Scholar's Devotions
To “devote” yourself is to give yourself to something important. When I am “devoted” to someone or something- it affects how I act. When I am devoted to someone, I will go the extra mile to serve them or care for them. Jesus came to this earth and devoted his entire life for all of humanity and yearns for us to grow in relationship with him. I view “Devotions” as an intentional time in daily life to pause and remember God and all he has done. It is a time to remember that we represent God in daily life and are his people, bought and paid for with Jesus’ precious blood. We need the daily Word of God to remind us of “who we are” and to give us strength.
Where do you begin to write a devotion?
You begin in your own relationship with God. Christians believe God speaks to us and guides us as we study the Bible and pray. Good meditations are closely tied to scripture and show how it has shed light on a specific situation. Good meditations make the message of the Bible come alive.
Good devotional writing is first of all authentic. It connects real events of daily life with the ongoing activity of God. It comes across as the direct, honest statement of personal faith in Christ and how that faith grows. It is one believer sharing with another an insight or struggle about what it means to live faithfully.
Second, good devotional writing, just like good writing of any kind, uses sensory details -- what color it was, how high it bounced, what it smelled like. The more sensory details the writing includes, the better. Though the events of daily life may seem mundane, actually they provide the richest store of sensory details. And when we connect God's activity to common things, each encounter with them can serve as a reminder of God's work.
Finally, good devotional writing is exploratory. It searches and considers and asks questions. It examines the faith without knowing in advance what all the answers will be. It is open to God's continuing self-revelation through scripture, people, and events. Good writing chronicles growth and change, seeing God behind both.
Where do I find an idea for a devotion?
Anywhere!
For example, when you find yourself in the middle of some situation, think, “What is God teaching me here?,” “How is God working at this moment in this situation?", “Is this in any way like any story I’ve read in the Bible?”
You can ask those same questions about a book, movie, song, news story, or something that happened to a friend. You can contemplate a picture, an idiomatic phrase or a metaphor.
You can match a favorite hymn with the Bible verse that inspired it and tell why it’s special to you.
The possibilities are endless.
Excellent ideas come from reading and meditating on scripture, looking for connections between it and daily life. When you see such a helpful connection, here's a simple formula for getting it on paper:
1. Retell the Bible teaching or verse, or summarize a passage briefly to highlight the spiritual truth you’ll be illustrating.
2. Describe the situation, idea, story, or metaphor that you link to the Bible passage, story or truth. Write down as many details of the real-life situation or example as you can. For example, if you write about an incident when people were talking, write down what each person said.
3. Tell how you can apply this spiritual truth in your life now or in the future.
4. Go back and take out anything that is irrelevant or that detracts from your focus, refine your language as needed.
5. Switch devotions within your group, taking turns editing and making suggestions. Proof for clarity of content and errors.
• Begin with studying and meditating on the Bible so its power supports your words.
• Connect scripture with your own life. Your experience is unique.
• Consider using any of the following elements --- a title, suggested Bible reading, quoted scripture verse, personal witness or reflection on scripture, prayer, a "thought for the day," a "prayer focus" and even graphics, artwork or photography.
• A good length for you devotions is from 250 to 550 words, but don’t feel severely constricted by that -- a good idea can be fleshed out or trimmed as needed once you get it down on paper.
• Make one major point. Think snapshot, not movie.
• Focus on how you can deepen the Christian commitment of readers/hearers and help nurture their spiritual growth.
• Give references for any scripture passages mentioned – try to use a common translation (i.e. New International Version or King James Version).
• If you quote someone or something, include reference info (necessary for printed or posted versions).
START WITH A BIBLE VERSE
START WITH A SONG-HYMN-POEM
START WITH A STORY (personal or otherwise)
START WITH A METHAPHOR or ALLEGORY
START WITH A DEFINITION, CATCH PHRASE, SLOGAN or IDIOM
START WITH A VISUAL
I HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA
Scholar's Devotions 2007-2008
Scholar's Devotions 2006-2007
Scholar's Retreat Pictures 2006-2007
Scholar's Devotions 2005-2006
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