“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” (Mark 1:35)
This story of Jesus seeking solitude in the morning is an inspiration to my own spiritual life. What He was doing then is what many of us now call a “morning devotional.” A morning devotional is a sacred time you carve out each day to commune with the Creator. The time is filled with prayer, scripture study, journaling, or other creative expressions.
When I prioritize this time with God, I walk into the day with an awareness that angels are sustaining me. My spiritual power is strong and prepares me for the challenges that I know I’ll face as soon as that sacred time is over. My mind is clear, focused, and self-controlled. I have a deeper understanding of Jesus and His promises for me which I call to mind when I get distressed. This keeps me grounded throughout the day. It has been the anchor to my days and the foundation of my life.
I’ve learned a lot along the way that impedes this precious time. Do you often struggle to make this part of your life? If so, consider these 5 Reasons why your morning devotional may be struggling or non-existent.
You have Too Many Activities in Your Life
One of the most obvious reasons why your devotional time is not fulfilling is quite simple. You probably have too many things going on in your life and swarming in your mind. I’ve been there. Meals to cook, appointments to go to, bills to pay, a house to keep tidy, random child-led experiments to mop up, and the list goes on. Modern life is busy and complicated at times.
As a result, many of us find it nearly impossible to leave ourselves enough wiggle room to spend time with God because so many other things are packed into. Our frazzled-burnt-out-selves choose other ways to rejuvenate instead of the quietness our soul craves through a meaningful morning devotional. The things we choose often make it worse which brings me to the next reason.
You’ve Had Too Much Screen Time
Here is another reason that probably won’t surprise you. Many of us are vulnerable to the addictive glow of the screen. This is so insidious to spiritual life because it’s not just a time waster, but it also wreaks havoc on your brain on many levels. For example, according to the research found in the book, The Shallows, excessive screen use impacts our memory, attention, concentration, and impedes our ability to think deeply.
What we watch impacts us as well. It’s no secret that very m any people are addicted to images that completely ruin the desire for spirituality. Yet, even if what we watch isn’t harmful, our brain begins to crave the distraction and stimulation due to the jolts of happy brain chemicals released while our eyes feast. Screens also impact our sleep due to the blue light emitted which disrupts our body’s ability to fall asleep. Which can often lead to something else that impedes your devotional time.
You’ve Had Too many Late Nights
I have been there so many times before. I know I’m not alone in this struggle of trying to go to sleep early. Many of us moms spend so much time doing other things, that night time is the time where we finally have time alone! The problem is that staying up late makes it harder to wake up early enough to carve out time for prayer and Bible study. I can say from personal experience that this is a very hard habit to break. Life isn’t perfect and there will be times when you stay up late. However, when this does happen, you ought to still be able to wake up in the morning and have a Bible study that is simple enough to peruse and glean from. Which may be another reason why your devotional time is failing.
Your Morning Devotional is too Complicated
Before children, homeschooling and exhausted nights with nursing babies, I was able to devote ample time to deep scripture study. Each season of our life has different needs and sometimes what we need is simple. So when you want to build on this habit, my suggestion is to start very simple and focus on just connecting with God.
A dear older woman friend of mine gave me a piece of advice while my kids were very young and I struggled to get time alone. “Maya, one verse is enough. Take that verse and let it fill you for the day.” I will never forget that. There may be times we feel like we need to do it all “right” or maybe we get overwhelmed with the idea of it. But all a morning devotional requires is a heartfelt desire to connect with God through prayer and scripture. The Bible says: “Be still and know that I am God.”
You haven’t figured out your “Why”
Habits are wonderful. Discipline is great. Consider this; It’s one thing to discipline yourself to get up in the morning to devote to prayer and study. It’s a whole other thing to discipline yourself to get up and know why you are doing it. Every once in a while, you have to revisit why you do anything that starts to feel monotonous. When we forget our why, our actions become meaningless, legalistic or non-existent.
You don’t even think about your “why” when life is tough because it is clear: You need God to sustain you. But when you’re financially secure, your relationships are good and life feels grand, you may not feel any desire for God. This makes it crucial to identify your why. Most mornings before I open the Bible, I’ll briefly journal my intention to hear God and what I hope to gain. It could be mental clarity, a better understanding of Jesus’ character, a breakthrough solution to personal problems. I try to keep a clear vision in mind of how my time with God enhances my life so I never forget why I do what I do.
Be Encouraged
Whatever the reason why your devotional time is struggling, I want to leave you these encouraging scriptures.
- If you feel burnout and busy, Jesus says “Come to me and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28). Let him show you how to rely on social support network or how to simplify your life.
- If screen time is a problem, ask for relief. Jesus says: “Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and a door will be opened.” (Matt 7:7).
- Is staying up late your challenge? Psalms 4:8 is a beautiful verse to recite before bed: “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
- Are you trying to do too much too fast? Whether you read one verse or one book of the Bible, consider this: “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please and I shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
- If you’ve lost meaning in your devotional times, ask God to give you a vision of your true values. Meditate on why this is important to you. “Without vision, the people perish” Proverbs 29:18.
Remember this…
Remember that God is available at all times not just during a devotional time. Our role is to be aware of it and bring ourselves to that awareness throughout the day. Acknowledge His presence and you’ll grow in strength.
Maybe you’re wondering what practical things to do to start a morning devotional habit. In the next post, I’ll share some simple biblical and research-based strategies on how to keep a simple morning devotional time that leads to all lifelong habit. If you’re interested in learning more on this topic, please share and subscribe for more insights on parenting, spirituality, and personal growth.
Are there other reasons your devotional time is struggling? Please share in the comments below.