“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Mark 1:35
Personal devotion/Quiet time is where we get alone with God and spend time reading His Word, meditating upon it, praying and hearing from Him what He wants to speak to us each day through His Holy Spirit. It is here that our minds are renewed, our soul and spirit are refreshed, and we apply His Word to our daily living.
Ingredients that make a great Personal Devotion:
- Set aside a specific time daily
- Find a quiet place
- Have your Bible
- Bring a journal and pen
- Refer to a devotional guide like Daily Bread, Everyday with Jesus, etc (optional)
- Keep a commitment and love to want to keep your Personal Devotion
If you have been trying to keep one and have not been successful, don’t give up. Try again and ask the Holy Spirit to help in our weakness. It has been said; any habit can be developed in 21 days, so why not try to work through the next 21 days and set aside time to make your personal devotion work! Don’t be too hard on yourself or too ambitious but take baby steps to your road of success! Each of us have a hunger and thirst for God’s Word and His presence; so we want to encourage you that you can keep a daily personal devotion.
If you only have 15 minutes:
Start by reading a Psalm, pray the Psalm or even read from a daily devotional.
In your journal, write down a key verse that you were challenged by or encouraged by
Bring your prayer needs to the Lord and praise Him!
If you have 30 minutes:
- If you are following a reading plan or daily devotional, do read through it.
- Meditate on the scriptures
- In your journal, write down a key verse that you were challenged by or encouraged by
- Think of application of the Word to your daily life
- Pray and worship the Lord, pray a Psalm…
If you have one hour:
- If you are following a reading plan or daily devotional, do read through it
- Take some quiet moments to meditate on the Scriptures
- In your journal, write down a key verse that you were challenged by or encouraged by
- Memorise a key scripture
- Think of application of the Word to your daily life
- Pray for personal prayer needs and needs of others
- Spend a few minutes being still before the Lord and worship Him
These are just simple suggestions of how you can start your personal devotion. It’s fine to switch the order; what counts is taking time and spending it with the Lord! Enjoy your personal devotion with God! |
