Book Review: Endless Grace by Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt

About the Book:

Endless Grace helps us rediscover the rich treasures of the Psalms--through free-verse prayer renderings of their poems and hymns--as a guide to personal devotion and meditation.

The church has always used the Psalms as part of its prayer life, and they have inspired countless other prayers. This book contains seventy-five prayers drawn from Psalms 76-150, providing lyrical sketches of what authors Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt have seen, heard, and felt while sojourning in the Psalms. While each prayer corresponds to a particular psalm and touches on its themes and ideas, it is not a new translation of the Psalms or an attempt to modernize or contextualize their content or language. Rather, the prayers are responses to the Psalms written in harmony with Scripture. These prayers help us quiet our hearts before God and remember the Lord's daily mercies.

This artful, poetic, and classic devotional book features compelling custom illustrations and beautiful hardcover binding, offering a fresh way to reflect on and pray the Psalms.

Read an excerpt from Endless Grace on the publisher's website.

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My Thoughts:

Endless Grace by Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt “approaches the Psalms as literature designed for prayerful meditation (p. 14).” Each free verse prayer of Endless Grace responds to a Psalm with emotion and praise/supplication to God. New Testament phrases and teachings pepper the prayers, and I enjoyed the connections between the Psalms and teachings of Jesus.

Personally, I like to read one Psalm and the correlating selection from Endless Grace per sitting. These entries invite unhurried meditation and offer concepts that merit consideration. Often, the entries present historic ideas in fresh, lyrical wording that hooks my attention and renews my appreciation for such tenets. An example from the first prayer (Psalm 76 response): “Your peace is stronger than violence; / Your mercy fiercer than judgment.”

With its sturdy hardcover and lovely illustrations, Endless Grace: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms by Ryan Whitaker Smith and Dan Wilt can be a gift. It’s appropriate for any Christian desiring meditative readings with a strong prayer emphasis.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.