The One Thing You Don’t Need to Have Great Devotions

I had given up. I could not find space in my day for devotions, so I gave up trying, hoping it would lessen my shame.

One final giving up, instead of a daily failure.

Yes, I’d try to swallow that pill instead. I got days and then weeks beyond it and it was only a dull throb. I was getting used to it. I resolved I would be strong enough to make it through this season of motherhood. Resigned that a lively faith didn’t fit here. Promising myself I’d pick up my spirituality again when my babies were sleeping through the night, when laundry didn’t invade every waking moment, when somehow success was more within reach.

Then, through a series of conversations with friends , this truth wedged itself into my warped theology:

His faithfulness does not depend on mine. Fellowship and closeness with God does not hinge on my ability to meet my own expectations of what my devotional time should look like. Our access to God was built by Christ’s work on the cross, not human efforts, therefore human failure cannot break that bridge. Great devotions are possible because of His work, not mine. Glory!

Ditching Shame

There was one moment of revelation, when after a stretch of time in which I hadn’t managed to open my Bible in days, I sat down to–in my mind–reconcile with my Father, only to have the distinct feeling as I sat in His presence that…He wasn’t displeased with me. He understood the challenges and my own weak flesh. And instead of requiring some kind of penance for my ignoring Him, He was glad I was joining Him now. I finally experienced in my soul the truth that He never calls us to less of Himself, but ready to meet us as soon as ever we turn toward Him.

The biggest barrier to my devotional time had been my shame, not my schedule.

The truth is, we are not called to have devotions, we are called to devotion to God, and that devotion may look very different for individual people and life seasons.

When we think we can only commune with God while alone with a Bible, a journal, and an hour of silence—limiting our fellowship to when we consider conditions to be ideal—we miss the myriad ways He has to connect with us throughout our day. Guilt creates a thick fog, blinding us from options outside of our man-made traditions.

Creative Devotions

When I realized I didn’t have to be in a particular frame of mind or spend a certain amount of time in Bible study or a style of worship before I earned the right to commune with my God, I finally began finding moments to devote to God in my season of motherhood.

I began to give the Lord my car rides. Whenever I was in the car alone (this happened about once a week when I went to fetch milk from the neighboring dairy farm) I let it just be Him and me—no radio, phone, or other focus. Some weeks, those twenty minutes were all I could really call mine to spend with Him. But He was faithful with the few moments we had together, teaching me to hear His voice again, speaking just the words that gave me grace for the next round of motherhood.

Then, an amazing thing happened — when I ditched the shame that had been keeping me from His presence and began to spending what little time I did have seeking His face, a hunger grew for His word, and — surprise, surprise, I found time to have ‘devotions’ again.

Tips for Great Devotions In Any Season

• If I wake before my kids, I spend that precious time with God, first. My to-do list comes in second. I do not have a perfect record in this, but it is my goal. Whenever I get distracted by all I could accomplish with that golden hour, He gently leads me back, reminding me what a difference it makes in my mothering when I start my day with Him.
• At least one day a week I unplug, ignoring email and all other forms of social media. This opens up more moments in the day in which to journal, pray, or even just direct my thoughts toward Him.
• I prioritize relationships where the conversation often gets down to soul-level. I’m a verbal processor and God often speaks to me in fellowship with other believers. So, phone calls, letter writing, and making the effort to get face to face with friends who encourage and challenge me is a form of devotion in my life.
• I journal during my time with God, to have written proof of prayers, answers, and what He’s spoken to me. My mama mind is so crammed full of menu plans, tasks, and my children’s needs I can easily forget that God and I actually talked. My journal is an altar of remembrance, reminding me of the many times that God has met me in this season.

My devotional time still doesn’t look like it did when I was single. But the God who fed 5,000 with a small basket of loaves and fish has proven Himself faithful once again. He can do amazing work when we give Him what we have. And shame isn’t necessary for great devotions.