Devotionals Resources

 

What are Devotionals?

The Protestant Reformation made the Bible accessible and Bibles were soon found in most homes in Western Europe. During the Reformation, the parents, especially the fathers, were given the responsibility to be pastors to their kids. One of the earliest examples of this is found in the Directory of Family Worship (1647) which accompanied the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) where worship, prayer, reading of Scripture, and catechesis were central to family worship. The primary responsibility for spiritual growth shifted from the church to the parents.

During the 18th century, the intersection of revivalism, common sense realism, and republicanism in the US shifted the primary responsibility for spiritual growth shifted from churches and parents to individuals. According to historian Mark Noll, American evangelicals believed that the message of the Bible “provided moral guidance, personal empowerment, and direction for self and society.” Or, in other words, the institution of the family was replaced with personal empowerment. This trend continue to develop into what many Christians today call “quiet time” or “devotionals,” which was exported to other parts of the world during the 19th century missions movement.

In the early centuries of the church, Bibles were not as accessible as they are today. In fact, assuming the Bible existed in the form we now recognize—a bound, widely available book—is historically inaccurate. So how did believers engage with Scripture? They did so communally: “We come together to read the divine writings” (Tertullian, 160-220 CE). Laypeople often heard only a few verses each week, typically during the sermon, and would meditate deeply on those passages throughout the week. Their practice prioritized quality over quantity, prompting us to ask a sobering question: despite our unprecedented access to Scripture, are we truly more spiritually mature than the early church?

 

How should they be done?

Bible fluency involves the ability to reflect on the teachings of Scripture and to extend its insights and practices into modern situations, even when the variables differ from the ancient context but the underlying principles remain the same. Devotionals, therefore, are not solely for individual spiritual growth. The ancient practice of communal reading reminds us that Scripture was meant to transform not just individuals but entire communities—and, by extension, society. As such, healthy devotional practices should include both private meditation and public, communal engagement with God’s Word.

Here are some practical application points:

  • The quality of your devotionals matters more than the quantity.

  • Focus less on consumption and more on formation.

  • Biblical context is informed by both the immediate chapters surrounding the text and the broader story of salvation in the whole Bible.


Resources

Lectio365

  • Lectio 365 is a free devotional app that guides users through daily Scripture meditation and prayer—typically via morning, midday, and night sessions—inspired by ancient rhythms like Lectio Divina and the Examen. Each session lasts around ten minutes and follows structured practices, such as the P.R.A.Y. rhythm in the morning and reflective Examen at night, to help deepen your connection with God throughout the day.

  • Target Age: Teens to Adults

  • Format: Devotional and prayer app

  • https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/lectio-365/

Lectio for Families

  • Lectio for Families is a free daily devotional app designed to help families engage with the Bible together through short daily sessions which includes a memory verse, a Bible reading, discussion questions, and simple prompts for prayer and reflection. Each session follows the P.R.A.Y. rhythm—Pause, Rejoice/Reflect, Ask, Yield—and is offered in both text and audio formats so families can read aloud or listen together wherever they are.

  • Target Age: Parents and children 7 to 11

  • Format: Devotional and prayer app; daily frequency and memorization

  • https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/lectioforfamilies/

InnerRoom

  • Inner Room is a free prayer-list app that turns your smartphone into a personal “inner room” to pray intentionally by visually capturing prayer needs, setting reminders, and guiding focused prayer sessions through playlists or audio prompts throughout the day through daily rhythms like morning, midday, and evening prayer. It helps you organize prayer items with photos and notes on a visual prayer board, offers a “Quick Pray” mode for praying three random items in three minutes, encourages listening to God during prayer, and supports gratitude through a “Thanks” board that automatically tracks answered prayers .

  • Target Age: Everyone

  • Format: Prayer app

  • https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/inner-room/

Monthly Personal Retreats

  • This is a practical guide that helps ministry leaders and lay members nurture their inner life with God by setting aside regular time for intentional solitude, reflection, and prayer. Structured around listening, emotional inventory, and prioritization, it offers a repeatable framework for spiritual renewal, clarity in leadership, and deeper communion with Christ.

  • Target Age: Adults

  • Format: Monthly or bi-monthly frequency; set aside at least three hours in solitude (not your home)

  • https://times12.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Solitude-for-Church-Leaders.pdf

Visist Again in a few weeks for more Resources.