I know that if I want to become more like Christ, I need to spend time with Him.
For me, that means daily devotions.
Depending on my season of life, this has taken different forms for me. There was the working full-time season, the newborn baby season, the get-the-kids-off-to-school season. Since I’m a morning person, however, I’ve typically had to plan my quiet time for the beginning of the day, no matter what format I use.
Today I thought I’d share a few details of how I currently schedule these moments. It’s not the only way or even the best way, but it’s the method I’m currently using as I seek to grow in my Christian walk.
What: I bring my Bible, a hymn book, and a small, 3-subject wire bound notebook. In the notebook I have a section for prayer requests, one for my list of 1,000 gifts (which is now at 1,195!), and one for jotting down what I learn from the Scripture passage I read each day.
Where: The couch in our living room, which is deserted this early in the day
When: On weekdays, I typically start between 5:45 and 6:00 A.M. and spend 25-30 minutes
How: I begin with prayer, read a hymn, write down three to five “gifts,” read a passage from the Bible, and practice my current memory passage.
Again, this is what works for me right now. I still struggle with fitting this in on Saturdays as we typically sleep in a little bit and I have less of a routine.
I’ve used different methods for studying the Bible. I’ve read through a devotional book, used a concordance to study a particular topic, chosen one book of the Bible to read through for a month, and examined specific characters from the Old Testament or New Testament.
Are you able to find time to spend with God each day? How do you like to study the Bible? If there’s a particular tool or book that’s been an encouragement to you in this area, please let me know!
Like you, my time to study God's Word is in the morning before my children get up…at least, that's the goal. But sometimes, they come downstairs before I finish, and I think that's a good thing because they get to see me having my quiet time and praying.
Right now, I start by reading a psalm. Then I pray through my prayer list, and I finish off by reading a spiritual book. Right now, it's Rushdoony.
I finished a Beth Moore study about David earlier this summer, and it was really good.
I like your idea of a three subject notebook. I use a notebook to write down my thoughts, too.