I’ve been disappointed by devotional literature more times than I can recall. The whole lot of it seems too mushy and theologically ungrounded. Then I found Marva Dawn.

The concept underlying this book is simple: Dawn wrote a four or five page devotion on each of the 31 verses of Isaiah 40. The execution, however, was profound. Dawn used her knowledge of Hebrew to bring out a number of subtle nuances that English readers would miss. She paired this with honest personal experience to create a devotional that is both poignant and theologically intelligent.

This is the first devotional work I’ve read one chapter at a time. You need to meditate on each verse as you work your way through.

To Walk and Not Faint rises above the mediocrity in the genre today. ( )