Building Better Devotionsনমুনা

A Devoted Life

Several years ago, I was floating down the Bow River with two men I deeply admire.

I asked them what habits had been most formative in their lives.

Both paused, but fairly quickly pointed to a habit of reading God’s Word, talking to Him, listening, and obeying. They came alive as they talked about the impact of “doing their devotions”—setting aside daily time to be with God.

Most men know we “should” do devotions, but “shoulds” don’t always inspire, do they?

I’ve been both bored in devotions and changed by them.

Like those men, I can’t imagine my life without the several thousand times I’ve set aside to be with God.

In those times, I’ve both grown bored and also experienced forgiveness. I’ve had life-changing insight and also instantly forgotten what I’ve just read. I’ve found grace to follow Jesus in those hours, and I’ve experienced simply being with the One who loves me.

Many of those times are utterly forgettable, but I’d be a different and worse man without them.

Some of us have never found a devotional rhythm. New Year’s resolutions failed. We’ve left countless Bible reading plans unfinished and daily devotionals unread. What we did read, we promptly forgot. We’ve grown bored in our prayers. Fifteen minutes set aside for God has become five, as children, our first meeting of the day, fatigue and/or scrolling colonize this sacred ground.

At our worst, we feel guilty and stuck. We wonder if it matters. We think this must just be for pastors. We lose the “why.”

As we look at building a healthy devotional life this week, we need to get two things straight:

1.The purpose of devotions is to cultivate a devoted life.

2.A life devoted to Jesus is incomparably good and available to all.

Ditch any accumulated guilt and shame. Forget where you “should” be by now. Instead, imagine the joy of knowing God more deeply. Finding and following Him is the best bargain and the only way to the good life we all long for.

My river-floating friends lit up and pointed to their devotional time because that has been key to their discovery of the goodness of life with Jesus.

Jesus is on our side, and devotions aren’t a tax on our overcrowded schedules. He came so we might share His joy. He wants us to know the goodness of a devoted life.

Prayer: Lord, I doubt, and I believe. I know You lead us to abundant life, and sometimes I’m afraid that following You will change my life too much. I want to know You more, and I admit I also fear knowing You more. Help us learn to establish rhythms that will lead to a deeper life in You. Overcome our fears and failures by Your grace and the power of Your Spirit. Show us what it means to follow You today. Amen.

Reflection: Think of a season when you walked most closely with the Lord. What were your devotional practices at that time? Were there other things happening that led to you walking closely with God?