How to create a regular devotional time?
Written by Stefany Godoy, Students Intern
The devotional time is something we all know we should be doing but the experience can feel a bit complex, and we can experience struggle when it comes to the day-in- day out of our personal life. We lose our way with distraction, boredom, tiredness and busyness, but, it’s possible to focus on Him, to feel his presence and hear His voice. When we learn to focus on God, it changes everything: He calms our anxious hearts, give us purpose and invites us into love instead of judgement.
So that’s why I’m going to be sharing with you some tips about this special time and introduce you into this journey of growing in relationship with God, day by day.
So, let’s start with the basics:
What is a devotional?
It is a special time of the day where we communicate and relate with GOD. It CULTIVATES our relationship with Him.
Even in the Bible we see Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Take a look at these Bible verses where we can learn from Jesus’ time spent with God: Luke 5:15-16, Luke 6: 12-13, Mark 1:35-37, Matthew 14:13, Mark 6:46.
It’s important to understand that this relationship goes in two directions (talk and listen). So, in this time we can both talk with God AND listen to what he wants to tell you through his word (the Bible). It’s not just our time with Him, but His time with us.
It can be challenging having a devotional time but I’m going to share with you these tips to keep in mind.
Tip 1: Set a date
It will be better if you consider your time with God as an appointment in your calendar (the most important one you can have in the day). You’re much more likely to do it if it’s scheduled! Otherwise, we often make excuses not to do it. You can choose the time that works best for you.
Tip 2: Determine a time period
There isn’t a perfect amount of time for your personal devotional. But it is helpful to decide how long you can dedicate to it every day. But please be realistic, don’t set the goal of an hour if you never have done it before! Try starting with 15 minutes.
Tip 3: Prepare the environment and choose a specific place
Look for a quiet place with good light, without distractions and a comfortable chair where you can sit and create a good space for your devotional time.
Tip 4: Pick a structure
Don’t start to read the Bible at random, choosing any passage where you open it. My advice is that you choose a book, and study it - that will be helpful to make space for an intimate and deep reflection. You can start reading one chapter per day, or if you think it is too long you can split it and read some verses.
Tip 5: Pray to God
Start your devotional time with a short prayer, asking God for revelation about what he wants to transmit to us through reading and at the end, say thanks for what he has told you.
*Prayer is basically talking with God - tell him your battles, your worries, and joys.
Tip 6: Meditate during the day
Try writing a small phrase, a verse or just a word that you want to keep with you, and hang it in some place where you can see it, read it, meditate and reflect on it during the day.
Take a minute later on in the day to ask yourself “What did I read this morning?”.
Remember there isn’t a single or correct way to make your devotional. You can try different things: write all your thoughts and prayers to God in a journal (you can get a pretty notebook!), listen to a worship song and sing it, make a list of verses from the Bible, and declare them, highlight the verses that stand out, try breathing or walking prayers.
This devotional time is a journey, and it doesn’t go in straight line. Every day is different, and some days you may feel that God is talking to you and you may write so many things down., But there may be others when you just write one word - that’s okay! Take it slow and be gracious to yourself and if you fall behind at any point just pick up where you left off.