Charles Stanley’s posthumous 90-day devotional provides a clear roadmap for Christians seeking purpose and peace through daily scripture, reflection and practical faith exercises, says our reviewer
In a world of turmoil, the path to peace is highly sought after, and the late Charles Stanley’s new book offers a clearly outlined journey to it.
In Your Path to Purpose, Passion, and Peace: 90 Days of Timeless Wisdom (Zondervan Books), Stanley, former pastor of First Baptist Atlanta, takes readers on a journey to discovering fulfilment in Christ, which is less formula and more transformation.
Each of the 90-day devotionals follows the same structure: a scripture reading reference and key verse for the day, a devotional thought (roughly a page long), and two ‘Goals for the Day’. These are followed by a section called ‘Faith in Action’, which gives readers space to write something based on the passage or the scripture which might be a prayer, reflections or the relevance of the reading to their own life. Each day ends with a pre-written prayer.
The format fosters a familiarity well-suited to a daily devotional. Readers quickly know what to expect, making it easier to build the habit of picking up the book each day for three months. At times, the ‘Goals for the Day’ and ‘Faith in Action’ prompts feel quite similar and could have been combined; a sharper distinction between the two would better justify them as separate sections. While not explicit, the whole devotional follows a clear structure that helps readers understand the gospel’s transformative power in daily life.
Using examples of heroes of the faith from the Bible, Stanley describes what it means to have faith in our everyday lives – faith that is victorious, that conquers, that perseveres when obstacles come. Looking at Hebrews 11, he reminds readers that the way of faith is not an easy way. It is: “…the way of trials. The way of most misunderstanding. The way of patience.” It is a fortifying start to the devotional – encouraging and charging up the Christian who longs to live a fulfilled life.
Over the subsequent days, readers are taught about sin, its consequences and how to deal with it. There are pages on repentance, forgiveness, the ultimate remedy for sin and more. For the newer Christian, these passages and scriptures provide clear definitions and detail on the basic principles of the faith. And more mature Christians will be encouraged by the reminders of elementary truths. Stanley explains the difference between punishment and consequence, reminding readers that the: “punishment for sin was meted out on [Jesus] at the cross”.
The devotional ends on the Christian’s empowered life, behaviour and what lies ahead. Security, supernatural strength, peace, wisdom and joy are the believer’s portion, Stanley explains. These characteristics are the result of the Spirit’s work in a person’s life, in partnership with their understanding of Christianity. Stanley’s devotional reminds readers of the importance of establishing trust in God, and a right understanding of sin, repentance and grace. This creates the foundation for the Christian to flourish; to have a life of purpose, passion and peace.
The length, clarity and simplicity of each daily devotion means Your Path to Purpose, Passion, and Peace is accessible to a wide range of readers. The daily goals and actions are manageable, ensuring readers won’t feel overwhelmed or unable to keep up with the readings. Some are practical and immediate: “Reach out to that person today” – while others serve as gentle first steps, such as: “Identify any obstacles that are blocking you from the life God wants you to have”. Still others encourage long-term acts of faith, like: “Pray to walk faithfully in the grace [God] provides in Jesus”. These varied tasks give readers the chance to activate their faith in different ways, inviting the Lord to work in their past, present and future.
Each day concludes with a prayer, affirming that God is in control and placing all actions, reflections, worries and desires in his care. As Stanley reminds us, it is ultimately God who can do all things – and in him we find everything needed for a fulfilling life.
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