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You may be confused by the number of Christian titles available when you are choosing a devotional or testimony-style book. So, I invite you to metaphorically come with me to my study bookshelves and I will recommend some titles to you.

I use a series of Bible commentaries to aid me in my studies and I like to have three for each New Testament book. If you are looking for a set then I would recommend William Barclay, although he only covers the New Testament. ‘The Bible speaks today’ is also very good and I often refer to my IVP commentaries which cover every book of the Bible.

I am also wending my way through two devotional books, which is ones which help you draw closer to God. The titles of these are ‘How to hear God’ by Pete Greig, a very straight forward read on how to listen out for God in a deeper way. The other is ‘The secret place of thunder’ by John Starke. This book is challenging my need to be noticed, acclaimed, and encouraging a deeper more solitary walk with Christ.

You may have heard the story of my ordination in 2010 in Cornwall and that the man the church had asked to preach that day collapsed and died during that service. I had only met him once before and he encouraged me to take a walk with him in his beautiful garden. We sat in his gazebo, and he told me that this was his secret place where he came to meet with God. At the end of our short chat, he prayed for me and touched my shoulder as he did so. It was like an electric shock going through me! This man knew the secret of spending much time alone with Jesus!

I also recommend ‘God on mute’ also by Pete Greig and anything by Tom Wright or N T Wright (same person), C S Lewis and Tim Keller. I don’t read them so often, but I used to enjoy an ‘experience’ book. Ones like ‘Sermons in solitary confinement’ by Richard Wurmbrand and Jackie Pullinger’s ‘Chasing the dragon’ I would heartily recommend.

May God bless you and speak to you as you read! David