Jennie Lusko’s Fresh Mercies Every Day: Cultivate a Life of Trusting God, Following Him Daily, and Learning to Flourish, published by Thomas Nelson, is a book that sits somewhere between a devotional, a personal journal, and a beautifully curated coffee‑table companion. It is visually striking, spiritually warm, and intentionally crafted to draw readers into a slower, more attentive rhythm of life with God. Yet beneath the floral photography and the coloured pages lies a deeper invitation: to see our ordinary days as sacred ground where God is already at work.
Lusko’s central message is clear from the outset. She believes that God meets us in the tiny, easily overlooked moments of our lives—moments we often rush past, dismiss, or fail to recognise as spiritually significant. Fresh Mercies Every Day is her call to pay attention, to notice, and to cultivate a posture of expectancy. She wants readers to see their lives the way God sees them: full of possibility, full of grace, and full of opportunities for transformation.
A Structure Built for Slow, Intentional Reading
The book is divided into five thematic sections, each one exploring a different dimension of spiritual growth:
- Growing in deeper intimacy with God
- Following God every single day
- Trusting God in everything
- Becoming more like Jesus
- Believing God when it doesn’t make sense
Before these sections begin, Lusko opens with a simple but profound greeting: “Good morning, Lord.” It sets the tone for the entire book. This is not a theological treatise or a dense spiritual manual. It is a morning conversation, a daily check‑in, a gentle nudge toward God before the noise of the world takes over.
Each devotional entry follows a consistent pattern: a Scripture passage, a prayer, and a short reflection drawn from Jennie’s own life. This structure is familiar to anyone who has used a devotional before, but Lusko’s voice brings a particular warmth and honesty. She writes as someone who has lived through grief, joy, confusion, and hope—and who has learned to look for God in all of it.
Aesthetic Choices: Beauty as a Spiritual Companion
One of the most striking features of Fresh Mercies Every Day is its visual design. Throughout the book, readers encounter what might be described as still‑life portraits—carefully arranged flowers photographed in soft, inviting tones. The pages themselves are coloured, and the font shifts to match the palette of the floral images. The effect is undeniably beautiful, though at times it raises questions about the book’s intended purpose.
For readers who prefer a simple, text‑driven devotional—something to tuck beside a Bible, underline, scribble in, and carry around—this book may feel more like an art piece than a daily spiritual tool. The colour changes do not seem to carry symbolic meaning; rather, they appear to be aesthetic choices designed to create a cohesive visual experience. For some, this will be a delight. For others, it may feel like a distraction.
Personally, I found myself thinking that this book belongs more on a coffee table than on a bedside locker or tucked into a Bible case. It is the kind of book you might pick up in a quiet moment, open at random, and read a single reflection—receiving a small nugget of wisdom without necessarily committing to a structured 40‑day journey. Perhaps that was Jennie’s intention all along: to create something beautiful enough to draw the eye and gentle enough to draw the heart toward God.
The Author Behind the Pages
Understanding Jennie Lusko’s background adds depth to the reading experience. She and her husband, Levi, lead Fresh Life Church across Montana, Utah, Oregon, and Wyoming. Their ministry is marked by creativity, resilience, and a willingness to speak openly about grief—particularly after the loss of their daughter Lenya, who is now “in heaven,” as Jennie tenderly phrases it.
The Luskos live in Montana, a place known for its rugged beauty and, amusingly, for recording the largest snowflake in history—one and a half times larger than a competition frisbee. This detail, though seemingly random, reflects something of Jennie’s personality: she delights in the small wonders of the world, the surprising facts, the moments of joy tucked into everyday life.
Jennie’s calling, as she describes it, is to share the hope and freedom found in Jesus with those who feel stranded in sin or stuck in shame. She feels most alive when she is helping people or giving gifts—an insight that helps explain the tone of the book. Fresh Mercies Every Day feels like a gift, a carefully wrapped offering meant to bless, encourage, and uplift.
A Devotional for the Distracted, the Weary, and the Hopeful
The book offers forty days of reflections, each one designed to help readers see God’s faithfulness in the ordinary rhythms of life. In a world that pulls us in every direction—through busyness, anxiety, digital noise, and constant demands—Jennie’s writing offers steady ground. Her reflections are not long or complicated; they are simple, heartfelt, and rooted in Scripture.
She writes for the person who is navigating uncertainty. She writes for the one longing for deeper intimacy with God. She writes for the woman who whispers, “Lord, I need You today,” and means it with her whole heart.
The prayers included in each entry are particularly meaningful. They are not lofty or formal; they are honest, vulnerable, and accessible. They give language to the kinds of prayers many of us want to pray but sometimes struggle to articulate.
Themes That Resonate
1. Intimacy with God
Lusko emphasises that intimacy with God is not built in grand spiritual moments but in the quiet, consistent turning of the heart toward Him. She encourages readers to slow down, to listen, and to cultivate awareness of God’s presence.
2. Daily Obedience
Following God “every single day” is less about dramatic acts of faith and more about small, faithful steps. Jennie reminds readers that discipleship is lived out in the mundane: in conversations, decisions, attitudes, and habits.
3. Trust in All Circumstances
Trusting God “in everything” is perhaps the most challenging theme. Jennie writes from a place of lived experience—through grief, loss, and seasons of uncertainty. Her reflections invite readers to trust God not only when life makes sense but especially when it doesn’t.
4. Becoming Like Jesus
Transformation is a slow process. Jennie’s reflections encourage readers to embrace the journey rather than rush toward the destination. Becoming like Jesus involves surrender, humility, and openness to the Spirit’s work.
5. Believing God When Life Doesn’t Add Up
This final section is where Jennie’s voice feels most pastoral. She acknowledges that faith is not always tidy. Sometimes God’s ways are confusing, and His timing feels frustrating. Yet she insists that God is faithful, even when we cannot see the full picture.
A Book That Meets You Where You Are
One of the strengths of Fresh Mercies Every Day is its accessibility. You do not need to read it in order. You do not need to commit to a strict schedule. You can open it on a day when you feel overwhelmed, or on a day when you feel hopeful, or on a day when you simply need a reminder that God is near.
The book’s design reinforces this flexibility. The floral photography, the coloured pages, and the gentle layout make it feel like an invitation rather than an obligation. It is a book that welcomes you rather than demands something from you.
Who Will Love This Book?
This devotional will resonate with:
- Women seeking gentle encouragement rather than heavy theological content
- Readers who appreciate beauty, photography, and thoughtful design
- Those navigating grief, transition, or uncertainty
- People who enjoy short, reflective readings rather than long chapters
- Anyone longing for a fresh sense of God’s presence in daily life
It may be less appealing to readers who prefer minimalistic design, deep theological exposition, or devotionals that follow a strict liturgical or chronological structure.
Final Reflections: A Gentle Companion for the Journey
Fresh Mercies Every Day is not a book that tries to impress. It does not attempt to overwhelm readers with complex ideas or heavy doctrine. Instead, it offers something quieter and perhaps more needed: a reminder that God is present, faithful, and generous with His mercy.
Jennie Lusko’s voice is warm, honest, and deeply pastoral. Her reflections are shaped by real life—by joy, by sorrow, by motherhood, by ministry, and by the ongoing journey of trusting God in all things. The book’s beauty is both visual and spiritual, making it a companion for the soul as well as the senses.
If you are looking for a devotional that feels like a breath of fresh air, a gentle nudge toward God, or a reminder that His mercies truly are new every morning, this book may be exactly what you need. It is a celebration of small moments, a call to attentiveness, and an invitation to flourish in the presence of a God who delights in giving fresh mercy every single day.
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