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Devotional Ideas
A Practical Guide to Daily Devotions
I wanted to follow up on the sermon “Psalm One, Again,” and give some practical tips for various approaches to personal and private devotions. I don’t want you to limit the meaning of the expression in Psalm One “upon his law he meditates day and night” to the more common idea of “quiet times” or “devotions.” Nevertheless, spending daily time one way or another alone in the Scripture is a most necessary part of the “meditation” process. Of course, the process of meditating upon the Word involves both receiving from God and responding to God. The following list of ways to meditate on the Word focuses more on the former, that is, receiving from God. Some of the suggestions however do offer ideas for personal response through prayer and journalizing. Eventually I hope to expand the list to include methods of more systematic devotional and intercessory praying, but this will do for now.
Given all the options what is one to do? My suggestion is to settle on one approach with which you stay with over time, year in and year out, as part of the habit of your daily life. Then, in addition to that regular approach, include other approaches as well, off and on as times goes on. As to the “regular” approach, my recommendation would be either to read and pray the Psalms (since you don’t need any “helps”) or use one of the simple devotional guides mentioned.
By way of encouragement to those who feel like they always try only to fail at aticking something like this, let me say that in terms of day to day consistency in staying with something like the devotional approaches mentioned below, I am one of the most undisciplined people on earth. I am a “grazer.” I tend to read 8-10 books at the same time, never one through from start to finish. I have a hard time doing one thing day after day and week after week, though I am trying hard to make “praying the Psalms” part of my daily routine. If you are anything like me (and I hope you’re not) you may want to have three or four of these other approaches going at once, doing a little here and a little there, bit by bit. Either way, whether you are good at staying with one thing until it’s finished, or whether you tend to be a “grazer” like me, over time you will be built up in the knowledge of God and fruitfulness to Him. I promise.
PS – these suggestions are weighted toward what I might call more “meditative” or “devotional” times, and are not meant to replace or exclude all other worthwhile kinds of reading and study.
1. Devotional books and periodicals
This is probably the easiest and most accessible approach to having some sort of devotional time each day, and I recommend it as a way to get started or as a change of pace for a period of time. There are many excellent and worthwhile devotional books available in your local Christian bookstore, though I would tend away from all gimmicky books designed for narrow demographic groups.
The shortest good devotional I know of is available from the folks at Radio Bible Class. It is called Our Daily Bread. It has a short reflection on some subject (usually by one of the DeHahns), and then a Scripture reading and prayer.
Another well known, short, and easily accessible devotional booklet is called The Upper Room.
Probably the most famous Protestant devotional is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers available through Radio Bible Conference. You can by this famous book at almost any Christian bookstore. Oswald Chambers was a part of the Keswick or Higher Life movement in Great Britain at the turn of the century, and his writings reflect this, though I still recommend them.
My own favorite daily devotional booklet is Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening. Spurgeon is hard to beat as a pastoral theologian, and his devotional writings are helpful and dependable. You can order this book from most Christian bookstores, or access it online through the link above.
Several folks in our congregation subscribe to Tabletalk, the monthly journal/devotional of Ligonier Ministries. Along with having good articles each month on a variety of subjects, Tabletalk includes an excellent daily devotional which usually runs through various books of the Bible. As a total resource, Tabletalk is hard to beat. Some do not find the readings a “devotional” as some of the older devotional booklets. You can order Tabletalk at 1-800-435-4343, or access ordering online at www.ligonier.org.
My favorite devotional guide of all is the Saint James Daily Devotional Guide to the Christian Year. I have written extensively about this guide and could not recommend it more highly. Do yourself a favor and order it for yourself for the New Year.
2. Read or listen through the Bible
There are many excellent read-through-the-Bible programs and schedules available. Many of the standard Bibles print such schedules in the appendices. The biggest challenge is in sticking with the readings and not getting so behind that you get discouraged and just quit. The next biggest challenge is trying to read too carefully. This approach is most helpful in building an overall sense of and growing familiarity with Scripture, and requires that you read on when you might feel like slowing down and studying too closely.
One resource that has helped many read through the Bible is the One Year Bible. This Bible is structured to be read straight through in such as way that you get a mix of New Testament and Old Testament each day as you go, and you don’t have to flip around. You can get a One Year Bible from most Christian bookstores. There is also a One Year Bible online.
Ligonier Ministries includes with its Tabletalk magazine, which I mentioned above, and accessible read through the Bible in a year program.
I also encourage (and will be encouraging a lot more in a month or so as something many of us in the congregation can do together) listening to the Bible on cassette tape or CD ROM. There is a ministry called Faith Comes by Hearing that produces recordings of Scripture in many English versions and in many modern languages, and in the Old or New Testament. I have encouraged many of us as individuals and families to use this resource.
3. Use a Guided Topical Study
I would like to add more to this section, but for now just one example comes to mind, Francis Schaeffer’s little booklet called Basic Bible Studies. This booklet is very simple in its organization. Schaeffer highlights a different topic in each chapter, such as God’s Grace, Christ the Mediator, Never Lost Again, The New Relationship: Adoption, etc. For each topic he gives the verse for 10-20 Scriptures, adding short personal summary comments for each Scripture. It is still in print I think, but hard to find.
4. Read and Pray through the Psalms
If I had to vote for one approach to stay with week in and week out, year in and year out, no matter what else you may do, this is it. Refer to my Using the Psalms in the “Writings” section of this web site.
5. Have a “Gospel Devotional”
I have enjoyed two types of devotional approaches to reading the gospels.
Several years back I got together for a period of months with a few guys for a morning devotion. We read through the book of John and the book of Mark. We would read a passage aloud, and then make note of all which the passage told us about Jesus. We each would write these observations in a notebook, to which we would refer off and on later. I found this doable and easy and most helpful.
Another approach which I found useful was keeping a gospel journal. I read through the book of Mark in the NIV, section by section. I would write down the reference and section title at the top of a page in my notebook (for example Mark: 1:29-34: Jesus Heals Many) and then I would carefully and slowly read the section. Then I would simply write down, filling up the page, all the various thoughts, questions, or longings which the passage evoked. This is all I did, and it proved most helpful.
6. Do a hand’s-on word or theme study
This is one of the very best “hand’s on” ways for actually getting into the Bible and studying it in a way that will increase your familiarity with it, as well as build you up as to its various themes and teachings. I say “hands-on” in contrast to all the word study references you can buy with the work done for you. Best to look everything up yourself before referring to the word study reference books.
For example, several years ago I was asked to teach a Sunday School class on the issue of the “Christian and the poor.” I wasn’t really sure I knew what approach to take and whether I really understood what the Bible taught. So for several weeks, a little each day, I started looking up Scriptures which had to do with taking care of the poor and needy. I started simply by looking up the word “poor” in the little concordance at the end of my Bible. This process took me to several passages, which then led me to other passages by virtue of cross referencing. I also found other words repeated in these passages, which I then went and looked up in my concordance – words like “widow” and “orphan” and “alien” and “stranger.” As I looked up each verse I would write the verse out by hand in my notebook, and write down thoughts and comments about the verse as well. Over time I built up a considerable amount of material, and because of this I am now familiar with several passages which address the issue directly. The overall effect of this was to increase my love for God whose heart is toward the weak and dispossessed.
Many words and themes make for good and excellent study – “covenant,” grace,” “resurrection,” “peace” and forgiveness” come to mind right at the moment. There are hundreds and hundreds of words and themes which one can fruitfully study in this way. I promise that if you do this you will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and become much more familiar with your Bible at the same time.
7. Read a good God-centered book
There are thousands of good and worthwhile Christian books worthy of your attention, more than you could ever read. For the purposes of this guide to personal devotions, I would suggest books which are God-centered and positive in orientation; that is, they are not exposes or critiques of the church or analyses of the end times or whatever. Neither are they “how-to” books for marriage or work or parenting etc. Their focus is on learning about God and His ways. Several I recommend (all of which are in print and available to order) are J. I. Packer’s Knowing God, Jerry Bridges’ Pursuing God, A. W. Tozer’s The Attributes of God, John Piper’s Desiring God, and RC Sproul’s The Holiness of Go,. and C. S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. It might be good to read each of these is turn. If you find that you particularly resonate with one of these authors, you will be then able to read many more books by the same, and enjoy many months and years of worthwhile positive devotional reading.
8. Read a Systematic Theology
One of the problems that many have is developing a broad and systematic topical understanding of the teaching of the Bible. Although such an endeavor may sound very abstruse or academic, there are several resources which reward an effort to study and understand Scriptural teaching from a topical standpoint.
For example, I have before me a copy of Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology: An introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids; Zondervan, 1994). Grudem’s is the most accessible systematic theology that I am aware of. It comes bound in a pretty blue cover, and covers a range of major topics such as the Doctrine of the Word of God, the Doctrine of God, the Doctrine of Man, the Doctrines of Christ and the Holy Spirit, the Doctrine of the Application of Redemption, the Doctrine of the Church, and the Doctrine of the Future, each of which includes several chapters. The appendices include many of the historic creeds and confessions, as well as a helpful list of Scripture memory passages. In addition each chapter ends with helpful questions for application, a bibliography, cross referencing to the various creeds, a Scripture memory passage, and a hymn. This systematic theology is perhaps the most accessible and well footnoted with many references to the pertinent Scriptures. It handles controversial topics with evenness and kindness to those with whom Grudem differs. It may not sound like a way to “draw near to God,” but believe me, you will grow and learn and get excited about being a Christian reading this stuff. I promise! Grudem’s book can be ordered through your local Christian bookstore, from a Christian book club such as christianbook.com or through amazon.com. I think this book is in stock at Border’s Books as well, which, by the way, has the best supply of Christian books in town.
Another delightful systematic theology (of sorts), which gives you a better sense of the historic development of Christian doctrine as well as a solid overview of its topics, but which is also quite accessible to the beginning reader of theology, is Alister McGrath’s Christian Theology: An Introduction, available from all the same places as Grudem’s book. This short work has quickly become the standard introductory text.
Of course, it always hard to beat Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion (Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. 2 vols. Edited By John T. McNeill. Translated and indexed by Ford Lewis Battles. The Library of Christian Classics, Vols. 20-21. Philadelphia; Westminster, 1960.). It will take you a while to work through the Institutes, but given the relatively short sections, you can do a bit at a time and make your way through it off and on in a year or two. A copy of the old Beveridge translation is available online.
Finally, not quite so much for beginners, but one of the standards is Louis Berkhof’s Systematic Theology, Revised Edition. If you take the time to work through this you will be glad you did.
9. Read through and study one of the great creeds
Unlike the systematic theologies mentioned above, which seek a kind of breadth and depth of coverage of the various topics, the creeds are noted for their brevity and conciseness. Because of this each phrase and sentence in a creed is often packed with insight, and quite conducive to memorization and pondering. Most of the creeds can be ordered as separate books or booklets, and all can be obtained online.
For brevity and inclusiveness the Apostles’ Creed stands out (found online in many places, linked here to the Christian Classic Ethereal Library). Since the Apostles’ Creed can be read in a few minute or so, one needs to slow down to think about and unpack its meaning. There are two ways to do this.
First, keep an Apostles’ Creed “journal” by writing the key phrases from the Creed at the top of a page in a notebook, and then, on the rest of the page, express your own understanding of, appreciation of, and thankfulness for the thought mentioned in that particular phrase. Look up Scriptures which come to mind, or do a short word study on the various words. So for example, you might have “God the Father Almighty” at the top of a page, or “Was Conceived by the Holy Ghost.” Go through this process once, wait several years, and do it again, and notice how your understanding has grown over the years!
A second approach to having a devotion using the Apostle’s Creed would be to work through one of the many devotional books on the creed, such as I Believe: Exploring the Apostles’ Creed by Alister McGrath., or the Small Catechism of Martin Luther, Part II, The Apostle’s Creed. Or check out the Apostle’s Creed Project, which offers insightful commentary on each phrase of the creed.
For a fuller treatment of Christian doctrine in creedal form, I would turn you to one of the following: The Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, or the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. Each has its merits and each warrants devotional study. The Belgic Confession, prepared in 1561 by Guido de Brès for the heavily persecuted Protestant reformed churches of Holland, is perhaps the most beautifully written summation of Christian teaching available. The Belgic Confession comes with Scripture references which can be looked up slowly and carefully during a devotional study. Check out this chapter on “Divine Providence:” If you don’t feel comforted and encouraged after reading this, particularly the second paragraph, I just don’t know what to say!
We believe that the same God, after He had created all things, did not forsake them, or give them up to fortune or chance, but that He rules and governs them according to His holy will, so that nothing happens in this world without His appointment; nevertheless, God neither is the author of, nor can be charged with, the sins which are committed. For His power and goodness are so great and incomprehensible, that He orders and executes His work in the most excellent and just manner, even then when devils and wicked men act unjustly. And as to what He doth surpassing human understanding, we will not curiously inquire into it further than our capacity will admit of; but with the greatest humility and reverence adore the righteous judgments of God which are hid from us, contenting ourselves that we are disciples of Christ, to learn only those things which He has revealed to us in His Word without transgressing these limits.
This doctrine affords us unspeakable consolation, since we are taught thereby that nothing can befall us by chance, but by the direction of our most gracious and heavenly Father, who watches over us with a paternal care, keeping all creatures so under His power that not a hair of our head (for they are all numbered), nor a sparrow, can fall to the ground, without the will of our Father, in whom we do entirely trust; being persuaded that He so restrains the devil and all our enemies that, without His will and permission, they cannot hurt us. And therefore we reject that damnable error of the Epicureans, who say that God regards nothing, but leaves all things to chance.
John 5:17; Heb. 1:3; Prov. 16:4; Ps. 104:9, etc.; Ps. 139:2, etc. Jas. 4:15; Job 1:21; 1 Kings 22:20; Acts 4:28; 1 Sam. 2:25; Ps. 115:3; 45:7; Amos 3:6; Deut. 19:5; Prov. 21:1; Ps. 105:25; Isa. 10:5-7; 2 Thes. 2:11; Ezek. 14:9; Rom. 1:28; Gen. 45:8; 1:20; 2 Sam. 16:10; Gen. 27:20; Ps. 75:7-8; Isa. 45:7; Prov. 16:4; Lam. 3:37-38; 1 Kings 22:34,38; Ex. 21:13 Matt. 8:31,32; John 3:8 Rom. 11:33-34 Matt. 8:31; Job 1:12; 2:6 Matt. 10:29-30
Another great creed is the Heidelberg Catechism completed in 1562 by Zacharias Ursinus and Kasper Olevianus to help end controversy between the Lutheran and Reformed Protestants. Following the normal question/answer pattern of the catechism genre, it carries the reader along through a very systematic but also personal expression of biblical truth. Perhaps its most famous questions are the first two, which are unrivaled as beautiful expressions of personal faith:
Q. 1. What is your only comfort, in life and in death?
A. That I belong--body and soul, in life and in death--not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
Q. 2. How many things must you know that you may live and die in the blessedness of this comfort?
A.Three. First, the greatness of my sin and wretchedness. Second, how I am freed from all my sins and their wretched consequences. Third, what gratitude I owe to God for such redemption.
The Westminster Confession of Faith (ARP Version),written in England in the 1640’s by a most impressive assembly of pastors and theologians, also provides an excellent systematic presentation of Scriptural truth. It is perhaps the most concise and compact of the great creeds, and most thoroughly logical and systematic, in that the logical principle of God’s sovereign decree controls the organization of the chapters. Each section is accompanied by Scripture references which can be looked up in a devotional reading. I heartily recommend the Westminster Confession as a devotional guide. I will quote again from a favorite chapter, Chapter 12, “Of Adoption.” This never ceases to fill my heart with joy!
All those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption;a by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God;b have his name put upon them,c receive the Spirit of adoption;d have access to the throne of grace with boldness;e are enabled to cry, Abba, Father;f are pitied,g protected,h provided for,i and chastened by him as by a father;k yet never cast off,l but sealed to the day of redemption,m and inherit the promises,n as heirs of everlasting salvation.o
a Eph. 1:5; Gal. 4:4-5. b Rom. 8:17; John 1:12. c Jer. 14:9; II Cor. 6:18; Rev. 3:12. d Rom. 8:15. e Eph. 3:12; Rom. 5:2. f Gal. 4:6. g Ps. 103:13. h Prov. 14:26. i Matt. 6:30, 32; I Pet. 5:7. k Heb. 12:6. l Lam. 3:31. m Eph. 4;30. n Heb. 6:12. o I Pet. 1:3-4; Heb. 1:14.
10. Have a hymn devotional
Another fruitful devotional method which leans more toward the ‘response to God” mode is that of using hymns as a guide for your meditation and thought. I suggest writing out the hymn line by line, leaving space between lines to write thoughts and comments and personal praises evoked by that line of the hymn. This is easily done either on a computer or by hand in a notebook. Work through the hymn slowly, allowing time to praise God in prayer for each truth brought out in the hymn. There are several benefits to this devotional method. First, it exposes you to solid teaching written in an accessible format. Second, it helps you to understand the hymns as you reflect upon them. Third, it helps you worship when you sing the hymn, as you instantly connect with its sentiment and teaching. Fourth, it enables you therefore to better teach and admonish the saints as you sing, in that you sing with more exuberance and confidence and gratitude.
If you would like to order a hymn book for personal use, I would suggest either the Hymnal for Worship and Celebration published by Word Music, or the Trinity Hymnal published by Great Commission Publications.
11. Detailed Bible Book study
I am going to postpone to another writing details of how to do a meaningful devotional bible book study.
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