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Grace Notes: Daily Readings with a Fellow Pilgrim
" “There is no writer in the evangelical world that I admire and appreciate more.” - Billy Graham Philip Yancey’s words—captured in his many bestselling books—have influenced the lives of millions of readers by strengthening their faith, building their hope, sparking their creativity, and challenging their comfort zones. If you’re one of those readers, you know personally how his insights have affected your mind and heart. And if you’re new to Yancey, you’re in for a life-altering experience. These meditations—all drawn from the beloved and bestselling writings of the author—will take you through an entire year of Yancey’s insight and imagination, covering a broad range of topics: • How to rediscover God through the wonders of nature, music, and romantic love • Why grace means you can’t do anything to make God love you more or less • What happens when you cut through preconceptions to encounter the “real” Jesus • How to renew your understanding and practice of prayer • Where you can see God in unexpected people and places • How to cope when life crashes in around you Every day, experience the best from a beloved author who, with freshness, clarity, and energy, has so brilliantly articulated God’s wonderful but mysterious relationship with you. "
432 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 2009
272 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
About the author
Philip Yancey
299 books2,389 followersA native of Atlanta, Georgia, Philip Yancey earned graduate degrees in Communications and English from Wheaton College Graduate School and the University of Chicago. He joined the staff of Campus Life Magazine in 1971, and worked there as Editor and then Publisher. He looks on those years with gratitude, because teenagers are demanding readers, and writing for them taught him a lasting principle: The reader is in control!
In 1978 Philip Yancey became a full-time writer, initially working as a journalist for such varied publications as Reader’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, National Wildlife, Christian Century and The Reformed Journal. For several years he contributed a monthly column to Christianity Today magazine, where he also served as Editor at Large.
In 2021 Philip released two new books: A Companion in Crisis and his long-awaited memoir, Where the Light Fell. Other favorites included in his more than twenty-five titles are: Where Is God When It Hurts, The Student Bible, and Disappointment with God. Philip's books have won thirteen Gold Medallion Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, have sold more than seventeen million copies, and have been published in over 50 languages. Christian bookstore managers selected The Jesus I Never Knew as the 1996 Book of the Year, and in 1998 What’s So Amazing About Grace? won the same award. His other recent books are Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God’s Image; Vanishing Grace: Bringing Good News to a Deeply Divided World; The Question that Never Goes Away; What Good Is God?; Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?; Soul Survivor; and Reaching for the Invisible God. In 2009 a daily reader was published, compiled from excerpts of his work: Grace Notes.
The Yanceys lived in downtown Chicago for many years before moving to a very different environment in Colorado. Together they enjoy mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, and all the other delights of the Rocky Mountains.
Visit Philip online:
https://www.philipyancey.com
https://www.facebook.com/PhilipYancey
Catch his monthly blog:
https://bit.ly/PhilipYanceyBlog
In 1978 Philip Yancey became a full-time writer, initially working as a journalist for such varied publications as Reader’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, National Wildlife, Christian Century and The Reformed Journal. For several years he contributed a monthly column to Christianity Today magazine, where he also served as Editor at Large.
In 2021 Philip released two new books: A Companion in Crisis and his long-awaited memoir, Where the Light Fell. Other favorites included in his more than twenty-five titles are: Where Is God When It Hurts, The Student Bible, and Disappointment with God. Philip's books have won thirteen Gold Medallion Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, have sold more than seventeen million copies, and have been published in over 50 languages. Christian bookstore managers selected The Jesus I Never Knew as the 1996 Book of the Year, and in 1998 What’s So Amazing About Grace? won the same award. His other recent books are Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God’s Image; Vanishing Grace: Bringing Good News to a Deeply Divided World; The Question that Never Goes Away; What Good Is God?; Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?; Soul Survivor; and Reaching for the Invisible God. In 2009 a daily reader was published, compiled from excerpts of his work: Grace Notes.
The Yanceys lived in downtown Chicago for many years before moving to a very different environment in Colorado. Together they enjoy mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, and all the other delights of the Rocky Mountains.
Visit Philip online:
https://www.philipyancey.com
https://www.facebook.com/PhilipYancey
Catch his monthly blog:
https://bit.ly/PhilipYanceyBlog
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 16, 2024
This book is a re-read from years ago. I wanted a daily devotional I could use along with other readings. Even though I finished early, I did enjoy and meditate on each reading. Each day is an excerpt from one of the author's many books or magazine columns. I have most of the books the excerpts were derived from. I encourage the reader of the book to look into those offerings as well.
December 30, 2023
This has been my companion throughout the year 2023. I am grateful to Yancey for his careful collection of key insights from almost all his literature. I end the year with his devotional. It is all about God’s unimaginable gift and His unfathomable grace—and of course, how we perceive it and respond to it. As Yancey highlights in the end, however, the most important message is ‘Just let God love you’.
Deeply grateful to God for this year.
Deeply grateful to God for this year.
March 8, 2018
Grace Notes is a compilation of 366 daily inspirational readings by my very favorite author Philip Yancey (I've read about 13-14 of his books). It's laid out as one page daily readings, selected and edited from Mr. Yancey's previous books and columns. I couldn't help myself though -- I read several a day, so here it is March 8 and I've already finished a whole year's worth of daily inspirational readings. Did I mention that Philip Yancey is my favorite author? :)
As the title indicates, the readings are centered around the theme of grace. Grace as a theme doesn't explicitly appear in every reading, but it regularly circles back to the theme. The readings are often geared to specific days and seasons (Resurrection Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc) so read Christmais-related topics in December (unless you read the book the way I did and got Christmas in March!)
Philip Yancey always leaves me reflecting and thinking deeply. I'm glad that he's not afraid to tackle difficult questions and he shares his own struggles and questions about faith. I highly recommend this book and this author!
As the title indicates, the readings are centered around the theme of grace. Grace as a theme doesn't explicitly appear in every reading, but it regularly circles back to the theme. The readings are often geared to specific days and seasons (Resurrection Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc) so read Christmais-related topics in December (unless you read the book the way I did and got Christmas in March!)
Philip Yancey always leaves me reflecting and thinking deeply. I'm glad that he's not afraid to tackle difficult questions and he shares his own struggles and questions about faith. I highly recommend this book and this author!
December 23, 2010
My absolute favorite author. Have read most of his books and am in the process of completing everything he has written. This is a good sampling of excerpts from his many excellent books and articles. The bite-sized, one page excerpts allow for morning reading and mulling over his insights throughout the day. He is so good at challenging the reader yet being compassionate.
September 21, 2021
I listened to this on audiobook and found it so enriching. Also a great way to get a lot of snippets from his many books.
January 1, 2020
I think that Philip Yancey is one of the gifted Christian writers alive today. His insight is so far beyond mine and I always learn from his writings. This daily devotional is a collection of bits and pieces from his previous writings. I never finish anything by Yancey without learning something, even if it is only insight into myself. The readings are easy, Yancey is a modern man and often speaks of current events (except this book came out in 2009) and some of the events are not so current anymore. Nonetheless, I learned from everyone. These daily readings were a blessing to me and I encourage anyone who wants to know more about Christianity to read them. A wonderful book that has been on my shelf for years now.
December 31, 2019
One I’ll read again and again
Mr. Yancey isn’t afraid to bare his soul about struggles he’s had with his faith and other things and in so doing, helps those of us who share the same struggles. It’s a powerful book. I’d recommend it, not only to people who are already Christians, but I’d also challenge those aren’t to read it. It’s not preachy, but very insightful and thought provoking.
Mr. Yancey isn’t afraid to bare his soul about struggles he’s had with his faith and other things and in so doing, helps those of us who share the same struggles. It’s a powerful book. I’d recommend it, not only to people who are already Christians, but I’d also challenge those aren’t to read it. It’s not preachy, but very insightful and thought provoking.
December 31, 2021
GREAT Devotional
Covering a wide range of topics, Yancey causes you to think differently about many Biblical topics. In his unique style he challenges our lazy thinking and makes us rethink all of our assumptions. Highly recommended.
Covering a wide range of topics, Yancey causes you to think differently about many Biblical topics. In his unique style he challenges our lazy thinking and makes us rethink all of our assumptions. Highly recommended.
May 25, 2017
This is my favorite devotional. Drawing on Yancey's many years of research, writing, and reporting, it's more thought-provoking than the average devotional.
December 31, 2022
These daily readings are thought provoking and honest. They are a wonderful antidote to devotional writing that is simplistic and one sided. I have read through this book many times, and always benefit from it. A quote from the entry for 12/30, which is designed to help the reader see Christmas is a new way, demonstrates this as Yancey wrote “Jesus embodies the promise of a God who will go to any length to get his family back.” I am not aware of any other writer describing Christmas as God working to get His family back, which I think, demonstrates Yancey’s ability to look at faith in a different and very helpful way.
January 25, 2023
Philip Yancey is the best Christian author.
Had to read his book in Bible College.
Got to listen to him speak in Wellington, New Zealand 🇳🇿.
One of my top 10 favorite Christian albums was by Audio Adrenaline who songs this quote by Philip Yancey in ---"The Jesus I Never Knew":
"Underdog. I wince even as I write the word, especially in connection with Jesus...Yet as I read the birth stories about Jesus I cannot help but conclude that though the world may be titled toward the rich and powerful, God is tilted toward the underdog." p. 39
Had to read his book in Bible College.
Got to listen to him speak in Wellington, New Zealand 🇳🇿.
One of my top 10 favorite Christian albums was by Audio Adrenaline who songs this quote by Philip Yancey in ---"The Jesus I Never Knew":
"Underdog. I wince even as I write the word, especially in connection with Jesus...Yet as I read the birth stories about Jesus I cannot help but conclude that though the world may be titled toward the rich and powerful, God is tilted toward the underdog." p. 39
July 16, 2017
Yancey Does it Again
Every time I read a book by Philip Yancey I am challenged and stretched in my personal faith. I am forced to take a fresh view of familiar material, that is, the material of belief in The Christ of Christianity. This book of compilations designed as a daily devotional is a gem. But I couldn't hold myself to one a day. I just read and absorbed. Maybe now I can go back and re-read it following the calendar. Thank you Mr. Yancey.
Every time I read a book by Philip Yancey I am challenged and stretched in my personal faith. I am forced to take a fresh view of familiar material, that is, the material of belief in The Christ of Christianity. This book of compilations designed as a daily devotional is a gem. But I couldn't hold myself to one a day. I just read and absorbed. Maybe now I can go back and re-read it following the calendar. Thank you Mr. Yancey.
January 9, 2019
Great way to start the day!
This is a good book to start your day with a positive view of life. It gives you much food for thought and you will reflect on it all day!
This is a good book to start your day with a positive view of life. It gives you much food for thought and you will reflect on it all day!
December 31, 2023
This was a very good daily devotional for the year. If you're looking for some short spiritual thoughts for each day this next year you should check this one out.
December 31, 2024
Second time around, it was great reconnecting with Yancey's writings, most of which I've read.
October 20, 2009
Philip Yancey’s writings both encourage and challenge me. The insights and observations he offers in his work bear witness of his contemplative walk with God. It is for this reason that I anticipated reading his new devotional Grace Notes: Daily Readings with a Fellow Pilgrim.
In this 366 day devotional, he includes key sections from previous works such as The Jesus I Never Knew, What’s So Amazing About Grace?, and Where Is God When It Hurts?, as well as many of his other writings.
The form of this devotional is quite different from most. The majority of devotionals I’ve read take the form first of a select scripture, then perhaps a related quote, a short grouping of text to illuminate the scripture and sometimes a prayer.
In Grace Notes: Daily Readings with a Fellow Pilgrim, scripture is mentioned and referenced in the text but not listed separately at the beginning or ending of the devotion for that day. It is a different approach to devotional reading and brings a more conversational tone to the book.
So many areas of Christianity are covered in this devotional which makes it one to keep and return to year after year. If you are new to the writings of Philip Yancey, a descriptive bibliography is included referencing many of his books and articles.
If asked which one of Philip Yancey’s books was my favorite, I would be hard pressed to give only one. Yancey is thoughtful and provocative, engaging and inspiring, and always sincere and genuine. This makes this devotional rare indeed.
Consider the following concepts:
* From June 1st, entitled ‘Atrocious Mathematics‘ – “I hear a loud whisper from the gospels that tells me that I did not get what I deserved. I deserved punishment but I got forgiveness.”
* From August12th entitled ‘Downward Surrender’ -“Jesus suggest that we discover self not by staring inward but by gazing outward, not through introspection but through acts of love.”
* From November 4th, entitled ‘Weapons of Mercy’ -“If my activism, however, well-motivated, drives out love, then I have misunderstood Jesus’ Gospel. I am stuck with the law, not the gospel of grace.”
This would be a wonderful gift for any occasion. I recommend it highly. The review copy I received at no cost and was donated to my local church.
In this 366 day devotional, he includes key sections from previous works such as The Jesus I Never Knew, What’s So Amazing About Grace?, and Where Is God When It Hurts?, as well as many of his other writings.
The form of this devotional is quite different from most. The majority of devotionals I’ve read take the form first of a select scripture, then perhaps a related quote, a short grouping of text to illuminate the scripture and sometimes a prayer.
In Grace Notes: Daily Readings with a Fellow Pilgrim, scripture is mentioned and referenced in the text but not listed separately at the beginning or ending of the devotion for that day. It is a different approach to devotional reading and brings a more conversational tone to the book.
So many areas of Christianity are covered in this devotional which makes it one to keep and return to year after year. If you are new to the writings of Philip Yancey, a descriptive bibliography is included referencing many of his books and articles.
If asked which one of Philip Yancey’s books was my favorite, I would be hard pressed to give only one. Yancey is thoughtful and provocative, engaging and inspiring, and always sincere and genuine. This makes this devotional rare indeed.
Consider the following concepts:
* From June 1st, entitled ‘Atrocious Mathematics‘ – “I hear a loud whisper from the gospels that tells me that I did not get what I deserved. I deserved punishment but I got forgiveness.”
* From August12th entitled ‘Downward Surrender’ -“Jesus suggest that we discover self not by staring inward but by gazing outward, not through introspection but through acts of love.”
* From November 4th, entitled ‘Weapons of Mercy’ -“If my activism, however, well-motivated, drives out love, then I have misunderstood Jesus’ Gospel. I am stuck with the law, not the gospel of grace.”
This would be a wonderful gift for any occasion. I recommend it highly. The review copy I received at no cost and was donated to my local church.
April 3, 2011
I found this daily devotional very satisfying and inspiring...reminiscent of Frederick Buechner's work. It consists of excerpts from Yancey's other writings, some of which I had already read...some others, I've added to my To Read list.
To me, the strength of this book--as in most of Yancey's writing--is its honesty about doubts, fears, questions, and how religion plays out in a real life. I found it to be clear and powerful as he shared his ways of dealing with doubt, faith, temptation, and hypocrisy:
"In my spiritual journey as well as in my writing career I have long lingered in the margins, pondering unanswerable questions about the problem of pain, the conundrums of prayer, providence versus free will, and other such matters. When I do so, everything becomes fuzzy. Looking at Jesus, however, restores clarity."
"...Satan's power is external and coercive. God's power, in contrast, is internal and noncoercive...God became weak for one purpose: to let human beings choose freely for themselves what to do with him."
"...only love can summon a response of love, which is the one ting God wants from us...Love has its own power, the only power ultimately capable of conquering the human heart."
"But we dare not make sweeping claims about the promise of God's intimate presence unless we take into account those times when God seems absent. The great saints encountered it, Job encountered it, and at some point nearly everyone must face the fact of God's hiddenness."
Yancy states, "I have cast my lot with a gospel based on grace." Yet even in this statement, Yancey acknowledges the danger of falling into the trap of doing whatever we want because we've already been forgiven. "An individualistic society America is in constant danger of freedom abuse; its churches are in danger of grace abuse."
A devotional of this sort is, by its very nature, just bits and pieces of wisdom and inspiration, but it touches on the core issues that a Christian faces in life, and it offers insight into ways that a seeker can strengthen his/her connection with God. This starts...and ends...by intentionally drawing near to a God who, Yancey believes, yearns for us as much as we yearn for Him.
To me, the strength of this book--as in most of Yancey's writing--is its honesty about doubts, fears, questions, and how religion plays out in a real life. I found it to be clear and powerful as he shared his ways of dealing with doubt, faith, temptation, and hypocrisy:
"In my spiritual journey as well as in my writing career I have long lingered in the margins, pondering unanswerable questions about the problem of pain, the conundrums of prayer, providence versus free will, and other such matters. When I do so, everything becomes fuzzy. Looking at Jesus, however, restores clarity."
"...Satan's power is external and coercive. God's power, in contrast, is internal and noncoercive...God became weak for one purpose: to let human beings choose freely for themselves what to do with him."
"...only love can summon a response of love, which is the one ting God wants from us...Love has its own power, the only power ultimately capable of conquering the human heart."
"But we dare not make sweeping claims about the promise of God's intimate presence unless we take into account those times when God seems absent. The great saints encountered it, Job encountered it, and at some point nearly everyone must face the fact of God's hiddenness."
Yancy states, "I have cast my lot with a gospel based on grace." Yet even in this statement, Yancey acknowledges the danger of falling into the trap of doing whatever we want because we've already been forgiven. "An individualistic society America is in constant danger of freedom abuse; its churches are in danger of grace abuse."
A devotional of this sort is, by its very nature, just bits and pieces of wisdom and inspiration, but it touches on the core issues that a Christian faces in life, and it offers insight into ways that a seeker can strengthen his/her connection with God. This starts...and ends...by intentionally drawing near to a God who, Yancey believes, yearns for us as much as we yearn for Him.
February 12, 2017
Philip Yancey Writes From Our Hearts
This is a unique and erudite devotional, grounded in the reality of everyone's experiences in life, inspired by his own apparent loneliness (which is the loneliness we all feel) and his deep thought about who Jesus was and was not and what he said and did not say. Somehow, at the end on December 31, there is fresh love one feels about Jesus and a fresh hope that His love will carry us through if we just let him do it. Yancey is a gift from God to all of us searching for Him.
This is a unique and erudite devotional, grounded in the reality of everyone's experiences in life, inspired by his own apparent loneliness (which is the loneliness we all feel) and his deep thought about who Jesus was and was not and what he said and did not say. Somehow, at the end on December 31, there is fresh love one feels about Jesus and a fresh hope that His love will carry us through if we just let him do it. Yancey is a gift from God to all of us searching for Him.
July 3, 2013
For being the visual edition, it relies primarily on words. Visual, here, does not mean visual art so much that it means color backgrounds for text.
Also: lots of substitutionary atonement assumptions (ugh).
Also also: Frames itself as urging Christians to move towards others in love -- including sinners such as birth control users (p104) and enemies such as abortionists, film producers ("polluting our culture"), and politicians ("threatening my moral principals") (all p114). Which is to say: either this book wasn't written for someone like me, and the others I most need to move towards in love are other Christians (knowledge which existed prior to this book, but was certainly reinforced).
Also: lots of substitutionary atonement assumptions (ugh).
Also also: Frames itself as urging Christians to move towards others in love -- including sinners such as birth control users (p104) and enemies such as abortionists, film producers ("polluting our culture"), and politicians ("threatening my moral principals") (all p114). Which is to say: either this book wasn't written for someone like me, and the others I most need to move towards in love are other Christians (knowledge which existed prior to this book, but was certainly reinforced).
January 1, 2011
This is a very fine book, and I greatly enjoyed reading a page a day throughout the past year.
Although fairly conservative, Yancey is a good thinker and man of deep faith. And he is a good writer.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a meaty daily devotional book; it has more depth and substance that most.
Although fairly conservative, Yancey is a good thinker and man of deep faith. And he is a good writer.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a meaty daily devotional book; it has more depth and substance that most.
December 22, 2014
Phillip Yancey is a well read, thinking, Christian writer. This is the best of his writings, one for each day of the year. I have enjoyed reading this during 2014. Recommend.
Especially good is the December 21 writing from 'The Bible That Jesus Read', which is titled 'Cosmic Christmas' This commentary is from Revelation 12 depicting the war in heaven at Jesus's birth.
Especially good is the December 21 writing from 'The Bible That Jesus Read', which is titled 'Cosmic Christmas' This commentary is from Revelation 12 depicting the war in heaven at Jesus's birth.
December 31, 2020
A grace full way to begin the day!
As an immersion book on my kindle an excellent way to begin each day. Th he selection each day was challenging and encouraging.
The reader of the audio portion was a good interpreter of Yancey's writing.
I wish there was a second time to read next year.
As an immersion book on my kindle an excellent way to begin each day. Th he selection each day was challenging and encouraging.
The reader of the audio portion was a good interpreter of Yancey's writing.
I wish there was a second time to read next year.
December 31, 2011
I've enjoyed everyday of this devotional and highly recommend it. I like Philip Yancey's style and the fact that he really thinks about what he writes and doesn't just churn out sugary sweet 'self-help' books. I'm sorry to have finished it and will definitely read it again in 2013.
January 4, 2013
It is a daily reading guide and while I am not done I can honestly say this is a really good book. I really like Yancey and this is a really good collection of pieces he has written for other books and articles so you get a good overview of his writing and the various topics he covers.
March 20, 2013
I enjoy the way Philip Yancey thinks. I admire his ability to candidly write about the many questions that challenge my faith then present a faith-filled answer that inspires me. Grace Notes is a daily sampling of Yancey's many writings I think every believer will enjoy.
December 31, 2013
Well I finished my devotional for 2013. This is a compilation of various selection from Phillip Yancey's other books and articles. Nice to start the day with one of my favorite authors thoughts on various issues. Creates an appropriate focus for the day for me.
April 29, 2024
Philip Yancey is a bit hit-or-miss for me, but I loved this collection of essays taken from several of his books, and turned into 365 daily devotionals. I found a huge percentage of them very relatable, and highlighted passages all over the place :)
May 5, 2011
I only read the preview version of this book which was for the month of April, but I enjoyed it very much. Thoughtful and provocative, and "out-of-the-box" thinking.
April 10, 2021
This book is set up as a daily reading. I try to read it every day. I really enjoy Yancey's writing and like to get at least a small dose every day.
October 4, 2014
A great collection of his writings - not all in print today. I always seem to enjoy Yancey and his thinking out of the box.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews