THE VALUE OF DOING DEVOTIONS

I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. Psalm 119:15–16 (NLT)

My earliest childhood memories are of my parents doing daily devotions with me and my brothers. From a young age, my parents taught us the value of spending time with God.

However, I have run into many believers who aren’t sure what devotions are or why they’re valuable. So let’s take a look at what they are and why we do them. Devotions are simply spending time alone with God every day. It’s setting aside time in your day to pray, read His Word and talk with Him. The fantastic benefit of doing devotions is that you personally learn, grow and profit from them.

In today’s scripture, the psalmist declares, “I will study” and “I will delight.” Notice that both sentences start with “I.” That’s a crucial point because devotions are personal—they require you to get into God’s Word. Nobody else can do it for you. Although it would be great for someone else to pray and automatically give you a victorious Christian life, it doesn’t work that way.

Now, that doesn’t apply to parents of young children because God promises that if we train up our kids in the way they should go, they won’t depart from it when they’re older (Proverbs 22:6). After our children are grown, as parents, we can’t personally keep them victorious. However, we can trust that the Word we teach them during childhood will root deeply and guide them to live victoriously as adults.

Spending time with God is essential to your continued spiritual growth. In what ways can you make it a part of your daily life?