Daily Devotionals: Your Gateway to Scripture

March 17, 2025

Darlene Hull

Apr 17, 2025

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This series has been focused on helping us integrate more Scripture into our lives in practical, sustainable ways. If you missed the first two articles, you can find them here:

The Starting Block Problem

One of the biggest obstacles to engaging with Scripture is simply knowing where to begin. The Bible contains 66 books, written across multiple genres, spanning thousands of years of history. It can feel overwhelming to approach it alone, especially if you're new to Bible reading or returning after a long break.

Many of us have good intentions:

"I'll read a chapter every night."
"I'll start in Genesis and work my way through."
"I'll pick a book and study it deeply."

But without guidance, structure, or context, these well-meaning plans often fade within days or weeks.

That's where devotionals come in—they're like training wheels for your Bible reading journey.

What Makes Devotionals So Helpful?

Devotionals offer a gentle on-ramp to Scripture engagement by providing:

Curated passages: Instead of wondering what to read, someone has already selected meaningful verses for you.
Digestible length: Most take just 5-10 minutes to complete—perfect for busy schedules.
Context and commentary: Brief explanations help you understand what you're reading.
Real-life application: They bridge the gap between ancient text and your daily life.
Consistency: The daily format builds a sustainable rhythm of Bible engagement.

A good devotional doesn't replace Scripture reading—it enhances it by giving you a lens through which to read and apply it.

Finding Your Perfect Match

Devotionals come in countless styles, each with a unique approach:

Topical devotionals focus on specific themes like prayer, relationships, or anxiety
Seasonal devotionals guide you through particular times like Advent or Lent
Demographic devotionals are written for specific groups (men, women, students, parents)
Classic devotionals have stood the test of time for generations
Contemporary devotionals speak to modern challenges and cultural contexts

The key is finding one that resonates with where you are right now—both spiritually and practically.

Starting Small: The Five-Minute Devotional Habit

Remember our theme from the first article? "We're going to start small—just a taste." That principle applies perfectly to devotionals.

Here's a simple way to begin:

Choose one devotional that appeals to you (see recommendations below).
Identify when you'll read it—perhaps with morning coffee, during lunch, or before bed.
Keep it visible where you'll see it during your chosen time.
Read the Scripture first, then the devotional content.
Start with a one-week commitment—small enough to feel doable, long enough to begin forming a habit.

The goal isn't perfect attendance. The goal is creating a sustainable connection with God's Word that gradually deepens over time.

Making It Stick: Beyond Just Reading

To get the most from your devotional time:

Pause before you begin. Take three deep breaths and ask God to speak to you through His Word.
Read the suggested Scripture passage twice—once to get the general idea, and again more slowly to notice details.
Ask yourself: “What might this verse be saying to me specifically?
Read the author’s commentary below the scripture
Highlight or underline anything that stands out to you.
Ask yourself: "What is one truth from this passage I can carry with me today?"
Close with a brief prayer, thanking God for what He showed you.

This simple practice transforms devotional reading from a passive activity into an interactive conversation with God.

It’s important, when choosing a devotional book, to choose one that’s got a solid Biblical foundation and has some depth to its teaching. Many modern ones are all bubblegum and birdsong, rather than something that’s going to challenge you to think deeply about who God is calling you to be.

Recommended Devotionals to Get You Started

Light for the Path: EDWJ One Year Devotional** by Selwyn Hughes
Morning and Evening** by Charles Spurgeon (this version has updated language)
My Utmost for His Highest** by Oswald Chambers

These three are a great place to start, and will set the standard for you for future options.

Bible Apps to try

Due to lack of space (not kidding) I have had to stop buying physical books, and move to e-books and apps. I actually have my entire morning quiet time process on my phone in a file on my homepage (so I don’t get distracted…)

I still like a daily devotional, even if I’m also going deeper into the Bible. There are great ones you can get on your phone. For example:

Lectio 365 - from 24-7 Prayer International.

Dwell** also has a daily devotional

YouVersion Bible app has many devotionals to choose from

From Devotionals to Deeper Study

As you build consistency with devotionals, you may find yourself wanting more. That's a beautiful sign of spiritual growth!

When that happens, you can:

Expand to reading the full chapter containing your devotional's verses
Look up cross-references mentioned in the devotional
Journal your reflections after reading
Discuss what you're learning with a friend

Devotionals aren't meant to be the destination—they're a starting point that gradually leads to deeper Bible engagement.

The Only "Wrong Way" Is Not Starting

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is this: there is no perfect system. The "right way" to engage with Scripture is the way that actually works for your real life.

Some days you'll read thoughtfully and experience profound insights. Other days you'll skim quickly between meetings or while waiting for water to boil. Some weeks you'll be consistent; others you'll miss several days.

That's not failure—it's being human.

What matters is that you keep coming back, keep starting again, keep giving God's Word space in your life. Because each time you do, whether for thirty seconds or thirty minutes, you're creating room for God to speak into your day.

What's Next?

Choose one devotional from the recommended list and commit to trying it for one week. Notice what you like about it and what you don't. Pay attention to when you're most likely to actually read it.

Remember, we're not aiming for perfection—we're aiming for progress. Small steps consistently taken will carry you further than grand plans abandoned.

Closing Blessing

May the words of Scripture, illuminated through reflection and prayer, become a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. May God's voice become increasingly familiar to you, Speaking wisdom, comfort, and truth into your everyday moments.

Go with God, and be blessed.

** the double asterisk on a link is an indicator that this is an affiliate link, and if you purchase the book through that link, Amazon will give me a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a way of supporting my ministry.