Sarah Young and Thomas Nelson know their teenage
audience. The back cover of Jesus Calling
for Teens: 50 Devotions for Busy Days states: “You’re running around like
crazy. You’ve got practice, school, homework, friends, parents’ expectations,
and so much more. How will you ever get it all done?” This sounds like the
mantra so many high schoolers chant.
The feel of
the book itself also screams teenager. It is small, thin, and sturdy. Digestible.
Easily slipped into a binder or backpack.
Once inside, the appropriateness continues. In the
Introduction, Young quells the world’s ideal of “busy is better.” And she
reminds her readers, as she does in her other books, that these devotions are
best read slowly. In a quiet spot. With Bible open.
The 50 devotions are simple: A title, a 1/2 page of
text, and a verse or two to read. I like that the verses aren’t written out
because that nudges the readers to open their Bibles and explore the verses for
themselves. Of course they could just read the devotional and not the verses,
but doing so would leave a nagging feeling of unfinished business. On the page
opposite the devotional is another verse, written out, and illustrated with a
vibrant design. The whole book is color—another attractive feature for
teenagers, or any reader for that matter.
The devotions themselves, written as though Jesus is
speaking directly to the reader, are powerful. Calming. Direct. Assuring. Each
devotion points to Jesus as the Life Giver, the Fulfiller, the Answer. They
remind readers that Jesus is enough, and that, in fact, He is everything. Jesus
invites the teenage readers to find solace in Him.
Upon first glance the book appears slightly
feminine, but upon opening it could definitely be an appropriate gift for both
genders. And there is a presentation page! A beautiful book.
The
publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through
BookSneeze®. I was not required to write a positive review.
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