How to Make the Most of Your Devotional TimeSample

Daily Devotionals and Time

Christians know that we should spend time in God’s Word and His presence daily. Sometimes, the believer wonders how much time is enough for such personal Bible study? If someone spends several hours a day listening to sermon material is that enough, or is it too much? Some people feel guilty, thinking that they do not dedicate enough time to their daily devotionals. Others feel overwhelmed by the amount of material they feel obligated to cover during these spiritual exercises.

If we study church history and look at the devotional lives of various ministers of God, we notice that each of them spent various amounts of time praying and reading the Bible. There is no set rule for this personal practice. Some Christian ministers spent hours every day studying the Word of God; others did not. Many of life’s circumstances factor into how much time daily we can dedicate to our spiritual devotion. Time availability can be influenced by the individual’s workload and family obligations.

In addition, while life circumstances can affect the amount of time one can spend in devotion, it is crucial to maintain a disciplined approach to studying the Bible and prayer. Regardless of one's season of life—whether young, married, or retired—a consistent commitment to daily devotion is essential for spiritual growth and faithfulness to God. The Scripture gives us freedom in the amount of time we dedicate to studying God’s Word and prayer. What is clear from the Word of God is that this time needs to be a consistent, daily occurrence.

The Old Testament tells us that we need to meditate on God’s Word day and night. The Scripture should never depart from our minds. The New Testament also encourages us to make the best use of our time because we live in an evil world. We should not live as unbelievers. Everything we do with the 24 hours allotted to us daily should reflect our love for our Savior. We have to reveal the nature of God with our lifestyle. To do that we need to study the Lord’s character as it is described in His Word and reflect Him in our everyday lives.