Ruth Myers, a former missionary wife to China and bestselling author, has put together a devotional book entitled, 31 Days of Drawing Near to God: Resting Securely in His Delight. Many of the excerpts were lovely to meditate on, and my heart often soared in agreement as I worked through the book.
Myers quotes lots of poetry in 31 Days, as well as excerpts of many song texts. I found these references to be just a much a blessing--possibly more--than the devotionals themselves. Her writing style is pleasant and passionate, which makes the book easy to read.
One thing I didn't appreciate was her many references to Bible translations which appear to be quite loose, such as the The Moffatt Translation, The Wuest Translation, and The Berkeley Version. It should be noted, however, that I have read almost nothing of these particular translations and can certainly not call myself an expert on them.
I also raised an eyebrow when the author recounted her conversion experience.
...Mother did something so simple. She quoted a verse I'd known for as long as I could remember. But as she spoke, the truth dawned in my heart and I believed [quotes John 3:16 and states that she believed in Christ]. That night, for the first time I remember, I felt God's love. All this happened in an instant as Mother quoted John 3:16. When she finished, I bowed my head and thanked the Lord that He had given me eternal life.Myers never really does lay out the Gospel in plain terms, start to finish. I wonder if it's because she assumes that the devotional will be read only by the Christian who is serious about growing in his walk with God. Still, it seems irresponsible not to proclaim the Truth, given the opportunity!
I did find some benefit from Myers's insights and passion, though I wouldn't recommend or give this book to someone about whose salvation I was uncertain.
Disclaimer: I received this book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
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