Customer Reviews

Life in the Word Devotional

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This is my all-time favorite devotional book. It delivers a quick shot-in-the-arm for all that ails us. I've ordered copies for my grown daughters for Christmas. It's the gift that keeps on giving.

This book makes me better from depression and hopelessness. Joyce Meyer teaches people by including Bible Versions and compare some that are similar to make us understand. She also includes a daily prayer in the end of the page. This one can be a great bible study and devotional at the same time. Not only women but also men can study from this devotional, and I recommend that you like it.

This devotional is a bit different than most, in that the devotions are listed by topic, rather than dates.
There is a Bible verse at the beginning of each, then a few paragraphs by Joyce, then a "Do This" suggestion or a prayer.
It is a bit over 200 pages, so you wouldn't want it instead
of 365 daily devotion book. This would be a lovely evening devotions book, or one for a new believer.

Joyce Meyer's approach is common sense and rooted in the Bible. It is easy to read and understand. For a new believer, or just someone without much time to study the Bible, there are many valuable nuggets of truth to be gained from this devotional. That said, some of the biblical interpretations and advice seem exagerrated. While the book is a devotional and its purpose is not to provide advanced hermeneutical study, I would like to see better supported conclusions. Sometimes the devotionals seem to play "fast and loose" with Scripture, relying on surface level readings and paraphrases. In a few cases, I suspected that the wrong verse was cited. But in most cases, I simply feel that her paraphrases are too loose.

To illustrate, here is one example. On page 165, she discusses going through trials and states, "By the way, the attitude that you have while you are going through is most important. The Word says that it is to be a joyful attitude, otherwise you may have to make the trip again. (James 1:2-4)." When I read this, I thought, "Hmmm, I don't remember a Bible verse that said that." I looked it up, and the NIV says here, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." There's no mention in the verse of repeating trials. I think you could make a logical argument either for or against this interpretation. My point is that the author does neither, she simply gives her own interpretation and cites the verse as though she'd quoted from it. And that bothers me.

Still, mainstream Christians will agree with at least 90% of the book's conclusions, and they are presented in a very accessible way, so it has its place as a contribution to the Christian church.

This book has spoken to me everytime I have read from it. It is very inspirational and easy to understand! Joyce Meyer truly is a blessing to all!