Spicing Up Devotions

My most recent posts have examined various frustrations that can occur regarding daily devotions. It is hard to continue any activity that is viewed as difficult or profitless, so I have attempted to give guidance to make devotions more accessible and productive.

The final of the six considerations I presented was "I am discouraged from having devotions because I get bogged down or bored." I discussed the need for variety in devotions, essentially for balancing slower, more in-depth study with quicker and broader but more shallow reading.

In addition to varying the format of actual Bible reading/study, a Christian can add many other activities to complement his structured reading of the Word. Obviously, he cannot do all of these every day, but maybe he could do a few of them regularly and others sporadically. The beauty of the following activities is that they can help to extend a devotional attitude throughout the day. They can also provide something meaningful to do on a day when extra time is available.

1) Pray.

This should be a fairly obvious suggestion and a regular part of any Christian's life. The presentation can vary, however. Whether it is regularly structured or "extra" prayer time, different categories (self, family, church family, friends, leaders, missionaries, ministries, country, etc.) could be prayed for on different days. A day could be dedicated to a particularly pressing need. Special prayer could be focused on one's own growth and revival. Various Bible passages could be used to provide the content of the prayer.

2) Memorize Scripture.

This is a valuable practice for various reasons, including being able to properly focus one's own thoughts during challenges as well as being able to help others. In my experience and observation, memorization works best with some purpose and structure. There are programs available that compile lists of especially pertinent verses. Memorizing a passage (or even a book) can be more profitable than scattered verses. One can choose a favorite, familiar passage and memorize it.

3) Keep a journal.

There are multiple types of journals and journal content. Some people write down inspirational thoughts and quotations, perhaps from books or sermons. Others keep track of special blessings and answered prayers. Some include sermon notes or Bible study notes. Others focus on verbalizing their struggles, aspirations, or soul thoughts. There isn't really a right or wrong thing to record, and certainly a journal could include any combination of the above. A related activity is to go back and read past journals, perhaps even typing ones that were previously hand-written.

4) Listen to hymns.

It is helpful to listen to quality recordings or radio. Better yet, one can play hymns on a piano or other instrument or sing hymns mentally or out loud. He can make his own recordings of special hymns. He can memorize favorite hymns, which is great preparation for times of challenge or for the middle of the night. Another related activity is to read hymns, perhaps purposefully identifying Bible truths or underlying Scripture texts.

5) Read books.

No book is a substitute for the Bible, but many books can apply or enhance the truth of the Bible. There are many resources available, both in print form and electronically. One could read a theological book (gasp!), a Christian growth book, a devotional book, or a biography about a missionary, Christian leader, or ordinary Christian. (As a word of caution, Christian books come from many different backgrounds; not everything promoted as Christian is fundamental or Biblically sound.)

6) Listen to sermons.

While most effective when one can give his full attention to the message, recorded sermons can also accompany driving time or household tasks. Many churches offer recordings of their sermons; this is a good way to reinforce sermons, either on a regular basis or perhaps just for messages that had particular impact. Not all sermons come from a church setting; conferences and retreats are a source of much life-changing teaching that could be reinforced by listening to recordings. As with books, there is a lot of variety (and false teaching) on the online realm. Therefore, it is best to choose sermons from a pastor, church, or other resource that is known to be fundamental.

7) Type old sermon notes.

Many people who take sermon notes never refer to them again. This does not deny the inherent benefit in taking notes, but that benefit can be enhanced by reviewing the notes. One way of doing this is to type the notes, which not only reminds a believer of the content, but can also translate that content into a more accessible and neater format.

8) Write a Bible study.

It has often been stated (accurately) that the teacher learns more than the student. A Christian can learn much by pretending to be a teacher. He can write a Bible study as if he is the one who would be teaching it. For ideas, he could think of the topic for next week's sermon or Sunday school lesson, a Bible study or retreat that he was unable to attend, or a class that merely surveyed a topic.

9) Personalize a psalm.

Other passages of Scripture can be used also, but psalms are probably the easiest. Either verse by verse or concept by concept, one can write down a personal parallel to the passage. The believer can insert his own struggles and situation, thus leading to applying in his own life the lessons learned or the truth rehearsed by the original writer.

10) Be creative.

When a truth is especially meaningful to a Christian, he can sink more deeply into that truth or extend his time considering that truth by writing a poem or an essay or a song about that truth. He doesn't even have to be a professional, since he and God are the intended recipients.

Each of these methods can enhance or extend devotional time, while adding some variety or spice to a believer's spiritual life. Try something new!