DEVOTIONS are a great way to get closer to God. A devotion is a quiet time that you spend praying, reading God’s word, and reflecting on your relationship with Him. You might also choose to sing hymns, meditate, or write in a journal during your devotion time. If you set aside a little time each day to open your heart to God’s word, you’ll likely find that it becomes an important part of your spiritual walk.
1 Open your devotion with prayer. Your devotion is a time that you should spend listening for God’s guidance in your life, so it’s important to approach it with a humble, open attitude. Before you even begin your devotion, start with a prayer asking God to share His wisdom with you.
2. Read a passage from the Bible during your devotion. The best way to hear God’s message for you is through His Word. There’s no right or wrong way to read your Bible, although it can be helpful to read an entire passage or chapter to ensure you read each verse in its intended context. However, it’s fine if you want to read the Bible straight through, you can skip around to different books of the Bible, or you can follow a guided reading plan, if you prefer.
Try highlighting or underlining verses that seem significant to you when you read them. Then, when you re-read that passage, it will be a reminder of a time that God spoke to you in a special way. If you’d like some extra guidance during your devotions, try looking for a book of devotionals that you find relevant. For instance, you might purchase a book of devotionals that are geared toward students, mothers, or husbands. You can also find daily devotionals online.
Looking for a place to start? Try reading a chapter from the book of Proverbs. It’s a book that contains instructions for how to conduct your daily life in a godly way, and it can often feel surprisingly relevant today.
3. Reflect on what you read and how it applies to your life. Once you finish reading your Bible passage, take a few moments to really absorb the meaning of the words. Try to find a way to connect them to your life personally, and think about how that relates to your relationship with God.
You don’t have to stop meditating on God’s word just because your devotion is over! Allow His wisdom to guide you all throughout your day.
4. Try keeping a journal so you can look back on your spiritual journey. While you don’t have to keep a journal to have a personal devotion, it can be a good way to help you organize your thoughts, and it can provide a touching way for you to track your spiritual growth over time. You might jot down your thoughts about what you’re reading, prayers for yourself and others, or some of your favorite Bible verses.
Just as with any other journal, the way you keep a devotion journal will be extremely personal, so don’t feel like it has to fit any particular format.
5. Sing a hymn if you enjoy worshiping that way. If you find that singing hymns help you feel closer to God, try incorporating them into your devotion routine. The Bible encourages God’s followers to praise Him with song, such as in Psalm 105:2, “Sing to Him, sing praises to Him, tell of all His wondrous works!” Singing can help quiet your spirit while expressing your love for God.
It’s okay if you feel a little self-conscious at first. Just remember that you’re singing as a form of worship, and not to impress anyone else.
6. Close your devotion with prayer. Ending your devotion with prayer is a good way to ensure that you’ll feel close to God throughout your day. You can pray about whatever you like—you might want to praise God, ask Him to help you with a problem you’re having, or even pray for other people.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, the Bible tells us to “Pray without ceasing.” This means you should always keep God in your thoughts, and you can talk to Him whenever you want. However, it’s still helpful to set aside certain times for more specific, intentional prayers.
