The Blue Book: A Devotional Guide for Every Season of Your Life

by Jim Branch

A year-long devotional guide designed to offer space and structure, Scripture and prayers, as well as readings and reflections for your daily time with God. The hope is that through using this book you might discover the ancient rhythms that were whispered into you when God breathed you into being.

Genres: Devotional, Faith, Christian, Spirituality, Reference, Theology

422 pages, Paperback

Published June 21, 2016

Reviews

[Ellie T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the devotional book I needed this year. The Blue Book was highly recommended to me and I can definitely say I will also recommend it. A problem I’ve ran into with devos is that although many of them are scripture based, not many of them have you read scripture. The Blue Book has you read a Psalm and a passage from scripture each day and then has commentary on the given topic to go along with it. This was exactly what I was looking for and I also love how it has the reader dwell on the same topic for the whole week. I feel like I was able to get more out of the scripture/what the commentary had to say since I was able to re-read it often. In 2025, I’m trying out the Bible Recap (you’ll see that review in a year probably), but I wouldn’t be surprised if the year after that I return to this devotional. SO GOOD!!!

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite devotional guides. It has a unique structure for 52 weeks’ quiet time with a theme for a week.

The week has a psalm, a song, and scriptures for the week, and it also has an assortment of poems and book excerpts that are fantastic. It also implements a weekly and daily rhythm of silence, prayer, and reflection.

It’s not meant to be done sequentially but to be done topically.

If you like a quiet time with a little bit of everything, it’s one of the best devotionals to help you practice every spiritual discipline.

Jim Branch is the best!

[Erik Lindstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book (I have the old copy and can't wait to check out the new version). It was literally a hidden gem for years without an ISBN and tough to find the author name, but now newly printed. Jim Branch does a beautiful job putting together scripture, and quotes and stories on topics by week. A fellow Young Life leader bought it for me around 2009. I've bought a box of copies for my campaigner/Bible study guys and you'll enjoy it. Thank you Jim for putting it together.

[Lydia Johnsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don’t like thematic/topical devotionals or Bible studies, but this one was grounded in the Psalms. I really liked the readings for reflection each week and was introduced to some Christian authors that I want to get to reading! Finishing this feels like a milestone in my faith. This book will always have a special place in my heart. It’s the tool that guided me to a daily discipline of meeting with God every morning!

[Gabby Cronic · Rating 5 out of 5]

My most favorite devotional book ever

[Anna Lanier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great devotional! I think this book is better utilized as a reference, jumping from topic to topic that seems relevant rather than reading straight through.

[Sruti Sajja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I normally don’t like devotionals but I adored this one

[Arielle Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

still have not found a devotional as good as this one. this is one of a kind

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful devo for those new to faith & those years into their journey. Every day is guided with prayer, reflection, scripture reading, psalm meditation, & related readings. This devotional is more of a guide than anything- giving a pathway for readers to interact with Jesus in their life. Could not recommend it enough!

[Ryan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible resource for ministry and personal devotional time! It is an impressive compilation of so many thoughts and quotes. Jim Branch is an amazing human, thinker, writer and speaker and this is one of my all time favorite devotional books. Filled with modern resources and readings, but formatted in a pattern and rhythm that feels very in line with more traditional/ancient practices of spiritual devotion.

[Deitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best I've ever read three times!

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of Christian thought culled together by Jim Branch is second to none.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best devotional book I have had and probably will ever have

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

So rich, simple, deep, thank you Jim for weaving these themes together, and helping set a pattern of devotion daily.

[Emma Sounart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This devotional helped me plant roots in the spiritual rhythms that helped prepare me for the in-depth Bible study I do today. It was very transformative for me.

[Wes F · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first time through the Blue Book; a very good annual devotional book that incorporates daily Scripture readings and then great reflection quotations--all based around a different theme each week.

[Jennifer Stickel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome devotional. Top notch.

[Charlie Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

thoughtful and inspiring

One of the best devotional books I have ever used. On my 3rd time through…loved the excerpts from various authors incorporated into the weekly rhythm.

[Emily Padgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite devotionals

[Becca Kinsella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this devotional in 2024 and it lasted a few weeks over a year. I liked the structure that this plan had.

[Brooke Ashmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great devotional that I used throughout nursing school. I will forever use the layout when doing my devotional from now on.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book days after life had turned upside down. My sweet best friend who works for YL finally snagged a copy for me over a year later. Worth the wait. It's different than any other devotional book that I have ever read. It challenged me to take the time to really reflect, providing insightful pieces from other authors that helped dig deeper. The topics were relational and perfect for every walk and season in life. Jim, you're the man!