The Message//REMIX Solo: An Uncommon Devotional

by Eugene H. Peterson, Jan Johnson, J.R. Briggs

Today's world is all about Now—a fast-moving, high-speed, on-demand lifestyle. But has this pace changed how we study the Bible? 

Our relationship with God is a journey, a walk where we grow closer to Him each day. So it makes sense that reading and understanding Scripture is a continual experience, not just a moment. 

This innovative devotional is designed to change how you interact with God's Word. The Message Remix: Solo revolves around lectio divina, or "divine reading," an ancient approach to exploring Scripture updated for today's students. Each devotion delivers a unique, contemplative study that will encourage you to: 

Listen: Uncover biblical wisdom and revelations as you learn to read without the typical limitations that often cut Bible reading short. 
Think: Immerse yourself in the passage as you place yourself in the story or meditate on words and phrases. 
Pray: Connect with God through prayer and praise as you encounter new ways to communicate with him. 
Live: Take some time for rest, introspection, or even activity as you discover how to take the Word with you throughout the day. 

Features include: 
o An introduction to the lectio divina style of study 
o A topical index for finding issues that impact your life 
o Numbered devotions so you can start any day of the year 
o A time of rest and reflection for every seventh day

So don't just read the Bible. Get engaged with God's Word and let it revolutionize your life.

Genres: Christian, Devotional, Religion

656 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2007

About the author

Eugene H. Peterson was a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. For many years he was James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He also served as founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. He had written over thirty books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language a contemporary translation of the Bible. After retiring from full-time teaching, Eugene and his wife Jan lived in the Big Sky Country of rural Montana. He died in October 2018.

Reviews

[A.C. Bauch · Rating 3 out of 5]

as a change of pace from my usual devotions, which sometimes felt more like homework than spending quiet, meditative time with God, i sought a self-contained devotional that was less academic. thus, i picked up this book.

i think that one of the devotional's greatest strengths is its structure, the lectio divina, which is described in the introduction as "reading, thinking, praying, and living Scripture with the intention of inviting an infinite, omniscient God into your life." using this four-fold method can benefit any Scripture study, even beyond the confines of this book.

however, i often found the "think" sections lacking. while the author sometimes asked questions that provoked you to dig deeper into the text itself, those types of questions were sadly in the minority. most of the questions were along the lines of "what do you think about...?" or "how does it make you feel...?" and those questions became more prevalent as the book continued. while i feel that a believer's thoughts and feelings are integral to any interaction with God's Word (after all, you can't just check those things at the door), when i do devotions, i prefer to learn more about my Lord and Savior than about myself.

i'm glad that i took the time to complete this devotional, and even though i don't think it's for everyone, i do feel that it can benefit those who are trying to establish a more consistent devotional life.

[Alena · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Message is my favorite translation of the Bible. Obviously, if you're doing deep study on the original languages or you need things to be precise, this isn't the bible for you. It's a paraphrase. However, you know how you realize at times that you're not thinking about what you're hearing because you've heard the story a hundred times before, so your brain shuts down a bit. The Message helps with that, because it's in such a different style and uses such different words that it wakes up your brain and makes you really *listen* again. I've caught so many things I hadn't realized I'd been skimming over. And if I feel there's a discrepancy between what I thought I knew and what is being presented, it's really easy to just start comparing different translations.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice combination of highlights from every book of the Bible, one for each day of the year. With each reading comes some questions and suggestions to guide reflection. This book has been a fixture on my toilet tank for years.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good way to spend a year with God. Highly reccomend it.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so excited about this devotional. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me to learn each day...