Night Light: A Devotional for Couples

by James C. Dobson, Shirley Dobson

The challenge of sustaining an intimate, faith-based marriage in today's "hurry-up" society has never been greater. Now Night Light, the inspired, first-ever couples' devotional from Focus on the Family ministry founder Dr. James Dobson and his wife, Shirley, brings spouses together each evening, helping them stay connected with each other and their Lord. Stories that strike an emotional chord, Scripture readings, provocative questions, prayers, and personal commentary from the Dobsons encourage men and women in their homes and spiritual lives. More than just another devotional, Night Light is a practical, uplifting guide for every couple who longs to experience the joyous, intimate, "three-person" marriage covenant God intended.
Whether you're just married or are celebrating your golden anniversary, you need regular, quiet moments with your mate - times to renew love and intimacy between each other and with the Lord. "Night Light, "by Dr. James Dobson and his wife, Shirley, will help you do just that. This daily devotional offers the personal, practical, and biblical insights that have sustained the Dobsons' marriage for forty years and encouraged couples and families around the world. Let "Night Light" enrich your marriage, too -tonight and every night.

Genres: Marriage, Christian, Devotional, Nonfiction, Religion, Christian Living, Faith

304 pages, Hardcover

First published August 22, 2000

About the author

A licensed psychologist and marriage, family, and child counselor, Dr. James Dobson was a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. For 14 years Dr. Dobson was an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, and he served for 17 years on the attending staff of Children's Hospital Los Angeles in the Division of Child Development and Medical Genetics. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California (1967) in the field of child development.

He was the author of more than 50 books, including The New Dare to Discipline, The New Strong-Willed Child, When God Doesn't Make Sense, Night Light: A Devotional for Couples, Bringing Up Boys, and the New York Times bestseller Bringing Up Girls .

Heavily involved in influencing governmental policies related to the family, Dr. Dobson was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the National Advisory Commission to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. He also served on the Attorney General's Advisory Board on Missing and Exploited Children, the Department of Health and Human Services' Panel on Teen Pregnancy Prevention, and the Commission on Child and Family Welfare. He was elected in 2008 to the National Radio Hall of Fame, and in 2009 received the Ronald Reagan Lifetime Achievement Award.

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is meant to be a nightly devotional for married couples. Monday through Friday you read a couple paragraphs and then answer three or four discussion questions. Saturday and Sunday you just read a longer story without questions to review what you've discussed and prepare you for the next week's topic.

Even though my husband and I only stuck with it for three weeks, I would still tell other couples to give it a try. We only gave up on it because my husband wanted something that was more of an in-depth Bible study we could do together. This book has a single Bible verse on the top of each page, but that's it. The questions were more about relationships. Honestly, without the Bible verses it would feel like your average self-help marriage manual.

[Letitia · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I think spending time reading and discussing and sharing spiritual experiences with your spouse is crucial, Dobson's ideas of marriage are rooted too deeply in obsolete gender roles to be relevant to me or my relationships.

[Tara Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

This devotional book was given to my husband and I as a wedding present, and it was probably the most helpful thing we received that day. The devotions are insightful, often funny, and each includes questions for you and your spouse to answer together. Each devotion only takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and that is time very well spent. My husband and I read it together most every night during our first several months of marriage and it was so helpful. If you are newly married, or have been married for a long time and maybe aren't communicating as well as you'd like, I highly recommend this book.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wife and I got this book a few years ago with the intention of using it as designed—to share a devotion together as we went to bed at the end of each day. The problem was that as we went through the discussion questions at the end of each devotional, we'd end up getting in a fight half the time as we shared sensitive thoughts. Not a good way to drift off to sleep. So we shelved the book, until recently I got it out and read it alone as part of my daily devotionals. I really enjoyed it, and shared parts of it with her. I think it's enriched our marriage, but I'm still not sure I'd ever try using it as directed! Let not the sun go down on your wrath...

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hubby and I really liked this book. Each week is devoted to a topic. It is introduced on Sunday and each weeknight reading is followed by a few questions tying the topic to your marriage. The topic is then wrapped up on Saturday. This book gave us some great things to think and talk about. I would highly recommend it!

[Stephen Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife and I absolutely loved this devotional. I appreciated that the questions at the end of each lesson got us to ask questions that we normally wouldn't have thought to ask each other (questions that needed to be asked). We also greatly appreciated that it wasn't 'watered down', meaning it wasn't a devotional with a hint of God on the side but rather it was a full-on God centered devotional.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this book! This is a couples devotional that is EXCELLENT! My husband and I are really enjoying going through it together and look forward to the time we spend reading it each night.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie and I did this book for about a year and a half. It had good questions about our marriage, us, and our relationship with Christ. It is short and sweet and easy to do before bed, as long as you are not too tired.

[Victoria (TheMennomilistReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a pretty young married woman and this was more for people married at least ten years or more (which I am in my 5th year of marriage currently). It was inspiring and very lovely and I enjoyed reading it each night with my husband. I am sure we'll read it again one day together.

[Amos]

published by Multnomah Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 1720, Sisters, Oregon 97759. Found in SHB's pile when we installed the Readers Stand 8/5/2010
Think I read this a couple years ago added to my to-read pile 8/5/10

[Denielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first couple's devotional my husband and I tried. It was a nice way to reconnect on both a spiritual level and as a couple every evening. We enjoyed it so much we bought copies for a few other couples we know.

[Kaitlyn Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though my husband and I have only been married two years, the authors covered several topics that will better prepare us for the future. Loved how it was a page long with great discussion questions and ended in a simple prayer. Highly recommend.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The very first devotion in this book had me crying. Very, very good devotional for couples!

[Heather Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful devotional...loved it!

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good for a prayer time with your spouse. Quick and relevant. I usually hate Dobson, but they did a good job on this one.

[Larissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that I got from a friend as an engagement present. Yes, we are still reading it, but every time we go through it, we have the best discussions! Highly recommend this book.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a wonderful devotional for couples. Jason and I give it as a wedding gift to every couple that we know that gets married. we loved reading in it each night before going to bed.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for couples, I especially love the prayers at the end of each section.

[Luis Villasenor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't really an interenting read for my wife and I. I wanted to see what James C. Dobson had to write about and it seems like I not really fan of his writing.

[Kristina]

So much!!! Excellent devotional for couples. Thank you Mrs. Reimer (Nye!!)

[Southern Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Ally]

The best part of my day is spending time with Jeff every night working through this devotional.

[Stace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scott and I read this the first year we were married. Someone bought it for us as a wedding gift. I remember the "eight cow woman" story!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to us 9 years ago at our wedding. An amazing devotional to share with your spouse.

[Cynthia Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful devotional to share with my husband. I loved that we were able to see and use biblical principles in our marriage. I am passing the book onto a close friend and her husband.

[Rosanna Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful !!

[Justin Tapp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this before we had kids, would probably be a different read now. Don't recommend it unless you have kids.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great couples devotiion that you can use again and again! Spend a year reading and doing the exercises and your relationship will be richer for the time you invested.

[Allen Steele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This devotional was recommended to us, and was very insightful, I do recommend it for your walk.

[D.A. Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a bit quaint, in an old fashioned American pie way, this devotional has been really good for me and my wife who read it together at night as often as we could. Some of the stories are really moving. One in particular made me cry and another was laugh out loud funny. The thing is the stories weren't just shared for the sake of sharing stories but in order to demonstrate principles. There's lots of great advice for couples in this book and if read with an open mind it's hard to see how it could fail to improve a solid marriage or save a bad one. The reflection questions need to be answered honestly and at times they were confronting for us as a couple, but we often commented on how beneficial it was.

Just reading together was a great activity which had brought us closer, but more than that the content, so full of lived experience and wisdom, all based on a solid biblical foundation made it a winner.

Not to mention, it being co authored by a legend of Christendom, the late James Dobson who started the tremendously influential Focus on the Family ministry. Inspired by this positive experience with Night Light for Couples, my wife and I have decided to get another couples devotional book and continue this marriage enriching practice.