Your faith is something that is deeply personal. It can be so vast, and at times confusing. But, as you keep learning and keep growing in your faith, you’ll realize how important your faith is. And this is a great time to look over a faith-based reading list.
Whether you are a brand new Christian, finding your way back to God, or have been a believer for a while, we could all continue growing in our faith to have a better relationship with God. A great way to do that is through reading books and devotionals. Today I’m sharing with you 16 books that will help you deepen your faith.
Faith-Based Reading List Of Books And Devotionals
All of these books cover different topics, and there are even different genres. The one thing they have in common is that they are great reads for someone wanting to get closer to God and deepen their faith.
Books To Deepen Your Relationship With God
In this list of books you’ll find ones that will help you get to know Jesus more, ones that will help you learn to live the Christian life well, ones to help you stay confident in your faith, and more.
“Jesus > Religion” by Jefferson Bethke
In Jesus > Religion Jefferson Bethke expands on the points he made in his now viral spoken word piece, “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus.” His book is a call to open your mind and see Jesus for who He is, not as a set of rules and laws to follow to live a perfect life.
“Gentle & Lowly” by Dane Ortlund
Gentle & Lowly does a deep dive into Matthew 11 where Jesus longs for His people to find rest in Him. This book shows us that we don’t have to wonder and worry if Jesus loves sinners like us, because that is exactly what Jesus was sent here to do.
“Unqualified” by Steven Furtick
Unqualified is one of my favorite books and easily made it on this faith-based reading list. It’s a book that has definitely changed my life, gotten me out of a dark place, and brought me closer to God.
It’s all about unlearning your limitations and seeing the person that God sees in you. So, if you struggle with feelings of failure or have a hard time accepting yourself, this book will be super encouraging.
“Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis
Mere Christianity is a book for anyone wanting to learn more about the Christian faith. It has sold millions of copies and is still relevant today. In it C.S. Lewis discusses topics like right and wrong, human nature, morality, marriage, sins, forgiveness, faith, hope, generosity, and kindness.
“Parables” by John F. MacArthur
While the Bible is the most important book to read in your faith journey, it can be confusing at times to understand. That’s why I love books like Parables.
They break down what you read in the Bible into words that you can understand, and then apply to your life. If you want to dig deep and learn more about the parables that Jesus preached in the New Testament, pick up this book.
“Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers
Most of this list is non-fiction, but there is one fiction book that I had to include in this faith-based reading list. That is Redeeming Love. This book teaches us that you are never too far gone for redemption and that God’s love is unconditional. Anyone who has ever talked to me about this book has absolutely loved it. It’s definitely on my reading list this year.
“Don’t Look Back” by Christine Caine
Don’t Look Back is an inspiring call to stop looking back to your past and start looking forward towards Jesus if you want to become unstuck. It’s a book filled with biblical application, personal stories, and inspiration for your own journey.
I was lucky enough to hear Christine Caine preach when I was a student at Liberty University. I can confirm that she writes with the same power and encouragement as she has when she preaches.
“The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer
In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry we are given a roadmap on how to have a slower more meaningful life through rest. When the world says “the busier the better” God is telling us to slow down and be more intentional. This book will tell you why that’s important for the Christian walk and how to apply it to your life.
“The Awe of God” by John Bevere
Have you ever heard of the phrase “to fear God?” If you are like me and have never been sure what that means, you’ll want to grab this book with me. In The Awe of God we learn exactly what it means to fear the Lord and how doing so will give us a more fulfilled and fruitful spiritual life.
“The Women of the Bible Speak” by Shannon Bream
The Women of The Bible Speak is one of my more recent reads, and I absolutely loved it. This is because it was such a great picture of how God uses women in pivotal moments in the Bible.
I know that the men in the Bible get the majority of the spotlight, but this book is a call to not count us women out. Our utilization can be as powerful as men’s can.
“Fervent” by Priscilla Shirer
Fervent is a book all about how to pray effectively. If prayer is something that intimidates or confuses you, then this book on this faith-based reading list will help you. Some of the topics you’ll find in this book are prayers about renewing your passion, refocusing your identity, negotiating family strife, dealing with relentless regrets, as well as more.
Prayer is a key component in the Christian walk because it is how we talk to God. Grab this book and you’ll be sure to grow closer to God after reading.
“Winning the War in Your Mind” by Craig Groeschel
If you struggle with negative thoughts or spiraling thought patterns, you’ll want to grab a copy of Winning the War In Your Mind. It’s part self-help book and part Christian living book. Once you’ve finished reading you’ll learn how to rewire your brain, see how prayer and praise will transform your mind, and more.
Faith-Based Reading List Devotionals
I wanted to add some devotionals to the list because I know, for me personally, they have been instrumental in deepening my faith. If you are not familiar with what devotionals are, let me introduce you to them.
Devotionals are short passages of text that center around a specific topic or Bible verse. They often list a few Bible verses at the bottom of each day’s passage so that you can go deeper. These are some of the devotionals that I’d recommend grabbing if you want to deepen your relationship with God.
“Live On Purpose” by Sadie Robertson Huff
Live On Purpose contains 100 devotions all about living enthusiastically and following your God-given passions. You’ll walk away from each devotion time feeling inspired to live your dreams and follow the calling God has for your life.
“Embraced” by Lysa TerKeurst
If you’ve been feeling like God is distant lately, this devotional will prove to you otherwise. In Embraced Lysa TerKeurst brings us 100 devotions that feel like a hug from God. You’ll learn how to experience His love and better seek His direction.
New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp
In New Morning Mercies you’ll find a devotional for each morning of the year. Start your day with a daily reading that includes questions for personal reflection and application, guidelines for prayer, as well as a list of relevant biblical passages. It’s a great way to put God at the forefront of your mind first thing in the morning.
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
Jesus Calling was the first devotional that I ever read. I can’t describe to you how close it made me feel to God when I read it. There were times I felt God was speaking straight to me, messages that inspired me, and so much great wisdom gained from this daily devotional.
Draw The Circle by Mark Batterson
Draw The Circle is a 40 day devotional dedicated to prayer. In it you’ll learn about the power of intentional prayer, learn how to build a prayer habit, and more. Your prayer life will forever be changed as you go on this 40 day guide.
A Wrap On This Faith-Based Reading List
Now you have a list of books to help you on your faith journey. I’d love to know which ones you are picking up first. Let me know in the comments.
About the Author
Kelly graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Journalism. Even though it took her a little while to find her career path, she was always meant to be in Communications. She remembers writing poems and songs when she was a little girl and pitching to my parents the reasons why I should have a cell phone when I was a teenager. She currently has a blog (budding-joy.com) where she talks about her weight-loss journey, mental health and personal development. Her hope is to encourage and inspire readers and let them know they are not alone. Reading blog posts like that are what helped her in tough times and she wants to pay it forward. She loves dance fitness, listening to music, and creating layouts in her bullet journal. She's a big fan of planning, especially when cute notebooks and pens are involved. Her dream job has changed so much over the years; right now she'd love to co-own a dance studio.
Website: budding-joy.com