Charles Stanley is well-known and beloved throughout broader evangelicalism as a pastor who is gentle and practical in application of the Bible. In a newly released daily devotional book, I Lift Up My Soul, years of that soul and experience is shown. In a brief devotional thought that includes a passage of Scripture to be read, along with the key verse highlighted to be meditated on, Stanley engages the reader with stories, writings from Christian history, and challenges to start the day.

As a devotional book, I find that the content is Biblical, easy to read, generally applicable and has an added strength in that it stands so easily on the shoulders of the rest of Christian tradition, with reaches back into the early church days to writings from men like A.W. Tozer. It’s personal, but shows regard for the context of Scripture, which is uncommon among devotional materials. If you’re into devotional books to spur/guide your personal devotional life, you would be well-served by I Lift Up My Soul.