Thereâs not one definitive answer to the question: âwhat is a devotional?â. The term can be used to describe a Bible reading plan that guides you through scripture. Or, it could refer to a series of meditations or mindfulness exercises.
They can range in length and content but in short, a devotional is a tool that enables and encourages your spiritual growth.
Most devotional plans are divided up into days. These daily readings are usually short, easy to follow and simple. Some may run for a week, while others cover a whole year.
Having a daily devotional makes it easy to turn connecting with God every day into a habit.
Devotionals can be a helpful tool to connect you to the heart of God. The more you connect to God, the more you receive of His peace and His joy. This is a truly transformative way to live, abiding in connection with God, the creator of the universe.
When life gets too busy and you find yourself short on time, a brief devotional can ensure you stay connected to God.
A devotional takes the planning out of your quiet time too, by providing you with a structure and reading plan to follow. This is a huge gift in times when you feel stressed and overwhelmed, when the thought of deciding which scripture to start with requires too much energy.
Having a go-to devotional to turn to every morning is a strong, solid foundation for your faith. Itâs a fairly easy spiritual discipline to maintain but one that can have a hugely positive impact on your wellbeing.
There are a range of different kinds of devotionals. For lots of people the first devotional they pick up and try is a book, but thereâs a whole world of online and audio devotionals too.
Having a book by your bedside works as a great visual reminder to find your daily connection time with God. Thereâs also a certain satisfaction in leafing through a physical book.
Here are some devotional books to try:
40 Days Through the Bible: The Answers to Your Deepest Longings Unshakeable: 365 Devotions for Finding Unwavering Strength in Godâs Word Encountering the Goodness of God: 90 Daily Devotions
Having a devotional you can play through your phone, or through your car while you commute, is a brilliant way of ensuring you keep up with your healthy quiet time habit.
Every day thereâs a fresh âDaily Worshipâ on Glorify. Short and sweet, these audio tracks set the tone for your day, providing you with inspiration from Scripture and encouragement for your faith.
Lots of devotional books are available as audio books. Try downloading a book to your phone and listening to it as you go about your day.
Thereâs such a wide range of different devotionals out there, how do you find the right one for you?
You can find reading plans targeted at men and women, at parents, at married couples and at children. You can also choose devotionals based on your emotions or seasons of life. Thereâs no shortage of choice!
One great way of tracking down the right devotional for you to try is to ask for recommendations from your friends, family or church community. Has one of your friends read a devotional that theyâve found hugely encouraging recently? Or does one of your church congregation have a go-to book that inspires them?
Spend a bit of time researching the authors behind various devotional books and audio devotionals. You may find yourself connecting with one of their stories. For example, there is a Billy Graham daily devotional. Maybe you find his life story of complete devotion and service to God inspiring? Glorify also hosts a range of guests on our Daily Worship, each one bringing their own inspiring testimonies to the series.
You can find devotionals written by worship leaders, prayer warriors, artists and people in business.
The Holy Spirit in us can guide, prompt and speak to us. Try asking God to tell you which devotional is right for you. You may hear His response through a thought in your head or perhaps a sign e.g. someone out of the blue gifts you a new book. Or, you might just feel prompted in your spirit to choose a certain reading based on its title. Donât write those little nudges off as just you being silly or chance. God loves to talk to us and guide us and that includes pointing us towards the right devotionals to inspire us.
Just as the name says, a devotional is a brilliant way of expressing your devotion to God. It keeps you connected to Him and helps you to include a moment of gratitude and reflection in your day.
âYour statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.â Psalm 119:129-130
Godâs word is good and it is good for us. Being obedient to His word, to its instruction and its wisdom leads to us being transformed. Itâs this light and understanding that the word brings that leads us into living lives full of joy, gratitude, generosity and peace.
A devotional is an effective way of staying rooted in the word and committing to the day in, day out, journey of transformation that being a Christian requires.
Photos by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash
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