Seeking God's Face: Praying With the Bible Through the Year

This little prayer book is magical. Not in the abra-cadabra, pixie-dust sparkles sense of magic, but often when I read the day's scriptures and prayers, I find them to be just exactly what I needed that day. So this makes me magically WANT to read it every day!! Not only am I reading the Bible, I'm also praying and enjoying a conversation with God every day with the guidance of these daily readings.This book flows out of the ancient practice of praying the daily office, which structured the rhythm of the day around several fixed prayer times. As such, the daily readings include both scripture and prayer. But rather than several times a day, there is one reading for each day. So, you pick the time of day that suits you, and enjoy the daily reading. The daily readings include different elements: an invitation to God's presence, times of quiet, Scripture passages (always a psalm, old testament and new testament passages), free prayer suggestions, a set prayer, and a closing blessing.There is a daily reading for every day of the year. When you reach the last day's reading, you start again at the beginning. So the dates listed for each reading include every day through the year 2025! I'm in my second yearly cycle of these readings, and while I remember some of them, I'm amazed how re-reading reveals a whole different layer of meaning. So in this instance, I find that the the yearly repetition of the scripture and prayers enriches the experience of every reading.This format, for me, really does spark a conversation with God. I sit and quietly enjoy God's presence, I read scripture and pray about what strikes me from the passages, I read a common prayer and am sent off with a blessing. It's a wonderful time of devotion.I first heard about this book from the blog of Richard Dahlstrom (rain city pastor) who suggested it as a good tool to facilitate daily Bible reading. It has indeed transformed my prayer time from something I felt I should do to something I do do, and enjoy doing, every day. Wonderful!!

A friend recommended this devotional which she has used for years! I totally agree with her. Each daily devotion is two pages. It includes an invitation (perfect length to memorize), an old and new testament passage, a prayer, a blessing, and more. It is compact and powerful. I love my new devotional book!

My husband and I have enjoyed reading this together each morning, but our pleasure in it is sometimes lessened by its modern tone.Pros: Daily immersion in Scripture. We love reading from the Psalms daily every day and especially enjoy the verses used in the invitation and in the blessing that are repeated each day for a week, really helping you to absorb their ideas. We bought this book so that we could follow the Church calendar and that is what keeps us reading even though we don't like every aspect of the daily readings.Cons: Many of the written prayers seem more concerned with sounding self-important than with humble entreaty. For example on Epiphany Day 59 we read, "Lord of all, it feels strange to pray it, but thank you for taxes." And on the first day of Lent we read, "[Sin] is a family curse that I've inherited, like a genetic deficiency that plagues my life and infects my living." Clever wording, for sure, but not really a prayer. The use of the gender-neutral NIV is occasionally disconcerting when it exchanges the word "man" for "humans".

I use this personally and we have given it as gifts many times, including to our consistory (church board). It is excellent in many ways... I especially enjoy the diverse and well rounded reminders for prayer topics as well as the customized closing prayers each day. There are also references to the Reformed creeds the author is utilizing, which is a great reminder for those of the Reformed school of thought, and easily ignored by others. This is also easily accessible for anyone who can read as it is written for the average person (not just pastors), loosely follows the lectionary, and is all contained... no need to juggle this and a bible, the texts are printed for you. Personally, over time and usage, I have the kindle edition, as well as a couple of hard copies so that I can access it whenever I'd like, wherever I'd like - whether I am at church, home, or have some time while elsewhere.

I love this little book. If you are interested in developing a rhythm for your devotional life this will be a good resource for you. The basic overview of this book is that it uses scriptures embedded, in a contemplative format, to encourage the reader to dwell in Gods presence, rather than just run through a prayer list. It follows the church calendar so you will be given scriptures that correspond with the appropriate calendar event. The structure of each day's prayer follows the following format: Invitation, quiet, scripture song (I.e. Psalm) scripture reading (biblical text), quiet, dwell (I.e. Meditate and dwell with God in contemplative manner), free prayer (with suggestions), prayer (selected from various sources in church confessions, creeds, etc.), and finally the blessing/benediction scripture. I have found this to be a very helpful resource to enrich my prayer life through scripture.

the opening verse stays for a few days, so it is nice to have that continuity. the psalms are a wonderful way to open. it lists the liturgical calendar so you get a sense of the year. i like the brief and repetitive prompting to enter into God's presence as you read and re-read the passage of the day. I love the short prayers at the end from the book of common prayer and such. It is also great for me that each day lists 3 things to pray for, with a wide range. and it is especially nice to know that the others who may be using this devotional around the world are praying for the same thing that day. it works for me! a busy busy full-time working mom.

This is a very well constructed and beautifully finished book that feels special in the hand. It's writings are wonderful and used well alongside other spiritual formation disciplines should serve you well in connecting you to the living God. The only criticism is purely on the font size - it's small and light. Otherwise highly recommended.

what a book! my go to every morning. I love it.

A modern pocket breviary, with scriptures interspersed with prayer and suggested times for reflection. Beautifully produced, thoughtful and inspired. A book to treasure.

Good product speedy service

Bought as gifts. Recipients loved it.