I've alluded to this a bit before, but haven't gone into detail. I seem to need creativity in my life on a daily basis, and even though I don't always get to work on a craft as I'd like to, I do find joy in realizing a creative solution to an everyday dilemma or need. Such has been the case with my quiet time.
I love Bible study and journaling and there are just more studies that I want to do than I ever seem to find time for. In 2024, things have been ever so slightly better in that regard and my devotional life has been spiced up with a little creativity. I thought I'd share in case others might be interested in taking a similar approach.
This year, I determined that I wanted to journal through Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, by Charles Swindoll. It's one of his older books and I acquired a hardcover copy of it last summer. Each reading includes a devotional lesson, a "Deepening Your Roots" section with Scripture to look up, and a "Branching Out" section with ideas for applying the lesson to real life. This book, though, has devotional lessons only for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with a "Growing Strong" section on Saturday where one journals about how applying the lessons for the week has worked out.
Tuesdays and Thursdays I work on SOAPing the Scripture from the Everything Beautiful Bible reading plan that I'm using for my Sunday Scripture blog posts. You can read about the SOAP method of Bible study here if it is new to you.
On Saturdays I'm working my way through a Bible study on Habakkuk. You can find it here: Even If.
Prior to beginning this study, I completed another on the armor of God. Although it may seem slow to work through a Bible study like this only one day a week, I find it is far, far better to do this than just to lament the fact that I don't have time to do all the studies I want to. Far better to work on it once a week than not at all, and I do eventually complete them.
On Sundays, I usually work on making a new page for my prayer journal or a page in the prayer journal I'm making for my husband. This involves either searching out and/or copying Scripture relating to a particular attribute of God or a relating to an issue in my life that I want to keep before the Lord in prayer on a regular basis. For the longest time, I felt so frustrated that I wanted and needed to make new pages for these prayer journals, but it would never get done. It finally occurred to me that this would be a good devotional exercise for Sundays.
(And by the way, if you don't have a prayer journal or the one you have isn't working for you, check out this post: How to Make a Prayer Journal
(which, interestingly, is the second most popular post of all time on
my blog!). You will probably also want to read this one: Using a Prayer Journal.
I find that there's pretty much an endless list of things I want to
pray about regularly, like specific character flaws in my life, for
example, so I am frequently adding to my prayer journal. The posts I've
linked to will show you how to do that.)
This varied approach to my quiet time surely has been a blessing to me, and I hope others may be encouraged to try something different as well.
I love how you are finding creative ways to study the word of God and to learn His ways. You share some great ideas. My favorite book is The Kneeling Christian by Anonymous. It changed my prayer life for the better. I also read Through The Bible in a Year: The ESV Daily Reading Bible every day and have done that for many years.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Terra! I feel it's important to consume God's Word in various ways and you certainly are doing that.
DeleteI always liked your prayer journal. I have a system on notecards. I find it valuable to have them written so I can note things along the way. I don't want it to sound like a laundry list to Him when I pray, but at the same time I know He wants to hear from me. I have read some of Anne Graham Lotz's prayers pondering how I can do more praise, but either way I have to make it something that is me and He knows my heart.
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked full time and didn't have the time to study as much as I wanted I used to go pray in the bookstore for leading on a devotional. I was always amazed at how it would be just what I needed. Now, I have more time to devote to study and I often look for ways I can pass on what I am learning to my kiddos ---often something as simple as a text. I have ALWAYS gathered inspiration here:)
Oh, Sandy, I can't tell you how much this encouraged me. Thank you!!
DeleteI love this idea. I'm currently doing three different books in my devotions. I'm re-reading The Power of a Praying Wife, a Bible reading plan that works through the New Testament in a Year (loving the slower pace of this plan), and I also started On Bended Knee, a study on prayer that the women's group at church is working through this summer. Some days I get to all three, other days I do just one or two. It's nice to work through them a little slower and really meditate on the passages and lessons.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear how you are implementing this idea in your devotions, Elisha. I agree, taking time to work through things slowly really helps it to sink in.
Delete