Devotions: One of the most important aspects of a healthy spiritual life is staying connected to God’s word through daily devotional time. This is probably one of the most difficult areas for people to maintain, especially teenagers, because of all the many things that are taking place in our daily world. Spending time in God’s word on a daily basis often gets lost in the shuffle of going to school, participating in sports, hanging out with friends, studying, etc…Having a healthy devotional life takes time, commitment, and the willingness to put God ahead of “other” things. The hectic life that so many of us live today puts us in a place where, at the end of the day, we find that we have not taken the time to meet with God. The Importance of Devotional Time You may be asking yourself a very common question: “What is so important about having a daily devotion?” The answer to this question varies depending on the point you find yourself in your spiritual life; however, the answer is often the same for all people—a daily devotion keeps you connected to God and proves to him that you want to spend time with him daily. For the new Christian, the daily devotion can be a way to learn God and explore the various aspects of a relationship with him. Through devotion you will find that you are learning the basics about living a Christian life as God’s word reveals the fundamentals of living a life in Christ. If you are a new Christian, your daily devotions should be simple and exploratory in nature. The main focus of your spiritual life right now should be placed on learning and understanding the basics of Christianity. For a more mature Christian, the daily devotion can be a way to learn and explore the exact plan that God has for your life. Once you have come to understand the basics of Christianity and the foundation of living a life in Christ, it is time to explore God’s specific plan for your life. At this point in your journey your devotions should be more complex and more oriented toward digging deep into the word of God. As you dig deeper and deeper and spend more time with in God’s word, you will begin to realize that God is unfolding a specific plan for your life. With spiritual growth comes the responsibility to step up the level of your devotional time. The fact of the matter is simple—daily devotions are a must for ALL Christians. The time spent with God should not be seen as a sacrifice of time or energy, but should instead be seen as an investment into developing your own life as Christ has intended for you to live. What Are Some Devotions I Can Do? If you are not sure about what kind of devotions you should do, please take the time to look over some of the suggestions below: Life Journal: The Life Journal is a something that has been adopted by Sylacauga FUMC with much success in the past year. This journal lays out a yearly “read through the Bible” plan with a reflective journal entry for each day. The wonderful thing about the Life Journal is that it comes in different levels for those at different points in their spiritual journey. There is a journal for children, youth, and adults. Each journal becomes more intensive in its daily reading and its level of commitment from the reader. Student Devotional Bible: Many teenagers are enjoying the use of devotional Bibles. These Bibles are specifically designed with teenagers in mind. A student devotional Bible is a traditional Bible, filled with all of the original scriptures and texts, mixed with daily devotions on topics teenagers can relate to easily. There are a wide variety of these Bibles available, so take the time to browse through various editions and find one that is right for you. Personal Journal: You may want to simply take the time to read your Bible as you choose and spend time afterward writing down the messages that God has revealed to you. The benefit of a personal journal is that it is far less structured, allowing you the freedom to reflect on scripture readings as well as various aspects of your day in which God spoke to you personally. A personal journal can be as simple as a notebook or a traditional journal. Devotional Book: Another option is to pick up a devotional book at a local Christian bookstore. Devotional books come in a variety of topics and levels. Some focus on the study of particular topics while others focus on a wide-range of issues. Again, the best method for choosing a devotional book is to go to a Christian bookstore and browse through the selections until you find one that is right for you. Conclusion Daily devotions are a must for the Christian who is serious about staying connected to God and growing in their faith and knowledge of Christ and the life he has called all of his people to live. The possibilities are endless when you think about the many different devotional avenues that you can choose. The most important thing is to find a devotional style that fits your level of spiritual maturity and allows you the freedom to explore God’s plan for your life. The actual devotional guide you choose for your life is not as important as the commitment you make to spend daily time with God.