5 Things Devotionals Are (and Aren’t)
Confession time: For most of my life, I never understood the purpose of devotionals..nor did I care to use them. I felt like I was already struggling to get in the Bible everyday, so why would I add something else to struggle reading consistently?
If you’ve ever felt like devotions should mean more - but sometimes don’t - you’re not alone.
Today, let’s clear up what devotionals actually are (and aren’t), and how they can actually help you be more consistent in the Word.
Devotionals ARE:
A starting point to connect with God
A way to center your heart before chaos hits
Something you can tailor to your season/struggle
A call to action
Planting daily seeds of truth that will grow over time
Devotionals ARE NOT:
A complete relationship with God all by itself
A guarantee that your day will go perfectly
A strict formula every Christian must follow the same way
A passive information dump you skim while half awake
A guaranteed emotional high every single day
A launchpad for conversation with God - not a substitute for relationship.
Devotionals are meant to spark connection, not replace it. They’re a great way to break the ice when your mind feels scattered or your heart feels distant. But they aren’t the full extent of a relationship with God - they are an invitation to go deeper.
Just like a conversation starter isn’t the entire relationship, a devotional is only the beginning. What matters most is how you engage with it:
Are you letting it lead you into prayer, reflection or worship?
Are you rushing and reading on?
A devotional is powerful when it becomes the start of your personal conversation with God, not the end of it.
A tool to ground your day - not a magic fix for every problem
Devotionals don’t guarantee a perfect day..so as long as you don’t go into it with that mentality, you should be pleasantly surprised! Devotionals can, however, help you anchor your heart before chaos hits. Whether your toddler melts down, your inbox explodes or you feel spiritually “blah”, a devotional can bring you back to truth.
But let’s be real: it’s not a protective force field. Some days will still be hard. The beauty of a devotional is that it gives your soul a place to land - even when everything else feels upside down. It’s not magic. It’s muscle memory - training your heart to return to God in all things.
A personalized journey - not a one-size-fits-all
Your walk with God is deeply personal, and your devotional life should be too. What you need in one season may be completely different in another. Some days you might crave quick encouragement. Other days, you’re ready to dive into Scripture, journal and cry it out.
That’s why it’s so important to choose a devotional that meets you in your current season - whether that’s healing from heartbreak, waiting on a promise, rebuilding your faith, or stepping into boldness.
Don’t feel boxed in. God meets you in every form your quiet time takes.
An invitation to respond - not just something to read and forget
A good devotional is more than a reading - it’s an invitation to pause, reflect, and respond. Without that moment of response, it’s easy to read a powerful truth and forget it by lunch. A good solid devotional should have bite sized action steps that help you integrate the principles you’re learning at YOUR speed.
When you take time to sit with it - through journaling, praying it back to God and applying a takeaway to your day - that’s when it really takes root. It becomes less about checking a box and more about transformation. The real beauty of devotionals lies in the practice of responding.
That’s where truth starts to change you.
A seed planting practice - not instant spiritual fireworks
Not every devotional moment is going to feel emotional or life-altering…which can be hard to work with in an ‘instant gratification society’.
Devotionals are about planting truth daily, not chasing feelings. You might not feel anything profound every single time, but over time, those small seeds of scripture and reflection begin to grow into real fruit.
It’s slow..sacred work. Devotionals help you build a quiet steady rhythm of coming back to God, even on the ordinary or heavy days. They aren’t always flashy, but they are deeply faithful.
In closing….
My heart behind devotionals is simple: I want to help people actually connect with God in a way that feels real, personal, and sustainable. I’ve been in those seasons where I needed hope, healing, direction - but didn’t know where to start.
That’s why I’m passionate about offering a variety of devotionals that speak to different seasons and struggles - from faith to business to identity and emotional healing.
Soon, (literally a week from now) I’ll be sharing a collection of guided spaces to pause, process, and hear God clearly, no matter what season you’re in.
Meanwhile, check out my journals and notebooks on Amazon, many are designed to help prompt you into a closer connection to God without the structure.
Stay tuned, friend!