Philippians 4:7 states, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” What wise and encouraging words! The Bible is full of encouraging passages, and in certain seasons of life, these words are especially needed.

The 100 Most Encouraging Verses of the Bible by Troy Schmidt is a 100-page devotional book exploring uplifting verses from the Bible, from Jeremiah 30:11 to Psalm 23:4. On each page, Schmidt features a Bible verse and then reflects on it, applying its meaning to our own lives. Some of Oak Tree’s favorite devotions include Matthew 10:30 (“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered”) and Galatians 6:9 (“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up”). In some of the devotions, Schmidt examines the meaning of Greek words.

This inspirational book can be read rather quickly. If your devotional time is short, each page is brief enough to be studied in a few or several minutes. The devotions could be nicely incorporated into the beginning of a Sunday school lesson or small group Bible study.