A daily devotional routine is a powerful way to deepen your connection with God and grow in spiritual maturity. They can help you start your day with peace and joy. However, in today’s fast-paced world, finding time to connect with God can feel like just another task on your never-ending to-do list. Spending daily time with the Lord isn’t about checking a box. Building a routine that fits your lifestyle and resonates with your personal spiritual needs is possible, but it may require some intentionality and a healthy dose of flexibility. Here’s how to build a daily devotional routine that works for you.
How to Build a Daily Devotional Routine That Works For You
Understand the Purpose of Daily Devotionals
Daily devotionals are not just about reading scripture or saying prayers. They are moments of intentional connection with God. They are about the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the One who created you. They are about building community with the Almighty and about understanding our purpose from the very One who gifted it to us. Daily devotions help us to center our day, reflect on His teachings, and grow spiritually. This practice offers guidance, hope, and wisdom to navigate all of life’s challenges.
Choose Your Time Wisely
Selecting the right time is crucial for consistency. Not everyone is a 5 a.m. Bible warrior—and that’s okay. The best time to connect with God is the time you’re most likely to keep. And while it is true that many people prefer early mornings to start their day with God’s guidance, many others find quiet evenings more suitable. The key is to pick a time when you’re least likely to be interrupted and can focus fully on your devotional practice
Morning devotionals are great for setting the tone of the day. Midday devotionals, or afternoon devotionals, are a perfect pause to recenter during a hectic day. Evening devotionals are ideal for reflecting and releasing your burdens before going to bed. The key is to ask yourself, when am I most able to focus and least likely to be distracted? Start there. You can always add more later, if you want to. The important part is to get started.
Create a Dedicated Space
Having a specific place for your devotionals can help establish the habit. Pick a place that feels peaceful. It doesn’t really matter where it is. It can be a cozy chair by the window with a favorite mug, or a quiet corner in your home, or a spot outdoors in the corner of your porch where you can curl up and hear the birds. It can even be your car before you drive to work or go to school. The point is, it should be a space should be free from distractions and conducive to reflection and prayer. It does not have to be anything special, although it can be. For me, it’s the dining room table early in the morning when no one else is awake. And boy, if anyone beats me to the table, it can be SO hard to establish that connection. Creating a sacred space, even a small one, can help you look forward to your time with God. A consistent place helps signal to your mind and spirit that it’s time to connect.
Start Small and Build Gradually
If you’re new to devotionals, begin with manageable timeframes—5-10 minutes—and gradually increase as you grow more comfortable. Over time, you might find yourself naturally wanting to spend more time in prayer, Bible study, or meditation. Set a timer if you want. Or don’t. Just sit with God. And He’ll sit with you. James 4:8 says, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you” (NLT). I know it to be true because I experience His presence.
Incorporate Essential Elements
A well-rounded devotional routine typically includes:Prayer: Begin by asking Holy Spirit to open your heart to God’s word. Prayer includes communicating with God through worship, confession, petition, and thanksgiving. It also includes listening. Don’t forget to be still and listen. And do not let silence confuse or trouble you. Learn to embrace silence in God’s presence as much as you relish conversation.
- Read: Spend time studying a short passage or following a reading plan. I use the Jesus Disciple “Whole Bible” Reading Plan from Solid Lives in the Bible App every year. It’s not the only thing I use, but it is a constant, like my morning cup of coffee. It’s so good.
- Reflect: Ask yourself what is God saying through this? What was He saying then? What is He saying to me now? How am I supposed to apply the truths or lessons from this passage in my daily life.
- Respond: Write a prayer, ask a question, or just be still.
- Record: Journal any insights, prayers, or reflections to track your spiritual growth.
- Repeat: Tomorrow is a new day, a new opportunity, so be sure to come back and do this again!
Use Tools and Resources
Leverage resources like devotional books, Bible apps, or guided meditation tools tailored to your needs.
Use a Bible that you understand. I use the NKJV for study and the NLT for leisure reading. Feel free to use a print Bible or Bible app, whichever you prefer. I do believer that all believers should be familiar enough with a print Bible that they can easily find a passage when they need to, but I’m a bit old school. As for Bible apps, I use several. My favorites are the YouVersion Bible app, the Dwell Bible app, and the Blue Letter Bible app. I use them all regularly.
A devotional plan or guide can be really useful. A few that I’ve recently added to my stacks include Choosing a devotional by theme can be especially helpful. Examples include:
- The Promises of God Reading Guide by She Reads Truth
- You Are Redeemed: Devotions for Living a Whole New Life by Nana Dolce
- You Are Welcomed: Devotions for When Life Is a Lot by Trish Donohue
- You Are Secure: Devotions for When Life is Uncertain by Aimee Joseph
I also enjoy doing devotionals that guide through an entire book of the Bible at once, such as this Colossians: Becoming Who You Are in Christ.
From time to time, budget doesn’t allow for the investment of a devotional book, but a printable devotional still allows for the tactile engagement that engages the senses. I have a new 31-day printable PDF Bible study that includes verses and reflection prompts, especially curated for spiritual growth.
I set the price of the printable at a minimum of $3 because of the amount of time I invested in it, but if that’s a problem for you and you’d like to use it, just shoot me an email at virginia@thatbaldchick.com and we’ll work something out.
This is a PDF file that you have to print, or use on your tablet if you have the ability to use PDFs on your tablet or phone. No physical product is available. It’s actually beautiful printed!
For those of you who don’t need the tactile engagement, the Bible apps also have devotional plans you can follow. I routinely use them, as well.
Other apps worth checking out include Verse Locker which helps with verse memorization and Inner Room which is for prayer.
Journaling helps document personal revelations and prayer requests. Find a journal that works for you. Whether you prefer a printed journal like a simple notebook or a Levenger 5-year journal, or you just use the notes app on your phone or a google doc, just pick one that you will use. I have a love hate relationship with journaling.
A worship playlist with songs that bring you into an atmosphere of worship is a beautiful thing to have. Whatever that playlist is for you. Mine is eclectic. Some of the songs have words, some don’t. Some are upbeat and playful, some are slower and more contemplative. I’m particularly fond of Uriel Vega’s The Prayer Album, Volume 1 at the moment for instrumental worship.
Be Flexible but Consistent
Life can be unpredictable, so allow flexibility in your routine without sacrificing consistency. If mornings are hectic one day, shift your devotional time to lunch or evening. The goal is to maintain regularity while adapting to life’s demands
Seek Guidance from Holy Spirit
Before designing your routine, ask Holy Spirit for wisdom in creating a practice that honors Heavenly Father and will draw you closer to Him while nurturing your soul and honoring the current rhythms of your life. Let Holy Spirit guide you as you experiment with different approaches until you find what resonates best. Be willing to acknowledge when something doesn’t fit your current rhythm, but might fit later.
Carry Devotion Beyond Allocated Time
Reflect on your devotional time throughout the day. In other words, let the meditation of your heart carry you forward. Don’t let your devotional practice end when the session does. Reflect on whatever scripture you read during your quiet moments and let it season your interactions with others
Make It Personal
Your walk with God is yours. Some women love journaling, others prefer quiet reflection. Some need structure; others thrive on spontaneity. Don’t compare your time with God to anyone else’s. Ask others for tips and tricks? Absolutely! Ask them what study they’ve found value in recently or what has been meaningful to them in their walk with God in this season? For sure! But play the comparison game? Don’t you dare! That only invites insecurity and self-condemnation. When you start comparing the quality of your devotional time with others, you immediately become dissatisfied with your own. What matters is that it’s real, honest, and consistent.
Invite Accountability and Community
I know, I just said make it personal. I didn’t say do it alone. Doing faith alone can be hard. Ask a friend to check in, join a devotional group, or share what God is teaching you with your spouse or small group. Sometimes, a little encouragement makes all the difference. We are MADE for community. We are not meant to walk alone. Inviting others into our lives enriches us, and sharing what God is showing us does the same. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” It means that these interactions can make each other better, spurring both to grow, just as rubbing two pieces of iron together makes them sharper. It emphasizes the idea of mutual growth and influence in relationships.
Stay Motivated
Remember that devotionals are not about perfection but about progress in your walk with God. Celebrate small victories. Like sticking to your routine. And remind yourself of the joy and peace it brings into your life. Speaking of small victories. There’s a book that MY coach recommended that I would love to recommend to you. It’s called Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results by Stephen Guise. This book is not specifically related to devotionals, but about succeeding in area of victory in life. Start with mini habits. Literally, mini habits are life changers.
My mini habits are tiny. Minuscule even. Seriously. They include getting up early, making my bed (because the Admiral says I should), completing my daily reading plan, reading or listening to at least 5 pages of a book, writing 50-100 words, and completing a Duolingo lesson. There are a few other things on there, but I won’t bore you with all the things. The point is, mini habits make a big difference, and you can add your daily devotional as a mini habit if you’re not currently doing one. Start with reading for 3-5 minutes, or with journaling for 3-5 minutes. Whatever you think you can manage.
By following these steps and tailoring them to suit your lifestyle, you can build a daily devotional routine that not only works for you but also helps deepen your relationship with God over time. Show Up and trust the process. Building a devotional habit takes time, but every moment you spend with God is planting seeds in your soul. Some days will feel rich and full; others might feel quiet. Some days may feel harried or rushed. Just keep showing up. God is always there, waiting to meet you. You don’t need a perfect plan — just a willing heart.
