A Devotional Anniversary

By Edward Grinnan

As appeared in

A little riddle for you: What has 365 entries, touches million of lives daily and turns 35 this coming year?

Answer: Daily Guideposts, the annual devotional book so many of you love.

I get more responses to my devotionals than anything I write. That’s funny, because I resisted writing for the book when then editor-in-chief Van Varner first approached me about it.

No, I insisted, I didn’t think I could write in so personal a way. And, besides, what about me could possibly be that interesting?

I soon found out. Writing devotionals taught me to look not simply for life’s big spiritual lessons but for those daily moments when I am connected to God. Seeking ideas for my devotionals changed the way I viewed my life and deepened my faith. It became a journey of discovery I never could have imagined when Van first charmed me into trying my hand at a few.

I also didn’t realize I would be joining a family—a family of readers as well as writers who are connected through the inspirational power of these little personal stories.

To celebrate the anniversary, we are publishing a special edition of Daily Guideposts called Journeys, 35 years of America’s Best Loved Devotional. I think of it as a kind of family reunion. It warms my heart to read these wonderful stories again from old friends like Van, Sue Monk Kidd, Catherine Marshall, Arthur Gordon, Marion Bond West, Rick Hamlin, Tibby Sherrill, Fred Bauer, whose idea Daily Guideposts was, and so many others.

And, of course, we also have our regular edition of the book, Daily Guideposts 2011, featuring many of our newer members of the family.

I know many of you are Daily Guideposts readers. I hope to see you all at the big family reunion. You shouldn’t miss it!