How to develop a life of Holy Meditation and Godly Devotion
By John Young
Psalm 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Morning: Personal Devotions
A good morning starts with the prier day. Be sure to go to sleep early to get enough rest and wake early enough that you are not rushed for the morning activities. Upon waking offer a quick prayer of thanks to the Lord (Psalm 5:3) and a pleasant greeting to any loved ones, shower and prepare your morning drink of choice.
In a quiet uncluttered place bring your drink and bible with a simple note book and pen. Start with a reverent prayer of thanks and requests for God’s guidance for yourself and your loved ones while they also meet with God in their morning devotions. Begin your bible readings, taking notes as needed. Read relaxed but with intent to comprehend the passage. As you read take noes of anything that comes to mind (Questions, Praises, Promises you wish to claim, thoughts of interest, answers to previous questions you had, etc). After your reading end with a Prayer of thanks and requests for safety and opportunities to be a witness for God throughout the day. Eat breakfast with your loved ones and give them praise.
TIPS: The amount of time does not matter. You can plan for a minimum of 15 minutes to an hour but the goal is for thoughtful prayer and reading, not just to kill time. If your mind is wandering too much simply finish in prayer and ask the Lord to help you to focus. Over time your concentration will get better. (If needed you can also passively listen to your reading while exercising.) Also refrain from doing non-bible reading (commentaries or studies) this time is strictly for you to be in God’s word.
Noon: Devotional Booklet, Bible Verse Work, Journaling, or etc. While conversing with God.
Lunch time is a good for a small thought from a devotional booklet or to work on bible memorization or simply to journal a prayer to God or about spiritual things. The key is for it to be something thoughtful but also something you enjoy. It can be a time to be creative and just to talk with God about what you are reading, memorizing, writing or thinking. (Just like you would a friend while on a walk.)
Evening: Family Devotions
Theses should be done as a family just before bed time and after all other issues are dealt with and all is calm and focused, so that God’s word is fresh on everyone minds as they lay down for the night. The Head of household can lead in a bible song and an opening prayer before the Bible reading. After reading the passage aloud, a time of explanation, questions and answers about the reading can be held. Afterward each family member should offer a prayer of thankfulness and requests help and safety for themselves and their loved ones. Parents should then comfort and praise their children as they send them off to bed.
TIPS: Family devotions should not feel like a chore or a punishment. As they are able children can participate in choosing their favorite song or passage in addition to the one prepared. Each child and parent can also read aloud a portion of the set reading as they are able (ie. the young ones can read a verse or two while the eldest a chapter or two). Some also like to do prizes for participation or setting.
Falling Asleep: (Psalm 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Psalm 63:5-7 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: 6 when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. 7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.)
After conversing with your loved ones and are laying down Think of all the things God has done for you and will do for you. Cast your cares on him, ask him for guidance and speak to him on the worries you have going on and thank him for the way in which he will guide you through them with his Word. As you drift off to sleep you can sing to yourself a song or psalm in praise to God.
Preparing for Church Attendance: (Psalm 111 Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.)
TIPS:
Journaling: (Psalm 45:1 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.)
Keeping a Journal handy for notes and thoughts will help with study and reflection on things learned. Some things to keep track of are verses of interest particularly of scripture promises that you want God to fulfill in your life just as He did for those in the bible or of struggles you are dealing with in the moment and of blessings you received.
Quick Prayers: (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.)
Try making a habit of taking a moment to pray before and after notable events such as waking up and going to sleep, eating food, starting a drive, before any meeting or event and when hearing of any need.
Personal bible studies: (2 Timothy 2:14-18 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker:... 18 who concerning the truth have erred,…)
Devotion time is not the same as bible study. Devotions are meant be a relaxed time with the Lord to grow your spirit and not necessarily to fill your mind with facts and figures. Occasionally you will have a heart to search out a matter with heavy bible study. This is well and good (Acts 17:11), yet study is a physical mental exercise (Ecclesiastes 12:12). It is important that you not neglect your devotions to do so or your flesh will become conceited and your spirit will become malnourished. This condition is the primary reason for divisions among those who know a lot of bible but have neglected spiritual growth. (Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone., Romans 12:9-21)
Psalm 149:1, 4-6 Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints…. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand...
