers who appreciate hearing other women reflect honestly upon their lives with God.

Yet the sample supplied, “Overcoming Challenges”, is interesting precisely because its subject is so ordinary.

It begins with a dining chair.

The writer tells of a friend who intended to reupholster her chairs. Finding the material and making time took months. The actual job took two hours.

There is something wonderfully recognisable about that. How many tasks become enormous simply because we have spent far longer contemplating them than doing them?

From there the reflection moves to Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls.

The scale changes dramatically, but the underlying question remains: how do we face a task that feels daunting?

What Works?

I like the ordinariness of the opening.

Devotional writing can sometimes feel as though every cup of coffee or missed bus must contain a profound spiritual lesson. Here, however, the unfinished chairs provide a simple and recognisable entry point into a larger reflection about perseverance.

The move to Nehemiah gives the devotion its biblical centre. The writer does not suggest that reupholstering chairs and rebuilding Jerusalem are equivalent challenges. Rather, the everyday story opens a door into considering what enables people to persevere when something appears difficult.

The conclusion emphasises calling and God’s provision: when God entrusts us with something, we are not left entirely dependent upon our own resources.

The brevity works too. There is enough substance to give the reader something to carry into the day without requiring a considerable block of time.

That accessibility matters in a daily devotional.

What Gave Me Pause?

The title God Sees Her makes a substantial promise, and I think the most important test of the collection is whether the 365 entries allow that promise to remain spacious.

Being seen by God should surely include being seen when we are productive and when we are not.

The sample devotion focuses upon overcoming a challenge and completing a task. That can be encouraging. But there are also challenges we cannot overcome through determination. Sometimes the illness remains. The relationship is not restored. The hoped-for opportunity never appears. The task is not completed despite our best efforts.

In those circumstances, “God sees her” becomes even more important.

I would therefore hope the collection makes plenty of room for lament, uncertainty, waiting and unanswered prayer alongside stories of perseverance and achievement.

God’s presence cannot depend upon a successful outcome.

Does the Format Work?

A 365-day devotional inevitably asks more of a reader than a shorter collection. Few people will approach every day in precisely the same way, though.

That may actually be part of its usefulness.

Some entries will be read quickly over breakfast. Others may connect with something happening in the reader’s life and remain with them for much longer.

The short format also means the book is unlikely to be the place for detailed biblical study. Its role is more modest: providing a daily point of contact with Scripture and an invitation to reflect.

At its best, a devotion should leave us wanting to return to the biblical passage itself rather than feeling that the writer has said everything there is to say about it.

Would I Actually Use It?

Yes, particularly as a book to dip into as well as one to read consecutively.

There is something appealing about a devotional that does not require an elaborate routine. Open the book, read the day’s reflection, notice what catches your attention, and perhaps allow that thought to travel with you.

I could also imagine individual readings being useful in pastoral conversations or women’s groups. An everyday story can sometimes open a conversation more easily than beginning with a theological proposition.

And that may be one of the collection’s quiet strengths. Its theology emerges from ordinary life rather than floating somewhere above it.

The Verdict

God Sees Her offers a year’s worth of relatively small encounters with a very large idea: that our lives are lived in the presence of a God who notices.

The sample devotion shows the accessibility of the approach well. An unfinished household project leads into Nehemiah, perseverance, calling and dependence upon God without becoming unnecessarily complicated.

But the title remains the part that stays with me.

There are days when encouragement to overcome another challenge is exactly what we need.

There are other days when we do not need another challenge at all. We simply need to know that amid the unfinished work, unanswered questions and ordinary messiness of life, we have not disappeared from God’s view.

If God Sees Her can keep bringing its readers back to that truth throughout its 365 days, then this little book may offer something rather bigger than its size suggests.

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God Sees Her for Girls

31 Oct 2026

book review

90 Faith-Building Devotions

by Our Daily Bread Ministries

A Book Review

#GodSeesHerforGirls #NetGalley

What Is This Book?

The preteen years can be an awkward in-between space. Childhood has not entirely disappeared, adolescence is approaching rapidly, and suddenly questions about friendship, belonging, confidence, identity and faith can feel much bigger than they once did.

God Sees Her for Girls enters that space with a wonderfully simple message: God sees you, knows you and values you.

Designed as a 90-day devotional, the book uses short Bible readings, stories, questions and prayers to encourage girls to begin developing a devotional life of their own. The subjects include faith, friendships and feelings, with the underlying emphasis on discovering identity and worth in God’s love rather than in the pressure to be perfect.

That makes this more than simply a children’s book containing Bible stories. It is attempting to help a young person begin taking responsibility for their own relationship with God.

And that is an important transition.

Who Is It For?

The book is aimed specifically at preteen girls, and both the language and presentation clearly reflect that intended audience.

Crucially, however, the sample devotion does not talk down to its reader.

“Creation’s Song” begins with the fascinating idea of trees communicating through networks involving fungi around their roots. It moves through dolphins, dung beetles, forests and the night sky before connecting the wonder of creation with biblical passages from Psalms and Job.

There is playfulness here, including the wonderfully appropriate “Woah!” after discovering that dung beetles can navigate using the stars.

But there is also substance.

The reader is not simply told what to believe. The devotion ends with a question: “How can you find your own unique way to give God glory?”

That movement from information to Scripture to personal reflection is particularly well suited to this age group.

What Works?

Perhaps the most immediately successful feature is its accessibility.

The pages are colourful without appearing babyish. Illustrations, generous spacing, varied typography and relatively short sections make the material feel manageable. For a reluctant reader, presentation can make the difference between a devotional book being opened regularly and being quietly abandoned on a shelf.

The conversational tone also works well.

The creation devotion begins with something genuinely interesting rather than immediately announcing a spiritual lesson. Curiosity becomes the doorway into theology.

I particularly like that instinct.

Faith is presented not simply as a collection of answers but as a way of looking at the world with curiosity and wonder.

There is also a helpful rhythm within the devotion. Scripture appears throughout rather than being added almost as an afterthought. The closing question invites reflection, there is a short prayer, and finally a suggestion for further Bible reading.

The devotion therefore has several possible stopping places. A reader could complete it quickly or allow the question and additional Scripture to take them further.

What Gave Me Pause?

The language of girls being under pressure to be “perfect” immediately caught my attention.

That is an important issue, but I would want a book like this to be careful about the solution it offers.

Telling young people that their value comes from God rather than appearance, achievement or other people’s approval can be deeply affirming. But Christian faith itself can sometimes unintentionally become another arena for performance: Am I praying enough? Am I good enough? Is my faith strong enough?

A devotional centred upon being seen and loved by God has a wonderful opportunity to counter that.

I would therefore hope that across the 90 days there is room not just for encouragement to become confident and faithful, but for uncertainty, mistakes, awkwardness and questions.

A girl should not finish a book about escaping the pressure to be perfect with a new pressure to become the perfect Christian girl.

Grace needs to be bigger than that.

Does the Format Work?

Yes, I think the 90-day format is one of the book’s strengths.

A full year can feel like an enormous commitment for someone beginning devotional reading. Ninety days feels much more achievable while still being long enough to establish a pattern.

The varied ingredients also help: an interesting opening, Scripture, reflection, question, prayer and further reading.

Importantly, the book encourages interaction rather than passive reading.

The question at the end of “Creation’s Song” does not have one correct answer. That allows the young reader to bring something of themselves to the page.

That is exactly the kind of habit I would want a devotional book to develop.

Would I Actually Use It?

Yes.

I could imagine giving this to a preteen who is beginning to move from Bible material chosen and explained by adults towards exploring faith independently.

I can also see value in an adult and child occasionally discussing an entry together. The publisher specifically hopes the book will encourage honest conversations, and the open questions provide natural opportunities for that without turning devotional time into an interrogation.

For those involved in children’s or youth ministry, individual themes could also provide useful jumping-off points for conversation.

But perhaps its greatest value is quieter than that.

It gives a young person something that is theirs: their book, their questions, their prayers and the beginnings of their own devotional rhythm.

The Verdict

God Sees Her for Girls is attractive, approachable and thoughtfully pitched.

The sample devotion demonstrates the book at its best: beginning with curiosity about the world, moving naturally towards Scripture and then turning the question gently back towards the reader.

But the title may contain its most important message.

God sees her.

In years when young people can become increasingly conscious of how they are seen by friends, family and the wider world, there is something powerful about being reminded that their deepest value does not depend upon popularity, appearance, achievement or perfection.

A good children’s devotional should do more than tell young people things about God. It should give them confidence to begin discovering God for themselves.

God Sees Her for Girls looks designed to help them take those first steps.

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Grace, Mercy, Love, Peace & Hope: Living the Story

31 Oct 2026

Devotions

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13

Thirty-one days ago, we began with five words.

Grace.
Mercy.
Love.
Peace.
Hope.

They were familiar words.

Perhaps they still are.

But hopefully, after carrying them with us through this month, they mean something a little more now.

Grace reminded us that we don’t have to earn everything.

Mercy met us in the places where we got things wrong.

Love reminded us that before anything is asked of us, we are loved.

Peace invited us to breathe, to trust, and then to carry something gentler into the world.

And hope whispered that even when we cannot see what comes next, God is not finished.

But these aren’t simply five words for October.

They are words for the journey.

Tomorrow will bring another month.

There will be ordinary days and unexpected ones.

There will be things that make us laugh and things that make us worry.

There will be people who need us.

And there will be days when we need someone else.

So perhaps we finish where we began.

With five words.

Only now, let’s carry them with us.

Receive grace.
Show mercy.
Choose love.
Carry peace.
Hold onto hope.

And wherever tomorrow takes you, remember this:

God goes with you.

Carry this today

Receive grace. Show mercy. Choose love. Carry peace. Hold onto hope.

Prayer

God of grace, mercy, love, peace and hope,
thank you for walking with me through this month.
Let these be more than words I know.
Let them shape the way I live,
the way I see others,
and the way I face whatever comes next.

And as one month ends
and another begins,
help me to keep walking with you.
Amen.

A cozy autumn writing scene pairs coffee, handwritten notes, and words of faith by the window.

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Carrying Hope for Others

30 Oct 2026

Devotions

Main passage: Romans 15:1–13

Key verse: Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.”

Sometimes hope needs company.

There are seasons when we can carry our own hope quite well.

We can see possibilities.

We can imagine things getting better.

We can pray with confidence and look towards tomorrow expecting that somehow God will meet us there.

And then there are other seasons.

Times when hope feels heavy.

Times when somebody says, “It’ll be all right,” and we aren’t remotely convinced that it will.

Times when even praying feels like hard work.

Perhaps that is when we need somebody else to carry a little hope for us.

Paul begins this chapter by talking about bearing with one another.

He writes about the strong supporting the weak.

About not simply pleasing ourselves.

About building one another up.

And then, towards the end, comes this beautiful prayer:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.”

The God of hope.

I love that description.

Hope isn’t something we have to manufacture.

Its source is God.

And perhaps sometimes God gives that hope to us through another person.

Think about the people who have done that for you.

Someone who believed in you when you didn’t particularly believe in yourself.

Someone who saw possibility when all you could see was a dead end.

Someone who sat beside you when there were no useful words.

Someone who prayed when you couldn’t pray.

Someone who said:

“I’m here.”

“I haven’t forgotten.”

“We’ll take this one day at a time.”

Sometimes those are holy words.

We often imagine encouragement as saying something profound.

Usually it isn’t.

Sometimes encouragement is a cup of tea.

A message.

A lift somewhere.

A meal appearing at the door.

Remembering an anniversary that might be difficult.

Making somebody laugh.

Sitting quietly.

Turning up.

Again.

Hope often arrives wearing very ordinary clothes.

And perhaps that’s because when life is difficult, grand speeches aren’t usually what we need.

We need presence.

Paul’s words are not addressed to isolated individuals trying desperately to remain hopeful on their own.

They are written to a community.

People learning to live together.

People carrying one another.

There is something deeply Christian about that.

We don’t have to hope alone.

There may be days when my faith is strong and yours is struggling.

I can carry some hope for you.

There may be days when I cannot see much beyond the next hour.

Then perhaps you carry some hope for me.

That’s community.

That’s church at its best.

Not a gathering of people who have everything sorted.

Not people competing to look the most faithful.

Just ordinary human beings reminding one another:

God is still here.

This month we have travelled through grace, mercy, love, peace and now hope.

By this stage something becomes clear.

None of these gifts is meant simply to stop with us.

We receive grace and become gracious.

We receive mercy and show mercy.

We are loved and learn to love.

We receive peace and become peacemakers.

And we receive hope so that, sometimes, we can carry hope into someone else’s darkness.

Maybe there is somebody in your life who needs that today.

You don’t need to fix their situation.

Please hear that.

Carrying hope for someone does not mean pretending you know how their story will turn out.

It doesn’t mean promising that everything will be fine.

It certainly doesn’t mean explaining why God has allowed something difficult to happen.

It simply means refusing to let them stand there alone.

Perhaps your prayer becomes:

God, they can’t see very far ahead at the moment. Help me stand beside them until they can.

There is another lovely detail in Paul’s prayer.

He asks that God would fill people with joy and peace so that they might overflow with hope.

Overflow.

That’s a wonderful picture.

Hope received becoming hope shared.

Enough for me.

And perhaps, today, enough to spill over towards you.

A Question to Carry

Who in my life might need me to carry a little hope for them at the moment?

A Simple Practice

Choose one person today.

Send a message.

Make the phone call.

Drop something round.

Pray for them.

Don’t try to fix anything.

Simply let them know:

“I was thinking about you today.”

Sometimes that is enough to let a little light in.

Prayer

God of hope,

thank you for the people
who have carried hope for me.

For those who stayed,
listened,
prayed
and reminded me that I was not alone.

Show me someone today
who needs that same gift.

Give me wisdom not to offer easy answers.

Help me simply to be present.

Fill me with your joy and peace
until hope begins to overflow
into the lives of others.

Amen.

For today: Carry hope for someone else.

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Reasons to Hope

29 Oct 2026

Devotions

Main passage: 1 Peter 1:3–9

Key verse: 1 Peter 1:3
“In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

There are times when hope comes easily.

The sun is shining.

Things are going reasonably well.

Plans are working out.

People are behaving themselves.

You know, those rare and precious days.

And then there are days when someone says, “You just have to stay hopeful,” and you feel like replying:

Do I?

Because sometimes hope feels like hard work.

When we’re tired, disappointed or worried, simply telling ourselves to be hopeful isn’t necessarily much help.

We need a reason.

Peter gives us one.

And it is enormous.

Resurrection.

He describes our faith as a “living hope” because it is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I love that phrase.

Living hope.

Not vague optimism.

Not pretending.

Not forcing ourselves to look on the bright side.

Living hope.

Hope that breathes.

Hope that grows.

Hope that somehow survives.

And its foundation isn’t our ability to remain positive.

It is something God has already done.

Jesus was raised from the dead.

Death looked final.

It wasn’t.

The stone looked like the end of the story.

It wasn’t.

Friday looked like defeat.

It wasn’t.

God was still at work.

There is something wonderfully stubborn about Christian hope.

It looks at endings and whispers:

Maybe God isn’t finished yet.

That doesn’t mean every disappointment will be magically reversed.

It doesn’t mean every story will have the ending we would choose.

But resurrection teaches us something fundamental about God.

God brings life where we thought there could only be death.

God creates beginnings in places that look like endings.

God can write another chapter.

Perhaps that is why Peter can talk about joy while also acknowledging suffering.

He isn’t writing to people for whom everything is lovely.

There are trials.

There are difficulties.

Faith is being tested.

Yet hope remains alive.

That’s important.

Because sometimes we imagine hope means denying the darkness.

Christian hope does exactly the opposite.

Easter doesn’t pretend Good Friday didn’t happen.

The risen Jesus still bears the wounds.

Hope doesn’t erase the painful parts of our story.

It tells us they are not the whole story.

Maybe that’s what some of us need to hear today.

This thing you are facing matters.

Your disappointment matters.

Your grief matters.

Your questions matter.

But the story is bigger than what you can see today.

There may also be another way of remembering our reasons for hope.

Look backwards.

Think about the times you wondered how you would cope, and somehow you did.

The prayer that was answered differently than you expected.

The person who appeared at just the right moment.

The strength that came when you thought you had none left.

The door that closed and, eventually, another that opened.

The unexpected kindness.

The second chance.

The moment when you realised:

I have come through something I never thought I could.

These become little markers along the road.

Not proof that life will always be easy.

But reminders that God has been faithful before.

And if God has been faithful before, perhaps I can trust God with today.

Our greatest reason for hope, though, is not anything that has happened to us.

It is what happened to Jesus.

Christ is risen.

And because resurrection is part of our story, despair never gets the final word.

The circumstances may be uncertain.

The road ahead may not be visible.

There may still be questions without answers.

But hope is alive.

And perhaps today we simply need to notice it.

A Question to Carry

When I find it difficult to hope, what reminds me that God has been faithful before?

A Simple Practice

Think of three reasons for hope from your own life.

They don’t need to be dramatic.

Write them down.

Then add one more:

Christ is risen. God is not finished yet.

Prayer

God of living hope,

when I struggle to see beyond today,
remind me of resurrection.

When something feels like an ending,
help me trust that you may still
be writing the story.

Thank you for the times
you have carried me before.

Thank you for unexpected grace,
new beginnings
and second chances.

And above everything else,
thank you for Jesus.

Keep hope alive in me.

Amen.

For today: Remember your reasons for hope.

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Hope When Things Go Wrong

28 Oct 2026

Devotions

Main passage: Romans 8:18–28

Key verse: Romans 8:28
“In all things God works for the good of those who love him.”

There are some days when things simply go wrong.

Not dramatically wrong, necessarily.

Sometimes it starts with something small.

You oversleep.

You spill the coffee.

You can’t find the thing you definitely put somewhere safe.

The car makes a noise that cars really shouldn’t make.

Someone sends a message that completely changes the day you thought you were going to have.

Those days are frustrating.

But then there are the other days.

The days when wrong isn’t merely inconvenient.

Something happens that hurts.

Something changes that we didn’t want to change.

A door closes.

Someone disappoints us.

We receive news we weren’t expecting.

We lose something precious.

And suddenly hope can feel much harder to find.

Romans 8:28 is one of those verses Christians often reach for at such moments:

“In all things God works for the good…”

It is a wonderful promise.

But I think we need to handle it carefully.

Because Paul does not say that all things are good.

They aren’t.

Some things are desperately painful.

Some things are unfair.

Some things leave us confused, angry or heartbroken.

Faith doesn’t require us to paste the word good over something that plainly isn’t.

In fact, earlier in this same passage Paul talks about creation groaning.

That’s quite a word.

Groaning.

Not smiling bravely.

Not pretending.

Groaning.

Paul describes a world that isn’t yet as it should be.

And we know something about that.

We see brokenness around us.

Sometimes we experience it within us.

Paul even says that there are moments when we don’t know what to pray.

I find that wonderfully reassuring.

Apparently not knowing what to say to God is still part of the life of faith.

Sometimes prayer is beautifully worded.

Sometimes prayer is:

“God, I don’t know.”

Sometimes it’s tears.

Sometimes silence.

Sometimes all we’ve got is:

“Help.”

And Paul says that even there, the Spirit is at work.

That changes Romans 8:28 for me.

It isn’t a cheerful slogan shouted from the safe side of someone else’s suffering.

It is a promise spoken right in the middle of the groaning.

God is still at work.

We might not see how.

We might not know when.

We may never be able to tie everything together neatly and say, “Ah, now I understand why that happened.”

Hope doesn’t demand that.

Hope simply refuses to believe that the difficult thing is the only thing happening.

God is still present.

God is still loving.

God is still working.

There have probably been moments in your own life when something didn’t go according to plan, yet looking back you can see that something unexpected grew there.

Strength you didn’t know you had.

People who stood beside you.

A change in direction.

Greater compassion.

A deeper dependence on God.

That doesn’t make the painful thing good.

It means the painful thing did not get the final word.

And perhaps that’s one of the most powerful things about Christian hope.

The worst thing is never the last thing.

We are resurrection people.

We follow the Christ whose story appeared to end with a cross, while God was still writing resurrection.

That doesn’t mean every problem will disappear by Friday.

It means we dare to believe God can still bring life from places that look barren.

So if today has gone wrong, or if you’re carrying something much bigger that has been wrong for a long time, you don’t need to pretend.

Groan if you need to.

Cry if you need to.

Ask questions.

Pray badly.

Sit silently.

Hope doesn’t require a smile.

Sometimes hope is simply whispering:

“God, I cannot see what you are doing here, but I trust that you have not left.”

And for today, perhaps that is enough.

A Question to Carry

Where have I assumed that because I cannot see God at work, God must not be working?

A Simple Practice

Think of one situation that hasn’t turned out as you hoped.

Open your hands and pray:

“God, I don’t have to call this good. But I trust you to be at work even here.”

Then leave it with God for today.

Prayer

God of hope,

there are things in life
I simply do not understand.

Things I would change if I could.
Things that hurt.
Things that have not turned out
the way I hoped.

Thank you that I don’t have to pretend.

When I don’t know what to pray,
meet me in the silence.

When I cannot see what you are doing,
help me trust that you are still here.

Take what is broken
and, in ways I may not yet see,
bring your goodness and grace.

Keep hope alive in me.

Amen.

For today: Trust that God is still at work.

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Hope When We’re Waiting

27 Oct 2026

Devotions

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Psalm 27:14

Waiting is hard.

Waiting for news.

Waiting for something to change.

Waiting for an answer.

Waiting for a door to open.

Waiting for life to look different from the way it looks right now.

We tend to think of waiting as empty time.

Nothing is happening.

Nothing is moving.

Nothing is changing.

But perhaps waiting with God is different.

Hope doesn’t mean pretending that the waiting is easy.

It means believing that the waiting is not the whole story.

Sometimes we can see what God is doing.

Sometimes we can’t.

And that can be frustrating.

We would much rather have answers.

A date.

A plan.

A nice clear sign telling us what happens next.

But often faith asks us to live without those things.

To trust.

To keep going.

To believe that God is still present, even here.

If you are waiting for something today, you don’t need to pretend that it doesn’t matter.

Bring the waiting to God.

Bring the questions too.

And then, perhaps, simply pray:

God, help me to trust you while I wait.

Carry this today

Waiting does not mean God has forgotten me.

Prayer

God of hope,
you know the things I am waiting for
and the answers I wish I had.
Give me patience when the waiting is difficult,
courage when I cannot see what comes next,
and hope enough to trust
that you are with me here too.
Amen.

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What Are We Hoping For?

26 Oct 2026

Devotions

Main passage: Romans 5:1–5

Key verse: Romans 5:5
“Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts.”

Hope is a funny little word.

We use it all the time.

I hope the weather holds.

I hope they phone.

I hope this works.

I hope there’s something nice for dinner.

Often what we mean is:

I would quite like this to happen, but I have absolutely no idea whether it will.

Christian hope is something rather different.

It isn’t wishful thinking.

It isn’t crossing our fingers.

It isn’t looking at a difficult situation and insisting that everything will definitely turn out the way we want.

Paul says:

“Hope does not put us to shame.”

There is a confidence in that.

Not necessarily confidence about what will happen next.

Confidence about God.

And perhaps that distinction matters.

Sometimes we attach our hope to a particular outcome.

We hope the answer will be yes.

We hope the test results will be good.

We hope the relationship will mend.

We hope the problem will disappear.

We hope the door will open.

And naturally we do. These things matter enormously.

But what happens to hope when the answer isn’t the one we wanted?

Paul writes about hope in a passage that also talks about suffering.

That’s interesting.

He doesn’t say that following Jesus means we won’t experience hardship.

Instead, somehow, right there within the difficulties of life, something can grow.

Suffering produces perseverance.

Perseverance produces character.

Character produces hope.

I don’t think that means we have to look at every painful thing and say, “Wonderful! Something good will come from this.”

Some things are simply hard.

Some things hurt.

Some things we would never have chosen.

And when someone is hurting, they usually need our compassion more than they need our explanation.

But perhaps Paul is saying that suffering does not automatically get the final word.

Something can grow even here.

That something is hope.

Think about a tiny green shoot appearing through a crack in concrete.

It shouldn’t really be there.

The surroundings hardly look promising.

And yet there it is.

Life.

Maybe hope is sometimes like that.

Not a huge certainty.

Not a triumphant declaration.

Sometimes just a green shoot.

A reason to get up this morning.

A prayer whispered when yesterday’s prayer seemed unanswered.

A phone call made.

A candle lit.

A meal cooked.

Shoes put on.

One more step taken.

Hope doesn’t always shout.

Sometimes hope simply says:

Keep going.

And Paul tells us why.

Because God’s love has been poured into our hearts.

There is our foundation.

Our hope does not finally rest upon circumstances becoming easier.

It rests upon the God whose love does not disappear when circumstances become difficult.

That takes us back through everything we’ve thought about this month.

Grace says we don’t have to earn God’s welcome.

Mercy says our failures aren’t the end.

Love says we are held.

Peace says we don’t face uncertainty alone.

And now hope says:

Therefore, keep going.

Maybe today your hope feels strong.

Wonderful.

Carry some for somebody else.

Maybe today it feels rather small.

That’s all right too.

You don’t need enough hope for the next ten years.

You don’t even need enough for next month.

Perhaps you simply need enough for today.

Sometimes faith isn’t a great leap.

Sometimes faith is getting out of bed and saying:

“God, I don’t know what happens next, but I’m going into this day with you.”

That is hope too.

There will always be uncertain things ahead of us.

Things we cannot predict.

Things we cannot control.

But hope asks a different question.

Not:

Do I know what happens next?

But:

Who will be with me when it does?

And that changes everything.

We don’t know everything about tomorrow.

But we know something about God.

God is faithful.

God is loving.

God is present.

So perhaps hope isn’t pretending we can see the whole road.

Perhaps it is simply trusting enough to take the next step.

A Question to Carry

What am I putting my hope in at the moment, an outcome I want, or the God who will be with me whatever happens?

A Simple Practice

Find something green today.

A tree.

A plant.

Grass pushing through concrete.

Pause when you see it and let it remind you:

Hope can grow in unlikely places.

Then name one situation where you need hope.

Prayer

God of hope,

I do not know everything
that lies ahead.

There are things I long for,
things I worry about,
and things I cannot control.

Help me not to confuse hope
with having everything turn out my way.

Root my hope instead
in your goodness,
your presence
and your love.

When hope feels small,
help me take the next step.

And when my hope is strong,
help me carry hope for someone else.

Amen.

For today: Take the next step in hope.

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The Peace of Christ

25 Oct 2026

Devotions

Main passage: Colossians 3:12–17

Key verse: Colossians 3:15
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”

There are mornings when deciding what to wear takes no thought at all.

You grab whatever is clean, suitable for the weather and reasonably presentable, and off you go.

But Paul has an interesting idea about getting dressed.

He tells us to clothe ourselves.

Not with jumpers, jackets or anything else from the wardrobe, but with:

Compassion.

Kindness.

Humility.

Gentleness.

Patience.

Imagine choosing those before we leave the house.

Right. Keys? Yes.

Phone? Yes.

Patience? Ah.

Might need to go back for that.

Paul is writing about what life looks like when Christ begins to shape us. And you quickly notice that almost everything he mentions is about relationships.

Bear with one another.

Forgive one another.

Love one another.

Be thankful.

And then, right in the middle of it all, he says:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.”

The word let catches my attention.

It suggests that peace is something we can make room for.

There are plenty of other things queueing up to rule our hearts.

Fear would happily do it.

So would resentment.

Worry is usually available.

Anger often volunteers.

We can allow an irritating conversation from yesterday to occupy our thoughts for most of today without the other person even knowing they are there.

But Paul says:

Let the peace of Christ rule.

Perhaps that means allowing the peace of Jesus to have the deciding voice.

When anxiety says, “Everything is going to go wrong,” peace says, “God is here.”

When resentment says, “Hold onto this,” peace asks, “Is it time to let this go?”

When anger says, “Say something right now,” peace sometimes whispers, “Wait.”

When we feel pressure to solve everything immediately, peace reminds us that not everything needs to be solved today.

Over this past week we’ve thought about peace in noise.

Peace in storms.

Stillness.

Peace within ourselves.

Peace with others.

Peacemaking.

And perhaps this is where it has all been leading.

Not simply towards having peaceful moments, but towards allowing the peace of Christ to shape us.

There is a difference.

A peaceful moment may depend on our surroundings.

The music is gentle.

The candles are lit.

Nobody needs anything.

The phone isn’t ringing.

Lovely.

But the peace of Christ has to work in less ideal conditions too.

It has to come with us into kitchens and cars and meetings and queues and difficult conversations.

It needs to survive interruptions.

That’s the sort of peace Paul is talking about.

Peace we wear.

Peace we practise.

Peace that gradually becomes part of who we are.

And then Paul adds something easily missed:

“And be thankful.”

Gratitude and peace seem to belong together.

Perhaps because gratitude brings us back to what is already here.

This breath.

This day.

This person.

This meal.

This small kindness.

This glimpse of beauty.

This evidence of grace.

Gratitude doesn’t pretend there aren’t difficult things.

It simply refuses to allow the difficult things to become the whole story.

And that feels like a fitting place to finish our week of peace.

You don’t have to create peace from nothing.

Christ gives peace.

Our invitation is to make room for it.

To let it rule.

To let it change the way we speak, respond, forgive, wait and live.

Tomorrow we begin thinking about Hope.

But maybe hope grows more easily in a heart that has learned something about peace.

So before moving on, pause.

Take a breath.

You do not have to carry everything.

You do not have to solve everything.

You do not have to know what happens next.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.

A Question to Carry

What have I allowed to rule my heart lately, and what might change if I gave Christ’s peace that place instead?

A Simple Practice

Before you leave home today, imagine putting on the things Paul names:

Compassion. Kindness. Humility. Gentleness. Patience. Love. Peace.

Choose one that you particularly need today and carry that word with you.

Prayer

Jesus,
thank you for your peace.

When fear tries to rule me,
give me peace.

When irritation rises,
give me gentleness.

When old hurts return,
give me grace.

When I cannot control what happens next,
teach me to trust.

Let your peace rule in my heart
and travel with me
wherever I go today.

Amen.

For today: Let the peace of Christ rule.