Living a Devotional Life

What is a Devotional Life?

by Karen S. Roberts

When some people hear the term a devotional life, they picture a monk or nun who is off in a monastery somewhere, devoting himself or herself to prayer almost constantly.  However, every day people who live and work in common situations can have a devotional life.  This is a life in communion with God.

Basically a devotional life is one in which we spend time with God every day.  This can be through worship, singing praises, prayer, Bible reading, meditating on a section of God’s Word, and spending quiet time listening for God to speak to us individually.

Then throughout the day, no matter what we are doing, we stay in tune with God.  This can happen even when we are at work.

It takes time and effort to have a devotional life.

It might mean getting up early or drawing aside during the day or evening to get alone with God.  However it also can involve talking with God throughout the day and listening for directions from Him.  This involves yielding to Him to allow Him to work in your spirit.  It might also include singing along to praise and worship music and praying out loud as you are driving to or from work or other activities.  The idea is to set aside other things in order to commune with God.

Intentional communing with God yields benefits.

As you fellowship with God,  you will see God working through you, answering prayer, opening doors of opportunity, warning you away from what could harm you, and using you to minister to others.  You will experience more peace, joy, and fulfillment also.

Here is a source of help to develop a devotional life:

If you are looking for a book that might help you build a deeper devotional life than what you have, try A Place of Quiet Rest: Finding Intimacy with God Through a Daily Devotional Life by Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth.

Nancy is a highly respected teacher of the Word of God, especially involved in women’s ministry.  You may have heard her on the radio or have listened to her speak at a conference.  One thing that she teaches in her book is how having a quiet time with God helps to build our inner spiritual life with God. She advises prayer before reading the Bible, asking God to reveal the message that He wants to speak to you that day.  Her many practical applications of how to come into a place of resting in God will be helpful to you and will give you new insights.

Enjoy listening to what Nancy shared at a women’s prayer conference.