One of the questions I am asked from time to time is what I actually use during my morning quiet time.
People often assume there must be a long reading list or an elaborate routine behind what they see online, but the truth is much simpler than that. My mornings have never been shaped by trying to read everything at once or by feeling that I have to work through countless resources in order to grow spiritually. Instead, they have been shaped by returning to a handful of trusted books and devotionals that have encouraged me in different seasons of my life.
The Bible has always remained at the centre of my quiet time, and I hope it always will. Every other book sits around Scripture rather than alongside it, serving as a companion that helps me reflect more deeply on God’s Word instead of replacing it.
Over the years, I have discovered that different seasons often call for different resources. There are books I reach for when I want to deepen my understanding of Scripture, others that encourage my prayer life, and others that gently challenge my spiritual habits. I do not read them all throughout the year. Instead, I return to them at different times, allowing each one to serve its purpose before moving on to another.
Looking back, I can see that these books have quietly shaped my mornings in ways I probably did not recognise at the time.
The Bible Will Always Be My Starting Point
Every morning begins with Scripture.
That may sound like the obvious answer, but I think it is worth saying because it is easy to become fascinated by Christian books while unintentionally neglecting the Book they are all pointing towards.
No devotional, commentary, or Christian author can replace the voice of God speaking through His Word.
Some mornings I read through a Bible reading plan. Other mornings I spend longer sitting with a smaller passage, allowing it to shape my prayers and my thinking before the day begins. The rhythm changes from season to season, but the priority remains the same.
Everything else I read is intended to deepen my understanding of Scripture rather than compete with it.
Link: Thomas Nelson NKJV Large Print Bible
Enduring Word Bible Commentary
Whenever I come across a passage that feels difficult to understand or I want to explore the historical and biblical context in greater depth, I almost always turn to the Enduring Word Bible Commentary.
One of the things I appreciate most about this resource is that it helps explain Scripture in a way that is both accessible and faithful to the biblical text. Rather than simply telling me what to think, it encourages me to look more carefully at what the passage is actually saying and how it fits into the wider story of Scripture.
I have found it particularly helpful when studying books of the Bible more slowly or preparing for deeper personal study.
Link: Enduring Word Bible Commentary
Proverbs Prayers by John Mason
If there is one devotional I return to year after year, it is Proverbs Prayers by John Mason.
For at least six months of the year, I read one chapter each day alongside the corresponding chapter in Proverbs. Since Proverbs contains thirty-one chapters, it naturally fits the rhythm of each month, making it an easy devotional to revisit regularly without feeling overwhelming.
I love the way this book turns the wisdom of Proverbs into thoughtful prayers that encourage reflection rather than simply rushing through another reading.
There is something beautifully grounding about beginning the day with practical wisdom that speaks into everyday decisions, attitudes, relationships, and character. Even after reading it multiple times, I continue to find fresh encouragement because God’s wisdom never becomes outdated.
Link: Proverbs Prayers by John Mason
Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be by Donna Partow
Another book that has accompanied me through different seasons is Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be by Donna Partow.
I appreciate this book because it approaches spiritual growth in a way that feels practical, encouraging, and deeply rooted in everyday life. Rather than focusing on dramatic transformation, it gently reminds us that becoming more like Christ is usually shaped through ordinary habits of obedience, humility, and consistency.
It has challenged me to think honestly about my priorities while continually pointing me back to God’s grace instead of performance.
Like many of the books on this list, I return to it when I feel the need for fresh perspective rather than reading it continuously throughout the year.
Link:Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be
Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson
Prayer has become an increasingly important part of my spiritual life over the years, which is why I have also found Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge by Mark Batterson to be a meaningful companion during particular seasons.
I do not work through it every year, but whenever I return to it, I find myself challenged to pray with greater expectancy while remembering that prayer is ultimately about knowing God more deeply rather than simply receiving answers.
The daily readings are short enough to fit naturally into a morning routine while offering thoughtful encouragement to remain persistent in prayer, especially during seasons when answers seem slow in coming.
Link: Draw the Circle
The Gentle Reset Ultimate Bundle
Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the resources I now use regularly are the ones I created through my own journey of learning to slow down and make space for God.
The Gentle Reset Ultimate Bundle was born out of a desire to create the kind of resources I wished I had during seasons when life felt busy, overwhelming, or spiritually dry.
Rather than working through every resource at the same time, I use them at different points throughout the year depending on what I need most in that season.
The 21 Day Devotional helps me slow down and refocus whenever life begins to feel hurried.
The Prayer Companion gives me simple prompts that help deepen my conversations with God when I find myself praying the same familiar prayers.
The Scripture Anchors are especially helpful during seasons when I want to meditate more intentionally on God’s Word throughout the day.
The Reflection Companion creates space to process what God has been teaching me rather than rushing straight into the next thing.
Although I created these resources, they have genuinely become part of my own spiritual rhythms because they reflect the journey God has been leading me on over the past few years.
Link: The Gentle Reset Ultimate Bundle
Conversations with My Father Prayer Journal
Alongside these books, one resource that is almost always open beside my Bible is my Conversations with My Father Prayer Journal.
Writing my prayers has become one of the ways I slow my thoughts enough to listen as well as speak. Some mornings the pages are filled with gratitude, while on other days they contain questions, prayers for my family, reflections on Scripture, or simply the honest thoughts I want to place before God.
Looking back through previous entries often reminds me of prayers God has already answered and seasons He has faithfully carried me through. Those moments have strengthened my faith more times than I can count because they remind me that God’s faithfulness becomes much easier to recognise when we take time to remember it.
Link: Conversations with My Father Prayer Journal
Building a Reading Life That Supports Your Walk with God
One of the things I have learned over the years is that Christian books are wonderful companions, but they are exactly that, companions.
They are not substitutes for Scripture, nor do they all need to be read at once.
There are seasons when one book speaks exactly to what you need, while another sits quietly on the shelf until the right time comes. Giving yourself permission to move through resources slowly allows you to read more thoughtfully and gives God space to speak through what you are learning.
Your quiet time does not become richer because you read more books. It becomes richer because whatever you are reading is drawing you closer to Christ.
A Soft Next Step
If you are looking to build a gentle and sustainable morning routine with God, I hope some of these books and resources encourage you as they have encouraged me.
You can find links to each of the books and devotionals mentioned throughout this article, along with access to the free resources available inside The 6Eleven Life Free Library.
Inside the library, you’ll also find Scripture-based affirmations, Bible reading resources, Identity in Christ Scripture Cards, devotionals, prayer tools, and other resources created to help you cultivate a steady and life-giving relationship with God.
Whether you are just beginning your quiet time journey or simply looking for fresh encouragement, I hope you find something there that supports your walk with Him.
You can access the Free Library here: Free Library
Closing Reflection
When I look back over the years, I realise it has not been one particular book that has shaped my mornings, but the quiet habit of continually returning to God day after day.
Some seasons have been filled with long, unhurried mornings, while others have been much shorter because life demanded something different. The rhythm has changed more than once, but the invitation has remained the same. To open His Word, to spend time in prayer, and to allow my heart to be gently reoriented before the rest of the day begins.
The books I have shared here have all played a part in that journey, and I am grateful for each of them. Yet the greatest gift they have given me is not simply the knowledge they contain, but the way they have consistently pointed me back to Scripture, encouraged me to pray more honestly, and reminded me that spiritual growth is rarely built through extraordinary moments. More often, it is formed through the ordinary decision to keep showing up, one morning at a time.
Want more encouragement for your faith journey?
Listen to the podcast –
Don’t forget to check out our FREE resources to help you on your walk with God HERE
Also, follow me on Instagram @biyaigarricks for daily encouragement rooted in God’s Word.
Stay blessed.
Biyai
Discover more from Biyai Garricks
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.