How do you measure a daily devotional’s value?
Why would one be important?
And how to choose one?
With a new year starting soon, it may be time to consider if you want to use a daily devotional, and if so, what kind, and why?
How to choose a devotional
Ask yourself these questions:
- Why do I read devotionals?
- What am I looking for in a book of devotional readings?
- Who wrote it (and are they dependable in their beliefs?)
- How long do I have to read a devotional?
- When in my day will I have time?
- Where will I read a devotional? (Computer, phone, book?)
A devotional’s value comes from regularly reading it.
Finding one that suits your situation will help you get more out of it.
How can you rate a devotional’s value to you?
What’s happening in your life right now?
Is this a season of grief? Try Streams in the Desert.
Are you seeking a way to connect with a tween girl? Try The Anne of Green Gables Devotional. Or The Secret Garden Devotional.
Maybe you have an animal lover you’d like to encourage? All God’s Creatures is full of daily devotions for an animal lover.
Many people love Jesus Calling.
Those looking for intellectual challenges–often men, frankly–generally appreciate My Utmost for His Highest.
Diane Stortz put one together that allows you to read from Genesis to Revelation in a single year.
A devotional’s value in the long run is whether you keep reading it and draw inspiration from the ideas and thoughts.
Why not just the Bible?
An excellent question.
A devotional’s value is meaningless if you just read the devotional and never crack open a Bible.
A good devotional draws its truth from Scripture, nothing else.
Many devotionals (as noted above) draw their concepts from themes.
Those can work for many–as introduction to what is really important: the Word of God.
Some people don’t want to carry a Bible in their backpack, or they prefer to be quiet about their faith.
(A phone Bible app can solve that problem, by the way).
A devotional with a beautiful cover may encourage questions from folks who see you reading it.
Whatever your reason for using a devotional, don’t use it in lieu of the Bible.
I’ve used My Utmost for His Highest as a tool to get me thinking before I read the Scriptures.
Types of devotional books
Again, they work around themes.
But, you can get them in many different formats.
Stories, cards you pick out of a box, flip books, spiral bound, with wide margins to write notes.
Coloring book devotionals work well for many, too.
Classic devotional books
I’ve written frequently about devotionals, in particular My Utmost for His Highest and, lately, Streams in the Desert.
A devotional’s value can be proven; they’ve both been in print for nearly 100 years.
Like most Christian devotional books, each day’s reading is based on specific Biblical passages–though not necessarily in a precise order.
Whether based on Bible passages (My Utmost) or spiritually-themed poems (Streams), they offer short vignettes of 250-300 words to contemplate Biblical truth.
The secret to a devotional’s value?
The aim should be for the reader to walk closer to God, particularly through thinking about Bible passages inspired by the day’s reading.
Devotionals have been around for centuries.
Perhaps, then, the test of time is the best way to assess a devotional’s value?
(Wikimedia Commons)
Thomas à Kempis‘ wrote The Imitation of Christ in 1420. It was reprinted 744 times before 1650!
The Imitation of Christ is the most widely translated book in history–other than the Bible.
Even Martin Luther had a copy in his library.
St. Teresa de Avila wrote The Interior Castle in 1588.
Brother Lawrence wrote Practicing the Presence of God as an example of how to “live” in your devotion to Christ.
Devotional writers, themselves, use devotionals. Oswald and Biddy Chambers, for example, loved the Bagster family’s Daily Light on the Daily Path, written in the 19th century.
Do you need to use a devotional?
No.
But sometimes it helps.
Have a wonderful year–preferably getting closer to God–whether you read a devotional or not!!
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I met you a few years back at a leaders retreat at the Calvary Chapel Bible college in Murietta California. In our discussion I mentioned that I read Streams in the Desert every year and you told me that you were going to be writing a biographical book about
L. B. Cowman. I just wondered how that was going? I read and enjoyed your book on Biddy Chambers and look forward to the one on Ms. Cowman. I enjoyed meeting you, and our conversation over lunch, and have since followed your posts. I’m looking forward to your next book.
Blessings to you,
Suzanne White
Hi Suzanne–
Thanks for thinking of me. My biography of Lettie will be out later this year, the date is not firm yet. I will for sure be announcing and discussing it on the website, so keep reading! Blessings to you.