Christian devotional literature

Christian devotional literature (also called devotionals or Christian living literature) is religious writing that is neither doctrinal nor theological, but designed for individuals to read for their personal edification and spiritual formation.^[1] Theologian Karl Holl has suggested that devotional literature came into full development at the time of Pietism during the second half of the 17th century.^[2]

Popular devotionals

Books

• Saint Augustine's Prayer Book (1947)
• The Manual of Prayers, authorized by the Hierarchy of England and Wales (1886)
• Everyday Prayers (Student Christian Movement) (1926)
• Garden of Grace: A Daybook of Faith and Healing by Anita Coleman 2012
• Daily Guideposts published by Guideposts (contributions by Marion Bond West, Debbie Macomber and Edward Grinnan, and over 50 others)
• The Oxford Book of Prayer, general ed., George Appleton (1985)
• Mornings with Jesus published by Guideposts
• The Christian Year by John Keble
• A Diary of Prayer, [compiled by] Elizabeth Goudge (1966)
• Family Devotions for Every Day of the Church Year (M. Luther, ed. G. Link)
• Family Altar (F. W. Herzberger)
• Starck's Prayer-Book (trans. W.H.T. Dau)
• The Conferences by John Cassian
• The Institutions by John Cassian
• The Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus
• Instruction and Advice by St. Arsenius the Great
• At His Feet by Chris Tiegreen
• Hymns of Divine Love by Symeon the New Theologian
• On Loving God by St. Bernard of Clairvaux
• The Dialogue by St. Catherine of Siena
• Revelations aka Showing of Love by St. Julian of Norwich
• The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
• The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
• The Flowing Light of Divinity by Mechthild of Magdeburg
• The Seven Steps of the Ladder of Spiritual Love by John of Ruusbroec
• The Spiritual Espousals by John of Ruusbroec
• The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila
• The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila
• Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross
• Ascent of Mount Carmel by St. John of the Cross
• The Spiritual Canticle by St. John of the Cross
• Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales
• Treatise on the Love of God by St. Francis de Sales
• True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort
• Secret of Mary by St. Louis de Montfort
• Secret of the Rosary by St. Louis de Montfort
• The Glories of Mary by Alphonsus Liguori
• The True Spouse of Jesus Christ by Alphonsus Liguori
• The Great Means of Prayer by Alphonsus Liguori
• The One Year Devos for Teens by Susie Shellenberger
• The One Year Book of Devotions for Kids by Children's Bible Hour
• The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ by Alphonsus Liguori
• Prayer in Practice, by Romano Guardini (1957, trans. from German)
• My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
• Light in the Dark by Elizabeth Haworth
• A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life by William Law
• Patterns to Ponder from Bible Characters^[3] by Wallace Thornton, Jr
• Mighty Man of Valour^[4] by Wallce Thornton, Jr
• Coffee With Jesus by Todd Uebele^[5]
• The Spirit at Work by Eliot Young
• The Word at Work by Eliot Young

Booklets

• Our Daily Bread, published by RBC Ministries
• The Upper Room, published by The United Methodist Church

E-Books

• Casa Charis: A Daybook of Freedom^[6] by Anita Coleman
• Garden of Grace: A Daybook of Faith and Healing by Anita Coleman.
• Free eBook and audio book for Matthew Henry – A Method for Prayer' 1710 edition^[7]

Online Devotional Literature

Our Daily Bread was among the earliest of the classic devotionals to appear on the Internet. Online archives of the devotional are available back to January 1994. Upper Room Ministries began emailing the Upper Room daily devotional guide in 1997. In the years following, many Christian organizations began adding a daily devotional to their website. The following is an incomplete list of daily devotional services available through recognized Christian organizations.

• Campus Crusade for Christ
• Crosswalk.com
• Grace to You
• Lutheran Hour Ministries
• Moody Bible Institute
• Purpose Driven Life
• YouDevotion^[8]
• SpiritsWord Daily Devotional^[9]
• Daily Devotionals^[10]
• Coffee With Jesus^[11]

See also

• Anglican devotions
• Bible study (Christian)
• Prayer, meditation and contemplation in Christianity
• Quiet Time
• Roman Catholic devotions
• Grand Theft Jesus, wake-up call to Christians to reject the “Right Reverends”

References

1. George Thomas Kurian (1 July 2010). The Encyclopedia of Christian Literature, Volume 1. Scarecrow Press. Retrieved 28 December 2011. After the Bible, Christian devotional literature has provided the most popular and instructive kind of reading and guidance for believers. Most broadly considered, Christian devotional literature may be thought to encompass any inscribed verbal artifact employed to stimulate the production, sustenance, and direction of the unique interior Christian self, whether solely in relation to the divine or including also service to fellow believers, neighbor, and/or world.
2. "Devotional Literature". Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
3. "Patterns to Ponder from Bible Characters - Kindle edition by Wallace Thornton. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.". amazon.com.
4. "Mighty Man of Valour: A 31-Day Devotional from the Life of Gideon, Wallace Thornton - Amazon.com". amazon.com.
5. "Have Coffee With Jesus". CNN iReport.
6. "Casa Charis: A Daybook of Freedom - Kindle edition by Anita Coleman, Bette Fisher, Scott Bullock. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.". amazon.com.
7. "A Method for Prayer". A Method for Prayer.
8. Tap Tap Studio. "YouDevotion". youdevotion.com.
9. Simon Whitton. "SpiritsWord Daily Devotional - Forgiving the Debt you are Owed". spiritsword.org.
10. http://shortdailydevotions.com/
11. "Coffee with Jesus". coffee-with-jesus.com.

External links

• Michael Pasquier Devotionalism and devotional literature; The Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization. 25 November 2011