Home Life Devotionals

I recently had the opportunity to go through two family/home life devotional books both offered by NavPress. Both were helpful in slightly different ways although they hit on similar themes. The first was Walking Together by Jack and Cynthia Heald. I had read some of their books earlier in life and was happy to come across this devotional work. This book hits on several topics for the married couple, such as completing and honoring one another as well as discussing contentment and gracious communication. (Surely I don’t need to understand THAT topic any better?!) The great thing about this devotional is that they lay it out as a Bible study first. Then they ask follow up questions in sections labeled “Understanding Myself” and “Understanding My Spouse.” So not only are you given some meat to chew on, but then you learn to apply it to yourself, your significant other, and your marriage as a whole. Both Jack and Cynthia offer advice applicable to both husbands and wives so that each person is able to walk away with some new thoughts and truths. This is an excellent marriage Bible study to go through on your own (even though its meant for two; it asks good questions), with your spouse, or as a small group.

The second devotional is Homemaking: Nurturing Your Family in Today’s World. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from this book as I have never done a devotional on homemaking. I was curious. The most important thing I walked away with from this book and all that it discussed was the “simple” idea that the Proverbs 31 woman wasn’t praised by the world, but by her husband and children. In other words, we are all free to be different. Yes, we have the Proverbs 31 woman as an example but we need to focus on our own homes, individual personalities and needs in applying that particular chapter of the Bible all across the board. (That actually is probably a truth that I picked up in reading through both devotionals -which I worked through back-to-back.) This Homemaking devotional book was helpful in thinking through personal traditions and habits and talking about the importance of a woman in the home. This was also an excellent devotional and I feel I must recommend them both.

They certainly won’t hurt. Well, maybe just a little.

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.