Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.
I love being able to share devotions and scripture with my kids in a variety of ways. There’s nothing more important! That’s why I was excited to review the Action Bible Anytime Devotions by David C Cook.
This book contains 90 devotions – that’s a lot! If you use one per day, you’re set for several months – and I like being able to establish a routine and settle in. The length of this book works well for that.
You don’t have to work your way straight through this book, though. It’s organized a bit differently than many devotionals: instead of random lessons, these are titled and organized. The titles are listed in the table of contents in the front of the book, and many of them are situational, so that you could choose a devotion based on what’s going on in your child’s life.
Each devotion is structured similarly. It starts out with a scripture verse, upon which the whole thing is based. Then comes the devotion itself. It’s short – just a few paragraphs – and is succinct and to the point.
Then comes the connection point. The next few points are made in bulleted paragraphs, and the first one connects the scripture and devotion to a child’s life. This is super important! It spells out clearly what all of the above means in a personal way. Kids need to know how the Bible is relevant to them, and this paragraph does this for all 90 devotions.
The next paragraph contains a sample prayer. For kids who might not have a history of praying, this is crucial. It’s an example of what one might want to say to God based on the lesson in the devotion. This part might not be necessary for kids who have strong mentors demonstrating prayer for them, but other kids might need this. It also restates the lesson and helps to put it into action, so if the reader didn’t understand the lesson before this, it provides another opportunity.
The next part is my favorite! It’s an action step. Now that you’ve learned the lesson, connected it to you, and prayed about it, how can you apply it? Some of these ask students to think or talk about something, but others are more concrete. Some ask students to memorize scripture, draw pictures, make cards, or help others. This part is really great – it’s all about faith in action!
There’s one last section. It’s not really a part of the devotion itself, but more like a bonus cut or extra helping. This part asks the reader to take the lesson further by looking up another related scripture passage and reading it. This is a great way for kids who have a solid background with scripture to go deeper.
The devotions are great for kids. I love the structure and how real and applicable each part is. The pictures, though? The pictures add an element of fun to the whole thing.
The Action Bible has illustrations that are very comic book-like, and this devotional has been created in a matching style. The illustrations have bold black lines and bright colors. They stand out and are very appealing to kids who love comic books, especially. I enjoy this element – I think it gives them a wider audience appeal, and it’s definitely different from the norm.
The Action Bible Anytime Devotions is a great devotional for middle grade kids – but don’t take my word for it. Check out other reviews from the Homeschool Review Crew here.
