It takes time to get into the habit of doing daily devotions. At first, the payoff may not seem obvious, but once devotions become a part of your daily life, you will begin to feel their amazing benefits. Here are five benefits of doing daily devotions.
You grow spiritually
If you have a desire to grow spiritually, try incorporating devotions into your daily life. Devotions are a great place to find inspiration in your spiritual journey. Different readings cause you to reflect on the Word of God and encounter thoughtful teaching on important spiritual topics. Devotions also encourage you to spend time in prayer. While each individual day may not seem particularly impactful, when you take time with God each day, the cumulative effect will cause you to grow and mature. The more we connect with God, the more we will understand what he is saying about himself, his kingdom, and his people.
You get to know God
God created us to be in relationship with him. When sin corrupted the world, we became separated from God, but he never stopped wanting to be in relationship with us. As fallen people, we desire to know our creator and we should strive to be more like him. What better way to get to know God than by studying his Word? However, the Bible can often raise questions and sometimes be difficult to understand. A devotional helps you break things down by providing selected scripture passages, easy to understand teaching, and even suggestions for prayer. Learning more and more about God each day will help you deepen your relationship with him.
You gain a deeper understanding of the Bible
The Bible is a long and complex work, but no other book is filled with so much life giving truth and teaching. Trying to study large portions of the Bible all at once or only visiting it’s pages occasionally will never lead you to a deep understanding of it. It takes both time and commitment to study God’s Word. The more time you spend studying and reflecting on it, the more you will understand it’s message. Just like in school, the best way to learn is to study daily.
You begin to apply the Bible’s teaching
One of my favorite devotionals (besides Today) is Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young. She took time to listen to God and write down what she thought he was saying. This approach created a personal devotional that reads as if God is speaking directly to you. One of the things I like most about it was how easy it was to apply the different lessons to my daily life. Doing these devotions helped shape my daily worldview. Recently, Today published a more narrative month of devotions on sanctification. I suggest you check out Becoming More Holy: The Story of Ron. Read through the month and explore how it can help you apply God’s teaching in your life.
You find peace
Perhaps the most immediate benefit of doing devotions is a feeling of peace. Every once in awhile we all feel hopeless, overwhelmed, anxious, or lonely. Reading a daily devotional applicable to your situation can bring much needed peace from God. Hearing about God’s grace and love for you is something you can always take comfort in. Devotions help us remember that no matter what is happening in the world, God holds all of it in his hands.
Yes, daily devotions may seem daunting, but the benefits are well worth it. If you are looking for ways to grow spiritually and find comfort in a relationship with God, then strive to read daily devotions.
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