An honest review of The Message Women’s Devotional Bible and why it’s a great choice for encouragement and spiritual growth

I’ve been a fan of study Bibles from the time I was a teenager. Devotional Bibles, however, are newer to me — and as a busy mom I’m quite loving them for my daily quiet time.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve explored a range of women’s Bibles — from the “ESV Women’s Study Bible” to the “She Reads Truth CSB”.

But when I picked up “The Message Women’s Devotional Bible,” it felt like the perfect blend of study depth and devotional encouragement. It’s easily the best women’s devotional Bible I’ve looked at.

Mom life is busy, so I especially appreciate Biblical resources that help me grow in my relationship with God in easy, concise ways.

I received a copy of “The Message Women’s Devotional Bible” at no charge in exchange for providing a review and social media posts about it. All opinions, however, are completely my own and not influenced by the free copy.

What is a devotional Bible?

If you’re not sure what sets a devotional Bible apart, here’s the quick breakdown.

  • Regular Bibles contain just the Biblical text in a specific translation.
  • Study Bibles add background notes, historical context, detailed maps and commentary to help you dig deeper into God’s Word.
  • Devotional Bibles combine the best of both — the complete Biblical text plus devotionals, reflection questions and other tools to help you apply Scripture to your everyday life.

Some devotional Bibles lean heavily on inspiration. Others, like “The Message Women’s Devotional Bible,” balance encouragement with solid teaching, making it both uplifting and practical.

Because this edition is built on The Message translation, the language is fresh, modern and easy to understand, which is perfect for quick daily readings or longer reflection time.

First impressions

The cover design of “The Message Women’s Devotional Bible” is straightforward and clean. I got the terracotta leather-look edition. The front includes a gold triangle overlaid with a circle. 

Best Women's Devotional Pinterest image 1

To me, this represents the Holy Trinity in a simple way. The Bible is also available in hard cover and paperback with a cream cover featuring a watercolor landscape.

The Bible, which was released Aug. 5, 2025 by NavPress, includes 320 personal reflections from Christian women.

Each devotional study coincides with a passage of the Bible and helps women in all stages of life apply Biblical principles in their own spiritual journey. 

The graphic design throughout the Bible stays with the terracotta theme and color scheme in a minimalist, clean way that’s easy to read.

Along with the devotionals, “The Message Women’s Devotional Bible” includes a variety of character profiles for both men and women of the Bible.

What makes this the best women’s devotional Bible

Besides the basics and background information, what truly sets this Bible apart is its heart. The authors begin with introducing the Bible and their vision for it.

Their goal is not to rewrite the Word of God or take away from what is in the Bible. It is, however, to make the text more applicable to women and highlight the role women played in Biblical times. All the supplemental content is written by women for other women.

For a variety of reasons, including its place in history, the Bible is strongly patriarchal and male-dominated. The authors set out to address how women fit in and how much a God who let some horrible things happen to women in Bible times (and now) is One who loves them so completely.

What I appreciate most is the lack of platitudes. There is a deep-dive into topics. In fact, some of the devotionals are noted for being a possible trigger for women who have experienced various traumas.

Deep spiritual insights

In the truth of God’s Word, we see a lot of horrible things as well as a lot of good ones. Esther, for example, is my favorite book of the Bible and one of my favorite women in the Bible.

I’ve studied the book and its characters many times. I’ve taught Bible studies about Esther and written children’s curriculum about Esther.

Best Women's Devotional Bible interior shot of the profile of Queen Vashti

Yet, “The Message Women’s Devotional Bible” included insights I’d not previously considered. We often dismiss King Xerxes’ first queen, Vashti, as being a mere blip in the story. However, she’s more than that. She was a strong woman in the Bible by her own right.

Vashti refused to be objectified by her drunk husband and his friends. She knew she’d be banished (or executed), but made the decision anyway, standing on her own principles.

And thankfully she did so to make the way for Esther to become queen and save the Jewish people. Esther was incredibly courageous in risking her life to save her people. We cannot dispute that. But would she have had any amount of courage to do so without the example of Queen Vashti standing up for herself? Maybe. Maybe not.

Yet, as the story progresses, we also take a closer look at Esther through a lens that is seldom talked about:

“People often read the book of Esther like a fairy tale in which she is chosen by the king to live happily ever after, but the reality is that Esther was a victim of sexual and racial abuse. She lived at the mercy of one of the most powerful kings in history and the patriarchal assumption that women were designed for the purpose of sexually pleasing powerful men.

“When we think about Esther’s story, we must consider the nuanced layers of conflict. Esther was pulled between two cultures and pushed by powerful men to submit but somehow maintained a purity of heart that held its own power.”

The Message Women’s Devotional Bible

These are the kind of deeper insights that help women form a deeper connection to their God and their faith. We’re left with our own reflection questions: do we have enough faith and trust in God to stand up to injustice like Vashti and Esther?

Easy to read and understand

Another reason this is the best women’s devotional Bible for Christian moms in particular is that The Message translation is the easiest mainstream translation to understand. So if you are trying to get in Bible reading and devotion time in 10 spare minutes, you need to absorb and consume as much as possible.

Beyond just reading Scripture in a Bible app, “The Message Women’s Devotional Bible” offers a translation that is easy to read alongside character profiles and devotions that are simple and impactful. It can help mamas make the most of their devotional time when devotional time is limited.

Every two or three pages of this Bible is a devotion, character profile, section introduction, book introduction or other insight to help make understanding the Bible and applying its message to everyday life.

My final thoughts

I expected to like this devotional Bible for women, but I didn’t expect to love it as much as I do. I had to literally make myself stop reading the other day so I didn’t miss a deadline and got back to work.

Anything that helps me draw closer to God through His Word is a resource I love. I’m an avid reader anyway. This felt more like reading for fun than for spiritual reasons, yet I was spiritually blessed through reading.

This isn’t just another devotional that will sit on your shelf; it’s a resource that will genuinely transform your daily walk with God.

Buy it for yourself. Buy it as a gift. Or do both!

If you’re looking for a devotional Bible for your teen, be sure to check out my review of “The Message Student Devotional Bible.”

Read more book reviews from Families with Grace.

About the Author: Stacey A. Shannon

Stacey A. Shannon is a freelance journalist and blogger who has been published internationally. She's also a Christian, a wife and a mom of two school-aged children. She started Families with Grace in 2019 to encourage Christian moms as they create homes filled with grace, love and faith.

Be sure to get the FREE family devotion book, "Finding Grace at Home: 7 Days of 5 Minute Devotions for Families." It's a great way to help your family draw closer to each other and to God.

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Best women’s devotional Bible? A top pick for Christian momsBest women’s devotional Bible? A top pick for Christian momsBest women’s devotional Bible? A top pick for Christian momsBest women’s devotional Bible? A top pick for Christian moms