Upon Waking: 60 Daily Reflections to Discover Ourselves and the God We Were Made For

by Jackie Hill Perry

Upon Waking  is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publisher's Weekly bestseller! Join the thousands of others who have picked up  Upon Waking  to help start their day.

What do you wake up to each day? What do you discover once your eyes have opened and you put your feet to the floor? A mountain of notifications? An endless feed of headlines that make you angry? A flood of tasks that you can’t possibly get done in the next twenty-four hours?
 
What if you could wake up each day to discover something so much bigger—and so much better for you—than all that chaos? What if you could discover God? What if you could discover yourself in light of that God? What if your eyes could be opened to the things that really mattered? What if, in one simple devotional a day, you could glean principles from timeless wisdom to sharpen you for each day's inevitable challenges?
 
In her lyrical, compelling, and poignant voice, bestselling author and Bible teacher Jackie Hill Perry offers sixty short, daily reflections on specific passages from Scripture to help you awaken to the God you were made for, the life you were made for, and the person you were made to be.  
 

Genres: Christian, Devotional, Faith, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Christianity, Theology

208 pages, Hardcover

Published October 3, 2023

About the author

Jackie Hill Perry is an author, poet, bible teacher, and hip-hop artist whose latest album, Crescendo, was released in May 2018.

Since becoming a Christian, she has been compelled to use her speaking and teaching gifts to share the light of the gospel of God as authentically as she can.

She is the author of Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been and the bible study Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today’s Culture”.

At home she is a wife to Preston and Mommy to 4 beautiful children.

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy release day!

In the introduction, Jackie Hill Perry confesses her general avoidance of devotionals, claiming that they often lack depth and focus on self. I nodded along as I read, having experienced the difference between “fluff” and “meat” in various devotionals. What I found interesting and helpful though, is that she doesn’t claim to have written some super deep devotional that fills in the gap that all others have missed. Instead, she reminds us that devotionals are meant to be the appetizer that gets us ready for the main course of God’s Word.
This sixty day devotional does a wonderful job of whetting the appetite for more of God. Each entry is short, beginning with a verse or two followed by some thoughts to help us ponder the context or meaning of the verse(s).
Aside from the introduction, I really appreciate two things about this devotional:
1.) I love the title. Upon Waking lends itself to literal use in a waking up routine. I may still be bleary-eyed, but making the Lord my first thought over Instagram or email will always be a good thing.
2.) The length. I am not always able to stay with a devotional for a whole year, so I like that this one is just 60 days. I imagine I’m not the only one who operates this way 🙂

Many thanks to Netgalley and B&H Publisher for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

[Lydia Guetzko · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I would change is making it 1,000 days instead of 60 ❤️❤️

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this devotional. Love that it's like an appetizer for scripture, not intended to replace scripture reading but to make you want more of it, and more of God. Short bits of reading per day with depth.

[Kate Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Often left me with a treasure or challenge I found myself thinking back to throughout the day. Would recommend as as a really accessible devotional that makes you want to read more of the bible.

[Ashley Hoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well written devotional, with each devotion being a little on the shorter side. Very approachable for newer believers or those that want to deepen their prayer life. I do wish that it went a little bit deeper, but I appreciate that it prompted more towards seeking depth in your relationship with God.

[Laura Silvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate daily devotional books. I know that’s strong but the way my brain is wired, I don’t resonate with open-and-close sentiments. What Jackie does is take the brevity of a daily devotional and combines it with an urgent pleading to turn to the Lord. Each and every page. She does not use these pages to teach a life lesson or to try and explain grace in a few words. She merely points to the Holy Word of God and to Christ Himself over and over again. I will be rereading this again this year and probably many times after.

[Emily Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never been a fan of devotionals, but this one was different. Beautiful, poetic writing and her message each day was so meaningful for only a few paragraphs. So good I’m immediately going to start over and read it all again for the next 60 days!

[ShellbyJo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably one of my favorite devotionals. It doesn't try to be a supplement for reading Scripture, it just works to set your hear and mind in preparation for spending time in Scripture. I will definitely be reading through it again.

[Emily Stranks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing, filled with beautiful truth and encouragement! This will definitely be a re-read and I’d honestly recommend it to everyone!

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great way to start the morning, I love how real Jackie is! took me more than 60 days to go through it but that’s alright :)

[Cassie Cole]

Can never go wrong reading something from Jackie. So thankful for the way that God has gifted her.

[Arielle Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

jhp never misses

[Jordan Swails]

While I would still claim devotionals are not akin to my studying style, man does JHP bring a word here over and again. Deeply thought provoking and easily savored.

[Ferrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this! So grateful for the ways Jackie used her gift to build God’s kingdom and bless His people. Especially loved her transparency in being reluctant to write a devotional book, but how that also drove her to write in a way the makes much of God’s character and His word, and not just our feelings. Recommending to almost everyone I know!

[Sandra Wassenaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss JHP is a fun read. This was a new way of writing of hers and I really loved it. There were many mornings that God graced me with His truth through simple reminders written beautifully.

My rating? Very good.

[Anna Farmelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is an amazing devo I would recommend to anyone and everyone

[Macy Hildebrandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! Ms Jackie does not miss with these! She doesn’t sugar coat either. Very encouraging and inspiring!!!

[Mackenzy Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed so many of Jackie’s little thought-provoking reflections on a verse! I don’t usually read devotionals, but this was a unique one I’d recommend

[Christine Benedict · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Jackie hill Perry and i find her writing refreshing but I think I just do not appreciate the depth that devotional style books seem to lack, even this one unfortunately.

[Kinsey Cogswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the reasons I loved this devotional is it gave me a reminder every single morning that the little kingdoms that I work so hard to create in this world are not eternal. I constantly felt called out, in the best way, with every single devotion.

“The destruction of a false kingdom is the grace of God at work.”

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

JHP poetically dives into one verse a day, giving you an honest and true explanation and application of God’s Word. And, she certainly accomplished her goal of wanting the reader to use her devotional as an appetizer to make them hungry for more of the Word.

I will 100% read this one again.

[Beth Lorow · Rating 4 out of 5]

JHP has a way of combining her wisdom and faith with her trademark bluntness that makes her writing so compelling. These short devotionals didn't waste words and packed a punch each day.

[Rachel Fluker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only wished it was longer than 60 days. Jumping back into the beginning!

[Josie Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so good - like a mini sermon every day for me. Recommend so highly

[Emily Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

100% a 5/5 star book and for sure the best devotional I’ve ever read. I expected a deeply wise, profound, honest, gentle, and edifying read and JHP delivered beyond my expectations!

This is a devo I will keep returning to and one I’m recommending to everyone. God has been kind to teach and reveal many things through it and I’m thankful for the wisdom He has given to Jackie and for the faithfulness she has in sharing it with us. :)

ALSO. Just finished the last day of this devo at fox in the snow, and realized that I started it on new year’s day, also at fox in the snow. Full circle moment :’)

[Kelsie Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. Devotionals can be tricky, often being used to check time with Jesus off of our list. But the author makes it clear that her intention is to entice you toward Christ, to desire deeper study and reflection that you can only find in God's Word. Loved the 60 day format, and the short (but deep!) reflections. Just going to start back on Day 1 tomorrow.

"Be reminded that the bread isn't in this book. It's in the One this book is pointing toward. Close the page, return the book to is place because dinner is ready. The scriptures are the meal and Christ is its bread."

[Laura Kindell · Rating 5 out of 5]

a book that daily pointed me toward the Father and His Word, toward truth, stability, conviction, and comfort. JHP said she intended for this devotional to be an appetizer and she surely succeeded in that. i plan to return to this read year after year for the rest of my life. feel free to hold me to that.

[Catherine Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am quite picky with my morning devotionals as I find there are many that lack the depth I seek. Upon Waking has been one of the sweetest morning devotionals I’ve read. Jackie Hill Perry does not shy away from deep truths and is able to stir my spirit with just a page and a half each morning before I begin my Bible reading. Extremely thankful for her writing—now onto the challenge of finding a morning devotional of the same caliber.

[Eunice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal book of daily reflections. The Lord continues to speak through JHP in such powerful ways, and I’m always in awe of her obedience and honesty.

[Jessica Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a big devotional person, but I’ve liked a lot by Jackie Hill Perry. I like her other books better but this was an easy and encouraging read. It is written similarly to how someone would speak out loud, so it took a little getting used to but that made it unique.

“Time has never been the reason anyone doesn't pray; the heart is. Prayerlessness is almost always a humility issue--the natural consequence of a heart that tends to believe it is good without God. Yes, you may be busy, but it's possible that you are also proud. Pride is the true enemy of your prayer life.
Pride deludes us into thinking we're self-sufficient. That our jobs supply our needs. Our relationships provide comfort.
Our intellect and ambition make us successful. But in fact, everything you are and everything you have is because God rains on the just and the unjust” (p.12)