The Deep Importance of a Devotional Life

Isn’t it interesting how personal devotions is often the first thing to go when you are in ministry? If time is tight, so many of us reason that we don’t need our own devotions since we spend so much of our day in the Word.

That. Is. So. Wrong.

And I am as guilty as the next ministry person.

I have found the more I guard and protect the space I have set aside for God and I, the more on point my ministry and my life seem to be.

And to keep from being bored, as well as look for God in different areas of life, I mix up the way I do personal devotions. Maybe some of these will help you in your search for spending time with God.

• On Sunday I try to get up a little earlier and tune my Spotify to my Christian song playlist. I do not turn on any other media. I have found this helps center my mind on the worship I am about to enter when I head to church. And even though I am about to enter corporate worship, I find it incredibly helpful to still read my morning devotional. It’s short with a few Bible references.
• On Monday I try to start off the work week with an extended time with God. Since Sunday is the actual start of the work week for most of us, Monday actually allows for more time to do this since it is six days until the craziness of Sunday. I head to the coffeehouse and spend 45 minutes to an hour in devotions, Scripture and writing in my prayer journal. I also take time to read past prayer journal entries.
• During the rest of my work week, I spend time reading a chapter out of Scripture and my daily devotional once I get to the office, but before starting any of my work.
• I have my radio tuned to K-Love so I can worship in the car while driving. It also helps cut down on my road rage so win-win!
• Once or twice a week (usually once on the weekend) I will write a blog post that is more devotional in nature. This too is devotions.
• I try to end each day writing down three or more God-sightings I had that day in a journal.
• Before bed I physically yield myself before Him on the floor, spending time in prayer. I often start my days with a 10-minute drive to the gym and spend time in prayer then also.

There is no magic bullet for devotions. There are so many different ways and times you can do them. It is a matter of creating the space and then jealously guarding that time.

Sarah Vanderaa is currently serving as a full-time youth director in a church located in the south suburbs of Chicago. She is currently in her 11^th season and is excited to see what the year will bring. On her rest days, she can often be found behind a computer writing and updating her blog, while drinking lots and lots of coffee. In between naps, she still finds time to read novels. You can connect with Sarah through her blog at WWW.UNLOCKANDRELEASE.TUMBLR.COM or her Facebook page @UNLOCKANDRELEASE