Comforting Hearts, Teaching Minds by Starr Meade is an excellent book to use for family devotions and for your own adult daily devotions. It is understandable for a wide range of ages (probably ages 5 or 6 and above) and the daily Scripture passages and devotional readings are short enough to fit into a busy family’s schedule without being burdensome.

Don’t think though that this is just a devotional for young people. It is more than that as there is plenty of good, solid teaching and reflection from which adults may benefit.

Comforting Hearts, Teaching Minds is based on the Heidelberg Catechism, written in 1583, which is the catechism that many believe is the finest of the teaching catechisms to come out of the Protestant Reformation. Catechisms were tools used to teach children the fundamentals of the Christian faith, and they can still serve that purpose today. However, catechisms serve another purpose, which is to teach and remind parents, grandparents and other adults of important aspects of our faith.

Comforting Hearts, Teaching Minds takes the 129 questions of the catechism and breaks them into two or three questions structured around the 52 Lord’s Days in each year. Two or three questions are highlighted for each Lord’s Day and then for each day of the week there is a short Scripture reading and a short devotional based on that passage, which are related to the questions.

The reading for each day is brief enough to keep those with short attention spans engaged, but long enough to contain truths of substance that are worth reflecting upon.

One thing to be aware of as since we are a church that believes water baptism is only for those old enough to understand and believe the gospel, is that question 74 of the 129 in the catechism advocates for infant baptism while at the same time affirming that water baptism does not forgive sins. Starr Meade handles this question in one of her devotionals for that week with a sensitivity that I very much appreciated, and even found encouraging.

I have enjoyed using this book for my own devotions as I’ve found its simplicity refreshing and the depth of the thoughtful reflections Starr Meade brings to the passages of Scripture very helpful as I think about my own heart and walk with the Lord. I highly recommend this resource for families and individuals, young and old alike. I believe you will find it instructive, edifying and encouraging as well.