Have you wondered how you can spend meaningful time with God each day? Whether you’ve been a Christian for years or are just beginning your faith journey, personal, daily devotions are a powerful way to grow closer to God and hear from his Word.

Personal devotions don’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. With a few intentional steps, you can develop a devotional rhythm that fits your lifestyle and draws you deeper into God’s presence each day.

Here are five practical steps on how to do personal devotions:

Step 1: Begin with prayer

Before you open your Bible or devotional, take a moment to pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your reading and help you understand what God wants to show you.

Your prayer doesn’t need to be long or formal. It can be as simple as a spoken or written, “Lord, speak to me through your Word today.” This small but meaningful step helps shift your focus from distractions to God.

Step 2: Read a Scripture passage or devotional 

At the heart of personal devotions is engaging with God’s Word. You might read a chapter of the Bible, a few verses, or use a themed daily devotional like Today to guide you. 

Reading Scripture allows you to hear directly from God. Devotionals can offer additional helpful reflections and context, but God’s Word should always be the foundation.

Step 3: Reflect on what you read

As you read, pause and reflect. Ask yourself questions like: What does this passage say about God’s character? What does it reveal about my own life? How might God be inviting me to respond?

Writing down key thoughts or verses in a dedicated journal can help you process and remember what you’ve read and learned.

Step 4: Apply God’s Word to your life

Personal devotions aren’t about rushing through to check off a box on your to-do list; they’re about the daily transformation of your heart and mind. Once you’ve completed your reading for the day, take time to consider how what you’ve read can be applied to your life.

Maybe the passage challenges you to forgive someone, trust God in a new way, or share his love with others. Identify one small, practical step to live out what you’ve learned.

Step 5: Close in prayer

End your devotional time with prayer. Thank God for speaking to you, and ask him to help you live out what you’ve learned. 

The short prayer at the end of each Today devotional can be a great starting point. From there, you can add your own personal requests, praises, or confessions.

Learning how to do personal devotions isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence. It’s showing up to spend time with God, even on the days when your schedule is full, or your mind is distracted. James 4:8 promises, “Come near to God, and he will come near to you.”

As you develop this personal, daily practice, may your time in Scripture and prayer refresh your spirit, renew your faith, and draw you closer to God.