Five Books to Help Guide You Through Lent
Read. Reflect. Renew. Repeat.
Lent is a season of reflection, discipline, and deepening our faith. Over the years, I’ve found that having a daily reading project—something structured yet manageable—can make a significant difference in how I engage with Scripture during this time.
If you’re looking for a book to guide you through Lent, I’d like to offer a few that I’ve written. I hesitate to recommend my own work, but each of these books grew out of my journey of discovery—long-term projects of study, cross-referencing, preaching, word studies, and prayer.
I didn’t set out to write them all; I simply kept digging, and over time, each one emerged.
A Gold Rush
I’ve come to see Scripture as a kind of gold rush. If we take a pickaxe, a pan, a shovel, and put in the effort, we will find gold hidden deep in the mountains and flowing through the streams. These five books reflect some of the treasures I’ve uncovered, and I pray they might be helpful for you as well.
The Psalm on the Cross
For years, I read Psalm 22 every Good Friday, and every time, I thought to myself, One day, I need to look deeper into this. When I finally did, I was astonished. Psalm 22 is not just a single verse Jesus quoted from the cross—it’s a prophetic, nearly line-by-line description of the crucifixion, written centuries before it happened. But it doesn’t end in suffering; it ends in victory. That realization deepened my understanding of Christ’s sacrifice and the hope that follows. Available on Amazon
When the Lord Is My Shepherd
Like many, I had read Psalm 23 countless times, but one day, I placed a single word in front of each of its attributes: “When.” Suddenly, the psalm transformed from a wonderful list of attributes of God into an amazing list of promises—truths activated by faith. That small insight led to my first book, which has since blessed many readers around the world. On Amazon. Also available in Spanish.
The Ordinary Ways of God
The book of Ruth is only 85 verses long, yet it contains profound themes of humanity, friendship, loyalty, and redemption. I never set out to write about it, but as I read and re-read the text, I found myself captivated by how God works through the most ordinary moments of life. This book became an exploration of divine providence woven into our daily existence. Available on Amazon
The First 24
Inspired by the television series 24, I asked myself: What if I examined the first 24 hours of Jesus’ public ministry? In Mark’s Gospel, 23 verses describe His first full day in Capernaum, from His arrival at the synagogue to the next morning when He moves on to other villages. The structure unfolded before my eyes, and this book became an hour-by-hour account of that extraordinary day. Available on Amazon.
The Last Will and Testament of the Apostle Paul
In 2 Timothy 4:9ff, Paul is not laying out doctrine or theology. Instead, he is closing out his life—giving instructions, sharing personal reflections, and saying his goodbyes. It is Paul—unfiltered. Paul in the raw. I had always seen Paul as a theological giant, but in this passage, I saw his humanity: a man with hopes, disappointments, and deep friendships. This book was my way of uncovering Paul’s heart in his final words. Available on Amazon.
If you’re looking for something to accompany your journey through Lent, perhaps one of these books might be useful. Most of them have short, self-contained chapters with questions and discussion topics at the end, making them easy to read day by day. But whether or not you choose one of these, I encourage you to take up something this Lent—a book, a passage, a practice—that draws you deeper into the riches of Scripture.
Lent is a time to pick up the tools and dig. There’s gold to be found.
David Roseberry
The Anglican
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The Anglican is the Substack newsletter for LeaderWorks, where I share insights, encouragement, and practical tools for clergy and lay Christians. I’m also an author of over a dozen books available on Amazon.
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