Going "Old-School"

Source: blackhorsegarage.com

I don't know about you, but around my house, we can quickly fall into ruts.  If we are not careful, we will grab the same old shirt to wear or cycle through the same ten meals for dinner.

When that happens, I know I need to put the clean shirts on the very bottom of the T-shirt drawer or spend some time leafing through one of my cookbooks to try out a new recipe.

The same can happen in our devotional times with the Lord. We can reach for the same (or similar) books and resources and miss out on experiencing a fresh perspective of the Scriptures.

Now, don't misunderstand me.  The Bible is all that a follower of Christ needs for spiritual growth and insight, and no devotional material or book should ever replace it!   But devotional materials such as Bible studies, books on Christian living, and prayer books certainly enhance my understanding and application of Scripture in my daily life.

One of the ways I've been blessed in my spiritual journey recently is by reading books written in previous centuries.  As we know, God's truth never changes and applies to everyone--it stands the test of time, cultural differences, language barriers, etc.  That is what makes reading older books so refreshing--you can see the truth of the Scriptures set in a much different context than 21st century western culture.

So what books have encouraged me to date?

There have been many, but my favorites include Charles Spurgeons' The Power of Prayer in a Believer's Life and the Puritan collection of prayers and devotions, The Valley of Vision (compiled in the 1970s by Arthur Bennett).

I'd also recommend reading something from outside of your personal denomination.  For example, if you are Southern Baptist, I'd encourage you to read books from the Reformed theology tradition (Tim Keller, D.A. Carson, and Paul Tripp, to name just a few must-read authors). 

I'd even go so far as to say that if you are Protestant, be sure to read some Catholic resources--I'd recommend starting with G.K. Chesterton.  And if you are Catholic, be sure to read some Protestant resources--a great place to place to start is with C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity.

As always, be wise and discerning as you read; we ought always to bring forth anything we read or hear into the light of Scripture (even the messages we hear from our home church pulpit!).  

But I trust that in this way, as you read through materials penned in centuries past, your faith will be enhanced and revitalized, dear friend!

(P.S. Don't forget to go "old-school" with worship music as well!  Here's a previous post about the value of learning and singing hymns, with linked resources inside!)