10/29/2022 0 Comments Daily bible study devotionalDAILY BIBLE STUDY DEVOTIONAL FULLWhile God can and does speak to us individually through his Word, it is full of good news (the gospel!) meant to be shared with all people. Instead, the Bible is a book written for every human being and speaks of a much larger story that God is writing in which we only play a small part. That is why, in addition to reading other people’s reflections and commentaries, we have to take ownership of reading God’s Word for ourselves and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak directly to us.Īdditionally, if we only read the Bible devotionally, it can lead us to view it as one giant self-help manual, only there to meet our needs and address our concerns. Unfortunately (and often unintentionally), the same thing can happen with the Bible. We have all experienced being misunderstood when someone twists our words or removes them from their original context. We can fail to see the totality of God’s plan or misinterpret scripture when we do not take the time to view the Bible in context. While all of these reasons (plus many more!) explain the benefits of using devotionals, I feel I need to also caution you on the limitations of only reading devotionals for spiritual growth.Īlthough devotional reading may seem more appealing and accessible than in-depth Bible study, we miss out on a lot of what God has to say if we never actually study the Bible for ourselves. In this way, devotionals address the heart of how we are to live out our relationship with God. Devotionals help us listen for God’s voice and figure out what He may be saying to us within the context of our circumstances and season of life. By pointing us to the truth found in God’s Word, a devotional gives us time and space to focus on eternal things that will provide us with peace and purpose.īecause most devotionals offer a reflection or commentary on scripture, they also give us opportunities to apply biblical truths to our life and experiences. Still, devotionals have the unique purpose of promoting spiritual growth by helping us focus on our souls. Many tools help us develop healthy habits, use our time wisely, or organize our lives. Devotionals are useful tools to help us do this, especially the ones that provide daily readings or weekly/monthly plans. Maintaining consistency in any relationship can be difficult, but it seems to be particularly challenging when making time to connect with God regularly. You can think of a devotional as a way of staying devoted and committed to pursuing a deeper relationship with God. The term devotional contains the root word, devoted. Also, devotionals can be for individuals, groups, or families. Personally, I have also used nonfiction books on spiritual growth as devotionals. Other devotionals contain a list of Bible readings for a set period of time (days/month/year) that focus on a theme such as gratitude, faith, or prayer. Some may end with a prayer or questions for reflection. Many devotional books have daily readings, beginning with a scripture verse or passage followed by a short reflection or commentary. Although devotionals can come in a variety of forms, the purpose is the same: to encourage spiritual growth. The term devotional may or may not be familiar to you. 4 FINDING A DEVOTIONAL BIBLE STUDY WHAT IS A DEVOTIONAL? DEFINITION
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