Many Christians know that they should pray and read the Bible every day, but they do not feel as though they have the time. Others do not know where to start. They wonder should they begin at “the beginning” with Genesis or would it be better to start with the New Testament. If you are one of those looking for an easier way to fit Bible reading into your life, it may be a good idea to use a daily devotional.
Daily devotionals are books, software or website tools that offer a different scripture to study every day. Some daily devotionals offer a brief lesson that helps a believer to relate the bible verse to his or her life. Others offer a history lesson from the life of a famous believer, or even an in depth lesson that helps to place the verse in context as it relates to the rest of the chapter that it came from.
With all of the daily devotionals that are daily devotionals , it may be difficult to choose the right one. Which devotional you choose will depend on several factors, like what denomination you belong to, whether you want a devotional without a denominational spin, and other things that determine your needs. There are devotionals for women, men, husbands, mothers, singles, teenagers, professionals, students and everyone in between. No matter what category you fit into, it is important to choose a devotional that is easy enough for you to understand while still being engaging enough for you to want to read every day.
In addition to the other devotionals that are available, there are also many devotional Bibles that combine the features of a separate daily devotional with an actual Bible to study. The Women’s Devotional Bible, for example, offers daily passages of scripture that are placed near the daily message gleaned from the passages.
Some sites offer free daily devotionals that can be sent to your email. These are very convenient because you are not tethered one particular computer the way you would be with software that offers devotional readings. Most cellphones allow you to check emails these days, so you can actually read your devotionals any time and anywhere.
There is always the option of creating your own daily devotional plan. It can be as simple or as in depth as you would like for it to be. You can use your favorite Bible version, and divide it according to the books, chapters, and verses that you would like to read on any given day. Make sure that you do not overwhelm yourself by taking on too much at a time. One or two verses will do. You can choose what time you would like to read–first thing in the morning or before bed work may work.