Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community

In “The Day’s Beginning” (40), Bonhoeffer lays out a set of best practices for days spent in community, beginning with the morning. Christians ought not to begin the day with worries about everything that needs to be accomplished but instead use this time to dwell on and worship God: “Innumerable are the ancient hymns that call the congregation to common praise of God in the early morning” (42). Bonhoeffer provides readers with evidence of biblical figures who turned to God first thing in the morning, writing, “With remarkable frequency the Scriptures remind us that the men of God rose early to seek God and carry out His commands, as did Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and Joshua” (43). Christians, both families and individuals, should take advantage of the freshness of their minds in the morning and begin the day in the presence of God. Different people will have different needs regarding how to fulfill this, but above all, they must begin the day with Scripture, prayer, and hymns.

In “The Secret of the Psalter” (44), Bonhoeffer writes that the Psalter (or Book of Psalms) is a powerful book with an ancient history and prayers for all occasions. Therefore, it should be revisited by modern Christians and incorporated into their daily lives.