We asked Daily Faith Creators to share some of the devotional practice tips with us. May they be an encouragement to you in your own time spent with God. (And add your own tips and ideas in the comments below!)
My favorite way to start the day is with a cup of coffee, my Bible, a notebook, and a devotional. I pray, read, and listen.
I am often prompted to read certain passages in the Bible… I find that I have direction and confidence to pursue my day with greater energy.
Suellen Estes is a Christian author, blogger, and book coach with a mission to spread the truth of God’s love and goodness to the world.
When I do devotional study in the morning, I reap the benefits throughout the day. My favorite way to achieve a more fruitful experience is to take time to be still and bask in the presence of God before I even open the devotional. Then I use the text as a starting point, leaving room to let the Holy Spirit guide my study.
Theresa Emanuel is the creator of the P31Virtues Christian Lifestyle Blog, which encourages women to put their faith into action daily to harness spiritual laws and exponentially increase their joy and good success.
Your devotional time is a great opportunity to spend time with God. Devotional time can be done at your own pace so that you can grow in a closer relationship with God.
I have a devotional group where we have devotions and activities to help make more time for devotion time with God. Devotional activities combined with coloring and journals can help bring peace and calm to our busy lives.
We can express our devotion to God through prayer, praise, music, and the art of coloring as our expressions of love. As we spend time with God, we gain insight and awareness of how He is working in our lives.
When we invite God into our everyday moments we focus on God and through our prayer, praise, expressions of our art can lead us into His presence.
Lana Wynn Scroggins is a writer and speaker, who is passionate about sharing Jesus with others. She’s found personal healing and steadfast hope in the pages of God’s Word.
I’ve always been an early riser, I am not disposed to having to rush my mornings. A daily devotional is an essential part of my morning routine. I have found that starting my day out with both inspiration from, and conversations with God keeps my heart and mind in the right places throughout the day.
Also, my current job keeps me on the road all of most days with a lot of “down time” waiting. So, I carry a devotional with me to read when I’m going to be waiting a while.
Eric Thomas is a Bivocational minister and solopreneur.
As a busy mom and business owner I’ve found so much freedom in utilizing the “pockets” of my day to fill up on Gods Word.
Those seemingly insignificant 10-15 min slots at random times have become a beautiful way to get more of God’s Word into my heart AND keep it top of mind since I’m reading it more than once a day!
Tara Lee Felix is an imperfect Mom of 5, Encourager, Wordsmith and Small Business Consultant
I enjoy devotional time with my morning cup of coffee in hand. When the weather allows, I gravitate to sitting outside on my back porch.
There is something about being in nature amongst the trees, listening to the birds chatter with the rich smell of my morning coffee that makes the time with God so special.
Sheryl Siler is the Chief Encourager at TreasureNest.com — a place where grace abounds.
I was told the only “right time” was to read The Bible first thing in the morning. It never worked for me until I found the freedom to choose a time that works for me, even if it’s unconventional.
I also love to study topics I’m interested in or areas I want to grow in instead of following a generic Bible reading plan.
Anne Markey helps women read The Bible, understand it and apply it to their lives.
I used to struggle with keeping a consistent study routine, but I found that reading my devotional and scriptures at the same time every day has helped it become a daily habit.
Kate Tekurio is a Christian mom trying to share the light of Christ with others.
Personally, devotionals are important because they help me to know more about the word of God and to develop a daily personal relationship with God. It is my daily manna that helps me in my walk of faith with God as well as when I share it daily with my Hispanic community through social networks.
Roberto Carlos Paredes is an Associate Pastor, Daily Devotional Blogger and Podcaster
Please add your own ideas for practicing devotions in the comments below!
And remember, Daily Faith has an abundance of written-for- you devotional content you can share with your communities!
These comments and suggestions inspire me to return to my daily devotional time. I seem to do better when I have an actual devotion to start out with, then I can follow up with scripture.
We're feeling inspired here too Dodie!
I find the best way to start my day off is to follow the advice of David in Psalm 63" "Oh God thou art my God. Early will I seek thee." Thus my start to the day after thanking God for waking me up and granting me new mercies is to seek him through his word. I have my devotions by reading a devotional and then meditating on the passage. I start with my Bible, highlighters, and a pen to make notes of things that pop out at me, maybe a word, or a phrase and meditate on it. I pray and then I listen to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to me. I chose either a word, a phrase, or a passage and as I go through the day, I look for ways in which God is communicating to me as I ask him what he wants me to learn that day. As I seek him through his word I commit my day to him, I always feel ready to take on the day after I have spent time in his presence.
Thanks for sharing with us!