Have you given any thought to your daily devotions for a new year in January?
Many of my friends are praying and thinking about which daily devotional they’ll use each day.
There are many to choose from.
What are daily devotions? Check out these blog posts for insight:
Here are some thoughts about daily devotions for a new year.
Make a plan.
You know the adage, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
So choose a system that helps you spend time alone with God each day.
Don’t be a legalist. Choose something that works in your life.
Daily devotions for me, like exercise, need to take place first thing in the morning.
My brain gets too distracted by other events if I don’t “do it” early.
Some people have free time to think, however, at night.
Having daily devotions before they fall asleep helps them relax–into God’s arms.
Hmm, maybe this insomniac should try that . . .
Start with the Bible
Obviously, the best book for daily devotions is the Bible.
I’ve used the Bible for my personal devotions since I became a Christian as a teenager.
I like to read one Psalm (to get me started with praise).
Next up is a chapter in one of the Gospels (so I remember Jesus daily).
I finish with a chapter from wherever I happen to be in the Bible at the time.–I continually reread it.
As soon as I finish reading Revelation 22, I turn to Genesis one and start all over again!
Consider adding a daily devotional book
Many use an additional daily devotions book to help them with spiritual growth.
Biddy and Oswald Chambers used The Daily Light for most of their life. –which is Bible verses arranged in a devotional format.
Devotional books have served Christians well for hundreds of years. See this blog post.
You also might consider Portals of Prayer.
Or, perhaps like me, you just reread My Utmost for His Highest every year!
How to be consistent with daily devotions?
For many of us, consistency is the issue.
Set a goal that you can make with one more idea to stretch you.
Start with a planned five minutes each day.
My husband starts his workday with that day’s My Utmost for His Highest.
Or, maybe you can read one Bible chapter right when you get up in the morning. Or before you go to bed each night and call it done?
Figure out what works for you and do it.
Don’t worry about including children either–it wouldn’t hurt them to hear you read a Bible passage aloud!
Accountability?
Having to be accountable to someone might help.
A friend invited me to read Streams in the Desert this year with her.
Knowing she’s reading the same passage encourages me.
Knowing people expect to read what I think about the passage each morning gets me up and reading it promptly!
It also requires me to think about the passage–which means I gain more from it.
What’s the point of daily devotions?
Hearing God’s direction.
Knowing Jesus better.
Recognizing the Holy Spirit.
Peace.
Joy.
Long-suffering–and all the other fruits of the spirit!
Oh–and never forget–grace.
If you miss a day, you’re still loved by God.
What do your daily devotions look like?
Tweetables
What’s the point of daily devotions, and how do you do them? Click to Tweet
Devotionals that have stood the test of time. Click to Tweet
The secret to having daily devotions. Click to Tweet
I use Portals of Prayer. Our Church orders it for all members. I like that it has prayers for different situations and special commemorative days in the back. And of course the morning and evening prayers!
Another excellent one. Our church orders it as well and it comes in the mail, too.
I have read Streams in the Desert and Springs in the Valley for the past twenty years, and I always open them with such reverence, knowing comfort is within. They are heavily noted by my experiences and thoughts over the years, all ultimately for my darling descendants, but it helps me so much to see the trials that have been overcome and through which the Lord has helped me to KNOW Him more nearly.