This is a 90-day devotional based on a number of passages taken from various Old Testament books. The number of verses, accompanying reflection from Peterson and the reader response question were all too brief to really provide any great new piece of wisdom or truth.

I'm not sure I've come away from the 90 days with anything of any particular note. There are many better books that Peterson has authored versus this one that has been compiled by the publisher's editorial team.

Although the topics don't always flow from day to day (and I don't think were intended to), Eugene Peterson offers so much wisdom in these very short devotions. I find myself underlining and making notes and thinking and praying over the many moments of wisdom in these pages. I know this is a book I will return to manhy times.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
About the book • Author, Eugene H. Peterson• Publisher, WaterBrook & Multnomah• 192 pages• 90 day devotional• Touching• Insightful • Encouraging

This was a devotional that I looked forward to every morning. It helped me have fresh eyes with a renewed start of my day.
It takes a simple but complex approach to short passages of “The Message”. I’ve always thought it very important to be able to understand what I’m reading so I’m a big fan of this version. It isn’t my go to for study but it a great reference bible.
This devotional pushed me out of my comfortable complacency and had me wondering if I was really considering my roll in all of it.


This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.

A fantastic devotional written with both knowledge and love of Jesus .Very easy to keep up with ,each one includes Scripture, an insight and ideas how to include it in your life.

My review of Eugene Peterson’s wonderful daily Old Testament devotional, “Every Step an Arrival”.


Eugene Peterson, translator of the popular Message translation (mixed reception across the Christian board aside) is known for his deep pastoral reflections and interactions with the text. While some may not appreciate the Message translation, there is still a lot to be learned from a man so steeped in the Scriptures after spending a lifetime learning them and translating them. We see glimpses into his reflections and interactions with the text in this 90-day devotional, Every Step an Arrival.

Goals of the Book: Devotionals are usually short, pithy looks at a biblical text to get your day started having spent a little time in the Bible. Peterson’s reflections are short, sure, and focus on a little bit of Scripture, but bring us to a new avenue to read devotionals: the Old Testament. I have been personally encouraged by Peterson’s reflections in When Kingfishers Catch Fire, but more specifically in the Old Testament in Run with the Horses.


Why Should You Care?: A few reasons, but the first reason I would give is in the form of a question: when was the last time you read the Old Testament? How much time have you spent in it lately? It comprises about 60% of our Bibles, yet it seems frequently downplayed and undervalued. When we do read it, we cherry pick our favorite verses or stories and don’t let the weight of the text penetrate our hearts. When a pastor like Peterson pens a devotional on the Old Testament, a lot of the church would do well to receive it as a gift that would help us hear 60% of God’s revealed word to us!

Strengths/Weaknesses of the Book: As I said before, devotionals are usually short, maybe too brief to really do any sort of real work in our hearts. Peterson, who has translated the entire Bible before, is far more intimately familiar with the Bible than most devotional writers seem to be. This means that even these brief, daily interactions with the text feel more weighty than most. I would never recommend only doing a devotional, but if you were looking for one, this would be high on the list.


It is hard to note weaknesses of a devotional. They are generally short enough that it doesn’t matter if they’re altogether too engaging. Even a boring devotional should be able to capture your attention for a single page! But it is easy to tell when a devotional is useless, and I have already noted that this one definitely is not. While I know plenty of people (maybe even specifically my readers) have pre-conceived notions of Peterson, his theology, and the Message, I think it would do a lot of us well to spend some time interacting with this devotional.

I haven’t had this long, much less the entire 90 days to read each entry daily. But the entries I have read are deep. If you allow yourself, in prayer with the Spirit, to be impacted by these, I think you’d be pleased with the life change therein!

You can order the book, either hardcover or Kindle edition, here. You can learn more about it here. I received a review copy from Netgalley; I was not asked to give a good review, only an honest one.

In the book Every Step an Arrival, author Eugene Peterson writes a 90-day daily devotional that will stimulate your spiritual life and your intellect! Peterson walks the reader through highlights in the Old Testament which challenge the reader to spiritual growth! He writes: “We are always looking for a religion that has no demands, only rewards—a religion that bedazzles and entertains, in which there is no waiting and no emptiness. And we can usually find someone around who will help us make up some sort of a golden calf.”
I would highly recommend this book. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review will be live on my blog on September 24th:

Take ninety days and walk through the pages of the Bible with the definitive voice today in Christian spirituality. Eugene Peterson provides brief commentary and challenging thoughts designed to stir the biblical imagination and encourage even the weary believer.

My Thoughts:

To start I should say that I am a fan of Eugene Peterson's writing. His deep thinking and biblical imagination have often been a catalyst in my spiritual growth. In that way I appreciated the content of this devotional, but I would say it was just a taster. The devotionals in Every Step An Arrival are good for prompting your thinking if you are looking for something you can read in about five minutes, similar in length to My Utmost or Jesus Calling. Last year I used Peterson's sermons found in As Kingfisher's Catch Fire as daily devotionals as I prefer a deeper, longer daily reflection time. So, I suppose it just depends on what you are looking for whether this is the type of devotional you want to choose.

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fantastic devotional in true Eugene Peterson style. Pulling from the Old Testament he brings us into today and what these readings mean for us here and now. And leaves us with questions and thoughts to ponder. This book will have a permanent home on my shelf and an absolute must read for those with a desire to look deeper. Those who desire a little more spiritual enrichment, or those who are merely seeking. It's a very different style from the typical devotionals we think of. Peterson's rich, lush writing style will leave you wanting more. I will read this many times over. Truly he is a gifted author.
Thank you to Waterbrook Publishing for this gem.

arc from NetGalley and Waterbrook for an honest review.