The devotional life
Jack Atkinson

In the early 1800's a family purchased two Bible sized devotional books, one Morning Prayers and the other Evening Prayers. They were so important that they were rebound and recovered in the 1890's. These two volumes are in my personal library today. However, my devotional life uses other books: Just for Today and Daily Reflections.

Growing up there were two sources for devotionals. One was The Upper Room coming out of Nashville and associated with the Methodist Church... These were free neat little books prepared for two or three months together. I would read for a few days the prepared devotionals but then I would give out, much as I did as a diarist.

The other source for a devotional life that I had growing up was the booklets and radio messages from Michael Guido in Metter, Seeds from the Sower. A half century later I find him still captivating.

Some families still have daily family devotionals. My cousin Donald, the preacher, I have labeled him because from the heart he does preach, still conducts family devotionals daily. His married daughter calls each morning before leaving for work and the son still at home joins his sister, mother, and dad in prayer.

People in recovery programs will almost always have a devotional in the morning. At our Recovery Program (Detox Unit) there is a devotional hour each morning. They use 10 or 12 different devotional books.

The Garfield Community Club always has a devotional given by a member. Other civic organizations also do this. We all seem suited for short inputs for advice that may change us or at least orient us for a given day.

I had a mother-in-law for 25 years who faithfully sent my wife and me Guideposts. When we visited she would read a selection for the given day before breakfast. I always looked forward to this because what followed was a breakfast which included home made yeast rolls freshly baked and strawberry preserves made that morning.

Some schools still get away with having devotionals. Growing up Myrene Johnson, my first grade teacher would sit in a chair with all 10 of us surrounding her. She had a very large Bible with really jazzy drawings and the stories seemed so dramatic.

Two contemporary figures who inspire the devotional life today are Rick Warren and Joyce Myer. Warren's The Purpose Driven Life guides many. Myer's works inspire another large segment of the devotional crowd today. She has produced two daily devotional guides: Starting Your Day Right and Ending Your Day Right.

Remember the phrase we heard in the 1950's: the families who pray together stay together. The devotional life can make a real difference in a person's day and living. Whether the devotional is with a group, the family or done solo, there is great benefit. Meanwhile which devotional book shall I use today?--Jack Atkinson is a guest columnist and a resident of Garfield.

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