Daily Devotions Have a Plan

Pray, Praise, Read, Meditate, Journal | by Andy Deanne

It's been said, "If you aim at nothing, you are sure to hit it!" To have a meaningful daily devotion, you will need a plan or some kind of general outline to follow for your quiet time. It could be something as simple as this:

Briefly Pray

Invite Jesus to be with you (Psalm 139:23-24; 119:18).

Praise God

Read a Psalm aloud to God or sing a praise song to get your heart and spirit in an attitude of worship. Daily devotions are a form of worship.

Read the Bible
Read slowly, systematically (not randomly) and read only a small amount. If you are on a Bible in a year reading plan then after you have finished your assigned reading choose a smaller portion of Scripture that you just read to review again more devotionally. You might want to try reading aloud as if the Lord were speaking to you personally.

Meditate
You can meditate on Scripture by reading the passage out loud a few times, asking questions, memorizing a verse, reading in a couple of different translations, paraphrasing it in your own words, and so forth. Talk with God about how this verse relates to your life and how He wants you to practically apply this truth.

Journal
Write down any thought God gives you, as well as any applications.

Close in Prayer
After God has spoken His Word to you, speak to Him. Include times of adoration, worship, thanksgiving, confession, intercession, and petition. Occasionally vary your physical positions in prayer (kneeling/standing). Tell God how you desire to respond to Him today.

Copyright 2009 Andy Deanne
Learn to Study the Bible

Return to the Adult and Teen Devotionals page.

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