I regularly talk to young professional Christians who say that they struggle with consistent daily Bible reading and prayer. Believe me, I can identify. Especially when you are starting out in your profession, and/or when you start having kids, devotional habits can seem like an insurmountable mountain.
The first thing I would say about this, or any issue related to devotion to God, is that you should just start over with today. The past is past. For a believing Christian, your justification is in Christ, not in your devotional diligence. But I also believe that, in addition to faithful church membership, there is nothing you can do to grow in and enjoy the Lord more than daily devotions.
The next thing I would say is that I made my own consistency breakthrough when devotions became a habit. What I mean is that I became consistent, and have stayed consistent for years, because the first thing I do every single morning is get a cup of coffee, read the Bible, and pray. I don’t make a decision about it, or try to “fit it in,” it is just automatic - as automatic as making coffee. And that means it is really automatic!
One other point I would make for those struggling to make devotions consistent is that short daily devotions are better than long inconsistent ones. I would say that mine are typically 10 to 15 minutes a morning.
I have used the ESV Study Bible whole-Bible in a year reading plan on Bible.com for years. The only downside to this is that it is easiest to use online, via their app, instead of a printed Bible, which would be my preferred method. But there’s also much to be said for reducing friction, so I use the app. You also don’t have to do the whole Bible in a year. Maybe you can only read a chapter a day. Great! The point is daily engagement with God’s Word.
So, to be specific, I grab my cup of coffee, and I read the day’s selections from the ESV plan, usually 4-6 sections of Scripture. Then I pray. I have broken down prayer topics for each weekday (M-pray for lost people, T-pray for leaders at my seminary/college, W-pray for pastors/elders, Th-pray for missionaries, F-pray for sponsored children). Then I pray for anything going on that day, or any occasional needs that have come up. That’s it!
I have been able to keep this pattern going most days for a decade or more, because it is a habit and I like doing it and it is not an overwhelming amount of time. What could you do to make daily devotions a consistent, revitalizing habit?
My new book Christian History: From the Reformation to the Present (B&H Academic) is now up and is scheduled for release Sept. 1!