Thoughts on Devotion and Devotions

Devotion: /dəˈvōSH(ə)n/

noun

1. love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause.

Devotion is noted as similar to loyalty, steadfastness, faithfulness and fidelity.

In Christian context, devotion(s) is used as a plural noun indicating time spent in studying the Bible, journaling, or in prayer. In these circles, devotions are a spiritual practice or can be a box to check off, completing a task for the day. That task may take someone 10 minutes or others may spend an hour or more. You’ll hear things like “My day just doesn’t go right if I don’t take time for my daily devotions.” Or, on the flip side, “I am struggling to make time for my devotions.” There are devotional books that help those who are feel they don’t have time or don’t know where to start.

Let’s talk about “devotion” in another context. When we say we are devoted to someone, what does that look like? Do we study them? Perhaps. We learn their favorite things, we look at them and listen closely when they speak to us, even shower them with attention or gifts. We might even laugh at their bad jokes and spend lots of time thinking about them throughout the day.

Well, I wonder what it would be like if our devotions looked a lot less like a box to check or a task to complete. Look at that definition of devotion and how it might’ve changed when we applied it to someone we adore. When I mull over the way I love my husband, my children, my extended family or even my best friends what I see at the core of that devotion to them is noticing. Noticing is where my devotion plays out and out of that noticing I choose to engage or not engage in action. My action flows from the noticing. Noticing someone tells them they matter. Can you think of a time when someone noticed a subtle change in you? Maybe you were sad. Maybe you changed your hair style. Maybe you lost 5 pounds and thought no one could tell. What feelings did that stir up in you? Now, far be it from me to suggest that God needs that from us like we need it from others, but it sure conveys a certain message of value.

Reading our Bible and praying are important parts of the spiritual life. They help us know God, share our lives with God, and learn to recognize His voice. But when we boil down our devotions to a box to check or a task to complete, we can run into some pitfalls and completely miss the point. When we are on a roll, we might be tempted to feel some spiritual pride. Or just as harmful, shame that churns under the surface, making us feel like we do not measure up.

It seems to me that there is something bigger than checking a box that helps us connect with God in a truly devoted way and that is growing in our ability to notice how he shows up in our lives. What draws the created (you) to the Creator (God)? Where do you notice the movements of God? Are there little delights that seem to follow you around? A sunset, the sound of a happy child at play, the sweetness of a strawberry, the scent of the air after the rain, a prayer answered, a direction discerned. The movements of God are present in all circumstances, painful or pleasing.

God’s devotion to you is not dependent upon a task being completed. God’s devotion to you does not rely on the number of minutes you spend in study. Your awareness of God’s devotion does depend upon you growing in your ability to notice his pursuit of you in your daily life. As you cultivate awareness of God’s presence may you choose to respond to it, reflecting God’s devotion back to him as if in a mirror, making that check box fade as relationship deepens between a loving God and beloved child.

Romans 12:1-2, The Message “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.”