Whats crackalakin vessels,

It’s been a while since Sydney and I have written; we both took time to enjoy winter break with our families.  Since I’ve written last the world celebrated the New Year after a long year.  Personally, I am an optimist and always have been so my reflections on 2020 include; graduating high school, completing my first semester of college, meeting some health goals I had, making new friends, and meeting my now boyfriend. Overall I would say the challenges of 2020 also brought many blessings.  

Going into 2021 I don’t have any specific resolutions but I have excitement.  I’m ready to continue my studies in college and gain further discernment in what I want to do upon graduating.  I’m ready to deepen my faith in devotion and read lots of books.  

This post is different than most; it is going to be focused on what my devotion time looks like. I know many people with a resolution to get deeper in devotion time so here is a resource. 

Prayer is the center of my devotion.  I open and end my time with God in prayer.  This includes people in my life that need prayer and my own requests but I always try to have more praise and thankfulness than I do requests in my prayers.  This always serves as a reminder of how great God is even if my prayer list is long my praise list is longer.

After prayer, my time varies between a spiritual book or just scripture.  Currently, Sydney and I are going through Psalms and wisdom literature.  When Sydney and I began bible study we both had a desire to get deeper into scripture beyond what we had been told by others.  The first thing I would recommend to anyone trying to deepen devotion is to start in the word.  Read scripture for yourself. Sydney and I go through the same words in the same bible and we discuss completely different things. The divine nature of scripture gives it the power to have infinite meanings.

If I am going through a book I will also take time to read a chapter or two. I plan to read “You are not enough (and that’s okay)” by Allie Beth Stuckey next. Vince Butler once told me “Leaders are readers.” and since then I have tried to incorporate various books in my devotion. I have read books on theology, church leadership, commentaries, and much more. For those of you starting don’t add a book just yet, get down the consistency of scripture first. 

Consistency is key! I’m sure you have heard this before but it is so true. Devotion needs to become a habit.  Some days you won’t have a profound life-changing discovery but centering your days on christ will strengthen your faith over time. Trust in God for the long term plans he has for you by listening to his guidance daily.  

I know this post is short and not typical of our content but I hope it provides a guideline to help some get started. If you are starting to read scripture I recommend you start in the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This will help you study the life and character of Jesus.  If you want to add in a book I have many many recommendations so please check out our new resources page! If devotion is not a habit you have already then 2021 is the time for you! I pray you get into the word.

May the spirit educate you,

A Vessel