How to Make the Most of Your Devotional TimeSample

Daily Devotionals: The Essentials

While the Lord gives us freedom in how we worship Him in our personal lives, many Christians wonder about the most effective way to organize the content of their daily devotionals. Should these spiritual sessions consist of podcasts and listening to the materials of other Christian leaders? Or should one’s devotional time consist only of Scripture reading? Or should there be some of both? Here are the essentials that need to be included in a believer’s daily devotional time.

Our devotional times must include prayer. Sometimes, we may find it beneficial to listen to a few worship songs to get our mind focused on the Lord. In addition, we need to spend time reading Scripture in a thoughtful manner. We also need to make a commitment in our hearts to live what we have studied. This means that we need to meditate on the biblical truth that we have learned throughout the day. We need to walk the truth of Scripture in our journey of life. The Bible says that God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We do not leave Scripture behind in our devotional rooms. We have to live it out.

For some this means that they will read through a passage of Scripture that is outlined in their devotional schedule at a set time. However, they may also choose to focus on a memory verse or two that they can continue meditating on throughout the day. The memory verses can be from the same passage studied or from a different biblical passage. This is a practical way to keep the Word of God in one’s mind and heart, by meditating on specific verses continually. Some Christians also choose to listen to the Word of God or biblical sermons throughout the day on their electronic devices.

While there are various ways to structure our daily devotionals as Christians, it is crucial to ensure that Scripture remains the central guide for these practices. The Lord gives us freedom in where and how we worship Him, but this freedom should always be exercised within the framework of His Word. Our devotionals must consistently include prayer, reading the Scripture, and faithfully applying what we have learned, relying on God's grace for daily living. When we spend time daily in such spiritual exercise, we will be able to face anything this life throws at us and reflect Christ while doing it. The Bible tells us that physical exercise profits us for a short time, but spiritual exercise profits us for this life and eternal life.

This devotional was inspired by an episode of the Straight Truth Podcast. You can listen to the episode at this link:

https://straighttruth.net/how-much-time-is-enough-for-personal-bible-study/