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An Ocean of Grace: A Journey to Easter with Great Voices From the Past
Reflect on Jesus in the run-up to Easter with this inspiring collection of daily devotions and prayers from great Christian writers of the past.
An inspiring collection of daily devotions and prayers from great Christian writers of the past, including Augustine, Charles Spurgeon, John Bunyan, Catherine Parr and Martin Luther.
The heart-warming words of these saints of old exalt the grace and glory of Christ's work, and will encourage and inspire readers as much today as they did when they were first written.
Each daily reading has been selected, edited and introduced by Tim Chester to make these treasures accessible to every reader. They will help you reflect on Jesus in the run-up to Easter. Ideal to start at the beginning of Lent.
An inspiring collection of daily devotions and prayers from great Christian writers of the past, including Augustine, Charles Spurgeon, John Bunyan, Catherine Parr and Martin Luther.
The heart-warming words of these saints of old exalt the grace and glory of Christ's work, and will encourage and inspire readers as much today as they did when they were first written.
Each daily reading has been selected, edited and introduced by Tim Chester to make these treasures accessible to every reader. They will help you reflect on Jesus in the run-up to Easter. Ideal to start at the beginning of Lent.
157 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
36 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
About the author
Tim Chester
150 books186 followersDr Tim Chester is involved in The Crowded House, a church planting initiative in Sheffield, UK. He was previously Research & Policy Director for Tearfund UK, and has been published widely on prayer, mission, social issues and theology. He is married to Helen and has two daughters.
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April 7, 2023
Truly one of the more profound and impactful devotionals I’ve ever read! Amazing resource during lent season/preparing for Easter but you can’t go wrong reading it any time.
April 4, 2021
Devotionally very previous. Each day of Lent Tim Chester shares a single-paragraph meditation on a verse or two related to the heart of the gospel, feeding in to a slightly longer meditation or prayer from a Christian of the past. The book ends up filled with familiar truths expressed well by so many voices of the past two thousand years. I'll come back to this.
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April 19, 2025This was such a great book to pick up every day and meditate with on the lead up to Easter. Beautiful reflections and thoughts.
April 23, 2025
This was such a delightful book to go through with my family as we prepared ourselves for Easter. I highly commend it! Christ is risen!
January 22, 2021
In this book, author Tim Chester shares historic Christians' prayers, poems, and other reflections. He designed this book as a devotional that leads up to Easter, and each day's reading begins with a Bible verse, followed by a paragraph or two to provide context or set the tone. After this comes a selected writing from centuries past. Chester mentions in the introduction that he changed the wording occasionally to adapt archaic phrases for the modern reader, but these changes are not noticeable and do not alter the meaning of the work. Chester only altered the text to remove stumbling blocks to understanding, and the poems, prayers, and excerpts from prose writings all retain the authors' original voices and old-fashioned writing styles.
This book is similar to "The Valley of Vision," and I would recommend this to fans of that work and readers who are interested in historic Christian writings. I read this book over a brief period of time so that I could review it, but in the future, I would use it again for its intended purpose, going through it more slowly to soak up each day's content and message. However, I would definitely encourage readers to not limit this book's use to Easter. Even though Chester designed it for the season of Lent, this collection of daily readings can encourage and help a Christian at any time for the year, and a focus on Christ's sacrifice is always relevant.
This is a great devotional for readers who enjoy historic writings from Christian saints. It is also a good introduction to older writings for someone who is less familiar with them, since this collection eases up on archaic wording and includes context and explanation for the messages and main themes. My only critique is that this book could have benefited from a wider diversity of voices. The collection includes a few female writers, but mostly focuses on familiar church fathers and famous names like Luther and Spurgeon. I think it would have been ideal if Chester had included additional reflections from more broadly varied backgrounds, but this book is great for what it is, and I would recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book is similar to "The Valley of Vision," and I would recommend this to fans of that work and readers who are interested in historic Christian writings. I read this book over a brief period of time so that I could review it, but in the future, I would use it again for its intended purpose, going through it more slowly to soak up each day's content and message. However, I would definitely encourage readers to not limit this book's use to Easter. Even though Chester designed it for the season of Lent, this collection of daily readings can encourage and help a Christian at any time for the year, and a focus on Christ's sacrifice is always relevant.
This is a great devotional for readers who enjoy historic writings from Christian saints. It is also a good introduction to older writings for someone who is less familiar with them, since this collection eases up on archaic wording and includes context and explanation for the messages and main themes. My only critique is that this book could have benefited from a wider diversity of voices. The collection includes a few female writers, but mostly focuses on familiar church fathers and famous names like Luther and Spurgeon. I think it would have been ideal if Chester had included additional reflections from more broadly varied backgrounds, but this book is great for what it is, and I would recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2021
What can we learn from saints of old regarding the Calvary road? In An Ocean of Grace, Tim Chester takes us on a journey to Easter with great voices from the past.
This is a true devotional book. It begins at Lent and provides one Scripture reading, brief commentary from Chester, and a thought or prayer from a saint of old. You are meant to reflect on their words as you soak in the Scripture. Those who know The Valley of Vision will find this book to be familiar, yet a refreshing change of pace.
Words of Faith
This book is only 160 pages, but each is filled with words of faith. It’s divided into six weeks which helps keep a steady train of thought. The weeks are divided as The Light of Love, The Welcome of Grace, The Exchange of Places, The Assurance of Faith, The Gift of Christ, and The Victory of God.
While meant to be used as a book for personal devotions, I can see the book being used in many other ways. Preachers will find inspiration for quotations. Couples can read together for encouragement. Writers will find prompts for their pens. And we can all find power for our prayers.
Grace and Beauty
Each devotion opens with a short passage of Scripture. While the New Testament is highlighted, the Old Testament is also represented with verses from Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. You’ll read selections from Augustine, Spurgeon, Bunyan, Parr, and Luther. Their words land fresh, and I found them to be filled with grace and beauty.
As I read this book, I felt like I was celebrating Easter alongside these saints. We were sorrowful for our sins. Our hearts were filled with hope after hearing the Word. We relished the resurrection. We shared true joy in Jesus. We swim together in the same ocean of grace.
I received a media copy of An Ocean of Grace and this is my honest review.
This is a true devotional book. It begins at Lent and provides one Scripture reading, brief commentary from Chester, and a thought or prayer from a saint of old. You are meant to reflect on their words as you soak in the Scripture. Those who know The Valley of Vision will find this book to be familiar, yet a refreshing change of pace.
Words of Faith
This book is only 160 pages, but each is filled with words of faith. It’s divided into six weeks which helps keep a steady train of thought. The weeks are divided as The Light of Love, The Welcome of Grace, The Exchange of Places, The Assurance of Faith, The Gift of Christ, and The Victory of God.
While meant to be used as a book for personal devotions, I can see the book being used in many other ways. Preachers will find inspiration for quotations. Couples can read together for encouragement. Writers will find prompts for their pens. And we can all find power for our prayers.
Grace and Beauty
Each devotion opens with a short passage of Scripture. While the New Testament is highlighted, the Old Testament is also represented with verses from Psalms, Isaiah, and Zechariah. You’ll read selections from Augustine, Spurgeon, Bunyan, Parr, and Luther. Their words land fresh, and I found them to be filled with grace and beauty.
As I read this book, I felt like I was celebrating Easter alongside these saints. We were sorrowful for our sins. Our hearts were filled with hope after hearing the Word. We relished the resurrection. We shared true joy in Jesus. We swim together in the same ocean of grace.
I received a media copy of An Ocean of Grace and this is my honest review.
April 10, 2023
A wonderful way to approach Easter. I was blessed by the words of Christians from the past. It's a little foretaste of heaven where we will all glorify Jesus together, and a reminder that our Lord never changes. But their words help to keep the heart and mind on Jesus for today and every day. I appreciated Tim Chester's introduction to each reflection too.
April 4, 2021
There's nothing like voices of the past to remind us of God's unchanging and faithful promise. In an age when we can be so myopic and anxiety is rampant, God calls us to rest in Him, His Word, and gives us His "cloud of witnesses" through the ages to encourage us and help us to stand on solid ground, to be "like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither." (Psalm 1:3)
Thankful for this book in this season of my life.
Thankful for this book in this season of my life.
April 6, 2021
I started it a little late, so I wasn't able to read all of it. But the days I did read were so so good. 👌 Definitely a re-read for next year.
April 22, 2025
Really, really enjoyed! Wonderful lent meditations & I loved all the quotes from the greats of church history. Read with our family each night for family worship.
April 11, 2023
Mixed review on this one. The portions by the early church fathers (think 3rd-5th centuries) were excellent. The rest was pretty heavy on the complete depravity of man and light on gospel truth.
April 5, 2023
2021, 2023 Becoming a favorite devotional
January 24, 2021
An Ocean of Grace by Tim Chester is a 40 day collection of daily prayers and meditations starting on Ash Wednesday and extending the 40 days of Lent until Resurrection Sunday. Chester's goal is that the familiar truths of Christ's work would come with renewed power to captivate our hearts and minds. To that end, Chester defiantly achieved his goal. After a short introduction, Chester provides a quote from Christian saints (from the early church fathers to present) for prayer and meditation. While there is minimal editing to remove archaic language, the original author's voice is still very much present. Each day you are bathed in words that point you towards the work of Christ and our need for him. The poetic and vivid imagery used has a way of enhancing the beauty of the Gospel.
I never practiced Lent growing up in a non-liturgical, Baptist context. It was something that I understood some Christians did but it seemed foreign and ritualistic to me. As I grow in my maturity, I realize the value of the church calendar as Spiritual Formation. I also, recognize the abuses of the church calendar and ways it leads to a works-based faith mentality. Its not about the tool you use but about how you use it that matters; your heart's attitude while doing it. I look forward to restarting this book this Ash Wednesday and spending 40 days reflecting on Christ in anticipation for that faithful Resurrection Day.
I found the perspective Christian saints throughout the church's 2000 years of existence helpful in my own walk with Christ. With quotes from Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, John Owen, Ambrose, and more, it is bound to stir your affections. Every generation has its own emphasis and blind spots. When you read authors outside of your culture and time, you get a difference of perspective. Scripture and the Gospel is the same but sometimes we don't see all the beauty that exists because we view it from our "modern" perspective.
This book is great for every Christian. Each day will only take about 15 minutes or less of reading. The quotes tend to be more poetic, which may be more difficult for literal readers; but this should not deter you. While it is specifically written for Lent, it will undoubtable stir your affections for Christ in whatever season you find yourself in.
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. The opinions I express are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
I never practiced Lent growing up in a non-liturgical, Baptist context. It was something that I understood some Christians did but it seemed foreign and ritualistic to me. As I grow in my maturity, I realize the value of the church calendar as Spiritual Formation. I also, recognize the abuses of the church calendar and ways it leads to a works-based faith mentality. Its not about the tool you use but about how you use it that matters; your heart's attitude while doing it. I look forward to restarting this book this Ash Wednesday and spending 40 days reflecting on Christ in anticipation for that faithful Resurrection Day.
I found the perspective Christian saints throughout the church's 2000 years of existence helpful in my own walk with Christ. With quotes from Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, John Owen, Ambrose, and more, it is bound to stir your affections. Every generation has its own emphasis and blind spots. When you read authors outside of your culture and time, you get a difference of perspective. Scripture and the Gospel is the same but sometimes we don't see all the beauty that exists because we view it from our "modern" perspective.
This book is great for every Christian. Each day will only take about 15 minutes or less of reading. The quotes tend to be more poetic, which may be more difficult for literal readers; but this should not deter you. While it is specifically written for Lent, it will undoubtable stir your affections for Christ in whatever season you find yourself in.
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. The opinions I express are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
May 24, 2025
Tim Chester collected collected thoughtful writings about Christ’s death and resurrection and edited them into An Ocean of Grace: A Journey to Easter with Great Voices of the Past.
Some of the selections are from familiar pens: Augustine, Martin Luther, and Charles Spurgeon. Others are more obscure: Cyril of Alexander from the fifth century, Gregory of Myssa from the fourth, Cyprian of the third, and many others. I was delighted to see a piece by Anne Steele, an eighteenth-century female hymn writer. And I was surprised to see a selection from Catherine Parr, Henry VIII’s last wife, leading me to read a little more about her online. I think Spurgeon is the most recent of the authors included.
These selections are divided into daily readings from Ash Wednesday to Easter. They are grouped into themes for each week: The Light of Love, The Welcome of Grace, The Exchange of Places; The Assurance of Faith, The Gift of Christ, and The Victory of God.
In his introduction, Chester says he removed archaic language except for poetry and hymns while trying to retain the “voice” of the original authors. He also says many “descriptions have been turned into a prayer addressed to God or an exhortation addressed to our own souls.” He doesn’t say why, but he also turned what I think were prose selections into a free-verse style of poetry. I wish he had kept the selections closer to the originals–but then maybe I wouldn’t think so if I read the originals.
There were a few lines I disagreed with, and I had some quibbles about formatting issues. But overall, I enjoyed the book and will read it again.
Some of the selections are from familiar pens: Augustine, Martin Luther, and Charles Spurgeon. Others are more obscure: Cyril of Alexander from the fifth century, Gregory of Myssa from the fourth, Cyprian of the third, and many others. I was delighted to see a piece by Anne Steele, an eighteenth-century female hymn writer. And I was surprised to see a selection from Catherine Parr, Henry VIII’s last wife, leading me to read a little more about her online. I think Spurgeon is the most recent of the authors included.
These selections are divided into daily readings from Ash Wednesday to Easter. They are grouped into themes for each week: The Light of Love, The Welcome of Grace, The Exchange of Places; The Assurance of Faith, The Gift of Christ, and The Victory of God.
In his introduction, Chester says he removed archaic language except for poetry and hymns while trying to retain the “voice” of the original authors. He also says many “descriptions have been turned into a prayer addressed to God or an exhortation addressed to our own souls.” He doesn’t say why, but he also turned what I think were prose selections into a free-verse style of poetry. I wish he had kept the selections closer to the originals–but then maybe I wouldn’t think so if I read the originals.
There were a few lines I disagreed with, and I had some quibbles about formatting issues. But overall, I enjoyed the book and will read it again.
January 4, 2023
This was a great introduction to writings from Christians of the past, especially new names and names I wasn’t expecting (like Catherine Parr, sixth wife of King Henry VIII). The bitesize format of the writings makes them digestible and means you can meditate on them and go back to them throughout the day. I wasn’t able to do this as much as I would have liked. Tim Chester’s little intros also held some wonderful nuggets of truth. My one criticism is that the verses, intros and excerpts from the writers of the past didn’t always clearly connect. This may have been because I sometimes read them late at night, or didn’t take time to meditate on them, but at times the connections seemed a little forced or non-existent. That being said, I will go back to this for future lent seasons, perhaps a yearly tradition.
March 27, 2025
Chester's introduction on why we need to read the prayers and hymns of saints that have gone before us is encouraging and convicting. For the daily readings he gives historical context for each of the writers, which reminds us that believers who have gone before us have also struggled in the midst of the difficulty of living in the hope and shadow of the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter morning.
March 17, 2021
A beautiful book of prayerful, poetic reflections and verse. The collection is quite well edited and organized. I think the only thing I would change would be to leave out the devotional openings, leaving only the verse, but that is merely a personal preference.
I highly recommend this book, especially for preparing one’s heart for Easter during Lent.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I highly recommend this book, especially for preparing one’s heart for Easter during Lent.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 4, 2021
Basically ‘Valley of Vision’ with a trendy cover.
Chester will bring the Puritans (and some other Big Dogs of the faith) to new readers, which is great. But he relies too much on Spurgeon when there’s honestly SUCH a range to choose from.
Absolute highlight were two gems from Catherine Parr - sixth wife of Henry VIII and the first woman to publish a book in English under her own name (💪🔥)
Chester will bring the Puritans (and some other Big Dogs of the faith) to new readers, which is great. But he relies too much on Spurgeon when there’s honestly SUCH a range to choose from.
Absolute highlight were two gems from Catherine Parr - sixth wife of Henry VIII and the first woman to publish a book in English under her own name (💪🔥)
April 4, 2021
A nice collection of re-worked and re-fashioned words on Jesus for the Lenten season from the early Church fathers to the Puritans. I find Chester’s devotions moving, though at times a few daily selections were a bit bland and shallow in content. Regardless of those few entries, overall this was a good way to stay centered on Jesus and His grace each day during this season of Lent (2021).
April 12, 2023
A poetic collection of historical writings that lead us through Lent. The author first provides scripture then an intro before the work of a Christian from the past. From 5th century preists to Queen Catherine Parr to Martin Luther, these writings will show you how Christ has inspired through the ages. Well arranged and well written.
April 5, 2021
Inspirational series of lenten readings looking back on past Godly writings and prayers, beautifully compiled by Tim Chester. An excellent lead in to Easter and the perfect preparation for the holy weekend.
May 11, 2021
Tim Chester's introductions made these meditations and prayers from great saints of the past much more accessible to me than Valley of Vision (which I've always struggled to get into.)
Excellent Lenten devotional that could be used any time of year.
Excellent Lenten devotional that could be used any time of year.
May 27, 2021
This is a collection of Easter meditations using writings from some of the great Christians of the past. Some of the writings are from the church fathers and some are from writings as late as Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
April 3, 2021
Fascinating Lenten devotional. While the range of voices could perhaps have been wider - there are several repeated characters - this is thoughtful and interesting.
April 4, 2021
Helped my devotions immensely as I read the daily passages from Ash Wednesday to Resurrection Sunday
April 4, 2021
I enjoyed this ... helped to focus on the meaning of Easter in the lead up to the time. Enjoyable and insightful to hear from so many authors who I otherwise would not read much of.
April 5, 2021
I enjoyed the prayers and commentary in this collection of past Christians' writings.
April 6, 2021
Now THIS is an incredible book! It will take some time to put into words even a small portion of the encouragement and sanctifying work this book rooted in me.
April 7, 2021
Good book. This book had a variety of writers who were writing about Lent and Easter prayers. Some of these are from the 300's to the current century. Excellent read.
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