Why do we practice Devotion?

As disciples and followers of Christ, it should be our desire to spend time with our Lord on a daily basis. We can see that from Creation, God had a desire to be intimate with us; so much so that He was willing to give up His own Son so that we could regain the intimacy that was lost through sin.

If this is so, then it should be the Christian’s practice to spend quality time with God each day. Knowing that the Lord desires intimacy, it can still be difficult to do so on a consistent basis, especially when it comes to studying the Holy Bible. This is where devotions come into play; with the aide of a devotion, it helps to enable Christians to open up their Bible and study it on a regular basis.

What is S.H.A.D.E ?

S.H.A.D.E. is the acrostic that we use to define and organize this powerful style of devotion. While
reading the Bible is an excellent way to get closer to the Lord; reflecting upon what is read and writing out our thoughts helps to more fully understand what God is trying to share with us.

S – Scripture: Each day there are three passages to review from different parts of the bible.
H- Hearing: Write out what you believe the message is saying to you.
A – Apply: How can you apply what you have read into your life today
D – Dialogue: Write a note to your Heavenly Father about what you read and how it applies to you
E – Exalt: End by giving thanks to God for all that he is, and all he has done in your life.

How and where do I start?

Devotions are meant to be a private time for us to communicate and connect with our Spiritual Father. Just as in any relationship, intimacy and communication best occur when there are very few distractions, and we are open to hearing from the other person; devotional time with God is no different.

Set aside a time of day in which you can dedicate yourself fully to God. How you do this is entirely up to you, but starting with prayer and singing / listening to worship music is an excellent way to prepare your heart and mind.

If you would like to join a small group of men or women to help you walk through the steps and see how it’s done, you can join a SHADE group on Thursday mornings from 6:30-7:30 am at the Starbucks at Kings Canyon and Clovis Avenues.  You can read and journal with the group and then share what God’s put on you heart,  if you feel comfortable doing so.  It’s a great way to encourage and kick-start your own devotional habit.

Other than that, all you require is a Bible, a pen and paper, and the commitment to spend some time with your Lord God. Below you will find a list of months, simply click on the appropriate month below and you will find the schedule of passages to review for any specific day.

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December