Editorial Review For Declaring
the Dawn in the Midst of the Night
A. L. Schilling’s Declaring the Dawn in the Midst of the
Night is built as a 30-day guide for prayer and reflection. Each
day has a short reading, a story from scripture, and a sample prayer. The
layout makes it easy to use, even for someone who has never picked up a
devotional before. The main theme is that trust in God grows from experience.
You don’t have to start with certainty, you only need to take small steps and
see what happens.
One of the strengths of the book is its practicality. Schilling does not
expect readers to leap into blind faith. Instead, he presents the month as a
kind of “trial period.” Ten minutes a day is manageable, and the daily prayers
are written so anyone can use them without feeling lost for words. The writing
also balances encouragement with honesty. Doubt is not brushed aside but
included as part of the process.
Within its genre, the book feels fresh. Many devotionals focus only on
inspiration, but this one blends reason with faith. Schilling shares his own
background of skepticism and slow change, which makes the tone approachable. It
stands out by giving permission to question while also inviting readers to look
for change in their own lives.
This book is best for readers who are curious about faith, or who want to
build a consistent prayer practice but don’t know where to start. It may also
appeal to those going through personal struggles, since many of the daily
themes address real-life challenges like fear, doubt, finances, and
relationships.
Overall, Declaring the Dawn in the Midst of the
Night succeeds as a thoughtful and welcoming devotional. It gives
readers a clear path, small steps to follow, and space to reflect. For anyone
open to testing faith in a structured way, this book offers both guidance and
hope.