And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. (Luke 10:39 NKJV)

 

What does your devotional time with God look like? How often do you meet with Him? Then, during that time, do you sit at His feet and soak in His Word like Mary did?

If you’re like me, it can be an afterthought. Oh yeah, I need to read God’s Word. Then you take a few minutes, pray quickly, read through a chapter in the Bible, and think about it for a few minutes before you move on with your day.

That’s not the worst thing you could do. After all, you did take time to read God’s Word and talk to Him a little. But there’s a better way. Here are 7 steps you can take to have a better devotional time with God:

 

1. Carve out time

It may sound simplistic. But the first thing you can do is set aside the time to do it. Put it on your calendar if you need to. God has made Himself available to meet with you 24/7. So, you can meet with Him at any time. Yet, if you don’t intentionally make time for God, you’ll forget or rush through it.

And commit to setting aside at least 20 to 30 minutes. After all, would you be content with only 10 minutes for lunch with a friend or a date with your husband? Of course not. If that’s the only time you spent with them, your relationships wouldn’t be very close.

 

2. Get in the right mindset

Remember who you’re spending time with. God is the One who created the universe – the One who made you. He is the One who loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sins. He’s the all-powerful, almighty God. Approach Him with reverence and awe.

 

3. Praise and pray

Take a few minutes to praise God for who He is. Thank Him for the blessings He’s given you. He has saved you; He’s given you another day and the breath in your lungs. And he’s holding you together. He provides for you. Sing a song to Him. And then ask Him to speak to you.

 

4. Read

Read the Bible. The quantity is less important than your comprehension. Take it in slowly so you can absorb what it says. Remember: it’s God’s Word. It’s the primary way He speaks to us. Listen for what He wants to tell you.

 

5. Meditate on God’s Word

Mull over what you just read. Ask yourself the who, what, where, why, and how questions. Who is speaking? Who is being spoken to? Where does it take place? What does it mean? Why is it important? How does it apply to you? If you like to journal, write down a verse that stood out to you, any questions you have, and the thoughts that came to your mind.

 

6. Pray again

Remember: praying is talking to God. Communicate with Him about your thoughts. Ask Him questions about what you just read. Ask Him to show you what He wants you to see and to teach you what He wants you to learn.

 

7. Listen

A conversation is a two-way street. Yet, we often do all the talking when we pray to God. Be still before Him. You’ve just read His Word and come to Him with your thoughts and questions. Now give Him an opportunity to answer.

God may bring something you’ve read to mind. You may feel a conviction from the Holy Spirit to stop doing something you’re not supposed to do or to do something you should be doing. He may reveal a deeper understanding of something you’ve read. You may feel His love in a deeper way. It’s always different. But you need to take the time to listen if you want to hear God speak.

I challenge you to try these 7 steps. Carve out time and be intentional. Remember who He is. Praise Him. Read His Word. Meditate on what you’ve read. Talk to God about it. And then listen for Him to speak to you. As you do, your relationship with God will deepen as you walk by faith with Him.

 

 

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash