Each month, you’ll hear from one of us on what we’re reading and a little bit about the book. This month we’re sharing book notes on Kelly Minter’s, The Blessed Life. Enjoy!
“Imagine how your life might change if you followed Jesus up that Galilean hillside, hearing His most famous Sermon for yourself as you sat in the tall grass. Imagine how the world might change if you followed Him down the mountain, reaching your arms out as He did to a harvest field desperate for His touch.”
Most Christians are familiar with Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, and most Christians are familiar with the miracles of Jesus. But rarely do we read books where His sermon and miracles are packaged side-by-side. Kelly Minter does just that in her new devotional, The Blessed Life: A 90-Day Devotional Through the Teachings and Miracles of Jesus.
The devotional is a 90-day journey, and it is divided into two parts—the teachings of Jesus and the miracles of Jesus. Kelly takes readers through Matthew 4–9 while explaining just a couple of verses per day. Each day in the devotional is two to three pages, making it accessible and approachable. She provides personal insights, stories, and reflections while also speaking to the truth of the narrative and bringing the words of Scripture to life with care and faithfulness.
Here are a few features you might want to know about The Blessed Life:
- It’s beautiful. When I received my copy, I literally gasped when I took it out of the package. It is stunning. The devotional features a textured cover with an illustration of seagrass and an exquisite typeset with a ribbon bookmark inside. It would be a lovely gift!
- Kelly’s words are warm, engaging, and captivating. Kelly certainly has a way of making you feel like you are living in the narrative of the book of Matthew when you are reading The Blessed Life. She brings to life the teachings and healings of Jesus on every single page. Kelly’s heart for this book is that we would know the person of Jesus more, and her exposition and careful explanation of Scripture helps us to relate to and learn from Jesus’s words in an extraordinary way.
- Kelly has done her homework! A lot of research and study went into this devotional, and you can tell. Kelly offers historical elements of Jesus’s day and references the original language when appropriate. These insights give the reader a special look into the narrative. The Blessed Life is an accessible devotional for new and seasoned believers alike, which makes it great for just about anyone.
- The devotional is perfect for the Easter season. During the weeks leading up to Easter, Christians tend to begin to reflect and think on the person and work of Jesus and His earthly ministry. This book would be a wonderful resource to use to prepare our hearts to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. The emphasis on the narrative of Matthew 4–9 is especially pertinent during the Easter season as we think about Jesus’s life on earth.
In Kelly’s own words in the introduction to the book, “This devotional is for anyone who wants to take a fresh look at the person of Jesus,” and she has done just that. This devotional is a prescription for how to live—not based on the wisdom of the world, but based on the wisdom that only Jesus can provide. Kelly invites readers to join her on this 90-day journey “to know Jesus more deeply and reflect Him more fully.”
Kelly Minter is no stranger to Lifeway and Lifeway Women. Her warm, engaging writing can be found in many books and Bible studies such as Ruth, Encountering God, and Finding God Faithful, and she has even written a beautiful cookbook, A Place at the Table. The Blessed Life is a must for any believer who wants to know Jesus more. Grab a copy of The Blessed Life here.
Whitney Walker Alexander serves as the marketing strategist for books for B&H Publishing, an imprint of Lifeway Christian Resources. Whitney is a pastor’s wife to her husband, Mat, and they live in Gadsden, Alabama, with their three children, Wattsie, Ford, and Jim, their rambunctious dog, Boyce, and their new puppy, Althea. When Whitney isn’t marketing books, she is reading books, making to-do lists, and laughing with her family. You can follow Whitney on Instagram at @whitneywalexander.
