Best devotional books for beginners: 10 simple and gentle books for new believers
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I grew up attending church occasionally, but fell away during college. The denomination I grew up in didn’t talk about a “daily devotional” or “quiet time” with God.
So when I started attending services as a young adult, I quickly felt overwhelmed. I didn’t really know what they were talking about.
Simply stated, a devotional time is a few minutes each time when you reflect and pray. Devotional books are helpful, but not necessary. When I first started practicing a quiet time with God, I spent it reading through the Psalms.
Whether you’re a brand new Christian or returning to church after months or years or decades away, I want you to know that you’re not alone. There are many people (including me!) who had no idea where to begin or how to get started.
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Best devotional books for new believers or returning Christians
I personally believe the best devotional for new believers is “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. I have read and recommended this simple and faith-building devotional many times!
Written as if Jesus is speaking directly to you, if you’re anything like me, it will help you recognize how near and present God is in every minute and every aspect of your life.
There’s a reason it’s an international bestseller!
Here are my additional recommendations for starting a quiet time with Jesus, which I’ve curated based on my personal experience and the recommendations of other Christians.
To help you find the best fit, I’ve divided this article into the following sections:
Best overall: Devotional books for beginners
Best for new Christians: Devotionals with no Bible knowledge needed
Best for people returning to faith: Devotionals for people who’ve fallen away after hurt or heartbreak from a church or another Christian
Have a recommendation? Share your favorite beginner devotional or new-to-faith resource in the comment section! We’d love to grow this guide with your input.
Starting a quiet time with Jesus
If you’re worried about how to get started with a devotional because your schedule is already jam-packed, don’t worry. I’ve been there!
If time is a factor, don’t worry. Even a few minutes a day can help you connect and grow in faith. I’m an advocate for developing easy spiritual habits that are flexible enough to pick back up if you miss a few days (or more!).
My schedule as a daily newspaper journalist was hectic. I did my fair share of early morning, late night, and swing shifts as I covered the news of the day.
When I came to faith, I knew I’d need to develop easy and flexible devotional habits, not rigid disciplines.
My approach continues to serve me well now that I have a schedule that changes based on school drop-off, after-school activities, and client work demands.
If you’re a brand-new Christian or are returning to faith, take it easy. Go slow. Even a few minutes a day is enough to set the foundation for spiritual growth.
Best devotional books for beginners
As a beginner, you’re in such a beautiful season of faith! This is such a precious time, and I encourage you to embrace your wonder and curiosity in this spiritual time of discovery.
Recognizing the reality of your schedule and season as spiritual growth is one of the main considerations I suggest when selecting a devotional book.
To help, I’ve curated some of the best daily devotionals for beginners, focusing on simple and easy books with accessible language and approaches.
There are hundreds of devotionals on the market, so this is by its nature a limited list, based on my personal experience and the recommendations of other Christians.
If you need more recommendations, check out our growing collection of devotional guides. If you like journaling, for example, you might enjoy a devotional journal instead.
Don’t see a new Christian favorite on our list? Please share it with readers in our comment section!
1. ‘Jesus Calling’
“Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young is my No. 1 recommendation for new Christians or those just starting a daily devotional habit.
It’s written in the gentle and encouraging perspective of what Jesus might say if he were speaking directly to you.
Each time I’ve used “Jesus Calling,” I’ve been amazed at how the daily Bible verse and reading focus me on God’s nearness, presence, and peace.
“I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey,” she writes. “My living Presence is your Companion each step of the way.”
Each reading only takes 1-to-2 minutes, and its gentle tone makes it one of the most frequently gifted devotional books to new Christians. It also tops our list of the best daily devotional books.
Young’s devotional series is so popular that the publisher has multiple styles available, including a commemorative edition, a large print version, and devotionals specifically for moms, graduates, and others.
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2. ‘God Is With You Every Day’
“God Is With You Every Day” by Max Lucado is a gentle reminder to new Christians that God is with them in every season.
Jesus’s companionship and grace are with you, whether it’s a hard day or a joyful one, a lonely day or a chaotic one.
In one devotion message, for example, Lucado reminds readers that God made each of us unique. It’s a gentle reminder not to compare ourselves to one another.
“God does not just judge you according to the talents of others,” he writes. “He judges you according to yours. His hardship for measuring faithfulness is how faithful you are with your own gifts.”
Lucado is a Texas pastor who’s become one of the most beloved Christian authors of our time. He’s known for his gentle and encouraging tone and how he weaves storytelling and practical reminders of God’s love and grace into his writing.
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3. ‘5 Minutes with Jesus’
“5 Minutes with Jesus” by Sheila Walsh has 50 devotionals for Christians and new believers who want to spend quiet time with God and only have a few minutes.
Walsh’s writing is honest, warm, and helps you relax into God’s promises. The devotions are written as stories, which I love, and she focuses more on God’s love and presence than complicated theology.
Walsh shares honestly and authentically and invites you to approach God the same way. Here’s a great example:
We talked for a long time that night. At one point, I asked her if she had let God see her rage, and she seemed horrified by the suggestion.
“I can’t talk to God like that!” she said.
“Don’t you think He already knows?” I asked, holding her tight. “He knows—and He loves you.”
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4. ‘New Morning Mercies’
“New Morning Mercies” by Paul David Tripp focuses on how God’s mercies are new each and every morning. What happened yesterday, and whatever lies ahead, is not a surprise to God. Nor does it ever too much for his grace.
Tripp’s writing is almost lyrical, and I appreciate how he focuses on God’s strength, not ours. His service as a pastor and counselor shines through, too.
“You can take your life off your shoulders because God has placed it on his,” Tripp writes. “This doesn’t mean that it doesn’t matter how you live, but that your security is not found in your faithfulness but in his.
“He can be trusted even when you cannot. He will be faithful and good even when you’re not. He will do what is right and best even when you don’t.
Also by Tripp is “Everyday Gospel,” a daily devotional that will help you better understand the Bible and how it still applies to life today.
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Devotional books for new Christians
The best devotionals for new Christians help believers learn about the key aspects of the Christian faith, including salvation, prayer, and what it means to follow Jesus.
I’ve included devotional books that are encouraging for those who are new to faith. Specifically written for spiritual beginners with no Bible knowledge, I appreciate how they don’t make assumptions.
Instead, they act as a trusted friend who guides you on the first few steps of your faith journey.
5. ‘TouchPoints for New Believers’
“TouchPoints for New Believers” by Ronald A. Beers is not a devotional book, but it’s such a handy guide for new Christians that I had to include it on the list.
Readers say they frequently gift this book to new believers, use it in Bible studies, and reference it in various ministry situations, such as when working with prisoners.
It’s written as a concise topical guide to answer the most frequent questions among those new to their spiritual life, including: “What does it mean to be saved?” and “How do I pray?”
➡️ Buy on Amazon ⬅️
6. ‘Every Day With Jesus’
“Every Day With Jesus: First Steps for New Believers” by Greg Laurie is a daily devotional written specifically for new Christians.
It’s written in accessible, everyday language, and is frequently recommended as a “first step” for those who have recently come to faith.
Some churches share it in their welcome packets or “new believer kits” to encourage and guide those who are new Christians.
That’s because it starts at the very beginning, assuming no previous Bible knowledge.
➡️ Buy on Amazon ⬅️
7. ‘Brand New’
“Brand New: A 40-Day Guide to Life in Christ” by Shilo Taylor is written specifically for the new believer.
Using easy-to-understand language, Taylor walks readers through the foundations of the Christian faith in this 40-day devotional.
Each day focuses on one Scripture verse, one aspect of God’s character, and one element of Christian life.
It’s written in a way to be used in a new Christian class or study group, in addition to individual use (There’s a mentor edition to use as a leader). Each day includes reflection questions and prayer prompts.
The best part, however, is the simple language Taylor uses and how this devotional speaks to the unique season of being a beginner in faith.
“Jesus forgives us,” Taylor writes. “Jesus heals us. Jesus makes us whole. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see instant change. The more you know God, the more you will become the person God created you to be.”
➡️ Buy on Amazon ⬅️
Devotions for people returning to faith after hurt or heartbreak
If you’ve ever been hurt by someone you thought was a devoted Christian, or you’ve experienced “church hurt” in other ways, the pain is real.
So is the doubt.
I know because I’ve experienced it first-hand. As I mentioned earlier, I took a long break after calling off an engagement in my late 20s. I had thought we were going to live out our beliefs together, but it turned out that he was faking it — and my heart was broken in the process.
A pastor once told me that it’s easier for “un-churched” people to come to faith than “lapsed” Christians who believe in God but have had past experience with hurtful church people or unhealthy church dynamics that obscured their path back.
That’s the reality of living in a fallen world, isn’t it? Not every church, nor every Christian, is healthy. Some can be very destructive (a point I made when writing about the “Wake Up Dead Man” movie).
Before I was willing to go back to church, I was willing to pick up a devotional. To start reading and praying, to read the stories of other Christians who had made it through the valley to safer ground.
The risk is worth it. God knows the pain of losing a child; of being betrayed; of physical suffering. You’re not walking this path alone.
It’s my hope that these recommendations, at the very least, give you a place to start.
8. ‘Renewed’
“Renewed: A 40-Day Devotional for Healing from Church Hurt” by Leigh Powers will help you rebuild trust after experiencing hurt or doubt.
This devotional encourages you to take a Biblical approach to healing from church hurt, including lamenting what happened and bringing your anger, pain, or betrayal of others to God.
It’s specifically written for women who have been hurt or wounded by others in ministry or in their congregations.
“When you feel betrayed, hang on to this: Jesus is for you,” she writes. “Nothing can separate you from Christ’s love. No thing. No person. No power. No situation. No accusation. Nothing in heaven, on earth, or under the earth can separate you from the love of God that is yours in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I appreciate how the devotional walks you through the emotional and spiritual journey of healing.
The second part encourages you to take steps forward, even if you don’t want to or aren’t yet ready to forgive, and what might allow you to do so.
The last two parts help restore your belief by recognizing God is faithful and a provider.
➡️ Buy on Amazon ⬅️
9. ‘You’re Going to Make It’
“You're Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions” by Lysa TerKeurst will help you rebuild trust after you’ve been hurt.
I appreciate its short devotional messages, which are a great place to begin to reconnect and pray to God, and how her evening message helps soothe anxious minds and restless hearts that might prevent a good night’s sleep.
“Nothing has caught God by surprise,” TerKeurst writes in one of her evening devotions.
“Not in your life or mine. The evils done to us break His heart, but how we will survive them is not a mystery to God. This insight can help us not feel so panicked with the uncertainty of our future.”
“So how do we handle the uncertainties of today? We stick close to God. Our job is to be obedient to God. God’s job is everything else.”
I’ve found TerKeurst to be an honest, empathetic, and warm writer. She’s my go-to author when I need a book by someone who’s been through the muck. Because she has. And you can, too.
What I’ve discovered is that Christianity isn’t about “the good life,” although there are deep elements of joy and comfort and eternal hope. It’s about the reality of a fallen world and the invitation Jesus shares: He’s been through the muck, too, and walks with us through ours.
➡️ Buy on Amazon ⬅️
10. ‘Streams in the Desert’
“Streams in the Desert: 366 Daily Devotional Readings” by L.B. Cowman will help you through the hard times.
Like other devotionals for new Christians on this list, it has morning and evening passages to read, reflect on, and pray through. To set you up for the day and to help you rest soundly at night.
So often I need the reminder that I’m not walking (or if I’m honest, crawling) through life by myself.
What other religion has a God that understands, first-hand, suffering, betrayal, and grief? Who chooses to take on our anguish so we’re never, ever, ever, EVER by ourselves?
“Jesus never sends a man ahead alone,” he writes. “He blazes a clear way through every thicket and woods, and then softly calls, ‘Follow Me. Let’s go on together, you and I.’”
“He’s been through everywhere that we are called to go. His feet have trodden down a smooth path through every experience that comes to us. He knows each road and knows it well: The valley road of disappointment with its dark shadows.”
I like how this devotional also calls us to more, that we can traverse the valley and rise.
“Not many of us are living at our best,” he writes in a separate devotional. “We linger in the lowlands because we are afraid to climb the mountains. The steepness and ruggedness discourage us, so we stay in the midst of the valleys and never learn the mystery of the hills … what glory awaits if we only have the courage to climb.”
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➡️ Which devotionals helped you as a new Christian? Please share your recommendations in the comments below!
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Discover more Christian devotional resources
Ultimate guide: 100+ of the best Christian devotionals for every stage or season of life
Practical advice: How to choose a devotional book
Managing time challenges: How to do a devotional when life is hectic
Best overall: Our guide to the most popular 365-day devotional books
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Mackenzie Ryan Walters is the author of “Faith Storytellers: Unleash the Power of Your Story,” which shares Christian testimonies and stories, as well as curated lists about Christian books, gifts, and more. A national award-winning education journalist who’s covered a presidential campaign and been inside NASA, Mackenzie now edits the Faith Storytellers website and is passionate about lifting up and sharing the story God is writing in the world.
This post contains affiliate links. By using these links to make a purchase, you’re helping Faith Storytellers continue to share inspiring stories of God’s work in the world.