By: Adrian Owen

“Whither must I fly?” This question comes from Christian, the central figure in John Bunyan’s, The Pilgrim’s Progress, who seeks to rid himself of his burden of sin and flee the wrath of God to come. Another character, Evangelist, points Christian towards a distant Shining Light, saying, “Keep that Light in your eye, and go up directly thereto.”[1] That Light leads to Christ and the Celestial City. From then on, Christian embarks on a journey filled with friends and enemies, joys and hardships. Throughout his journey Christian keeps the Light in his eye and the Book in his hand. 

That Light is the light of Scripture (Psalm 119:105, 2 Peter 1:19). We will meet comforts and calamities on our way to the Father, but Scripture will keep our feet on the path and our eyes on the Father. This means that a constant intake of Scripture is necessary for the Christian. Individuals and families should have the greatest intake of Scripture during their personal and / or family devotions. Below I will explain what devotions are, why it is essential to have Scripture central in them, and how to practice devotions.

 What are Devotions?

So, what are personal and family devotions? Devotions are simply regular times of Scripture reading and prayer. Those are devotions in their simplest form. There can be more added to devotions like singing, reading a story, or watching a YouTube video, but meditating on Scripture and praying consistently should be central to devotions. 

In a world filled with amusement to numb the mind, we must muse on the words and promises of God. In Psalm 119 we see the psalmist meditating on God’s word in a variety of situations. He meditates on the word in the midst of joy (v. 15), while his enemies plot against him (vv. 23, 78), when he hungers for understanding (v. 27), and while he worships (v. 48). Devotions should be constant even in the midst of changing life circumstances. We must set aside time to meditate on Scripture and pray to the Father.

Why Should Scripture be Central?

Personal and family devotions should center on Scripture. Three reasons why Scripture should be central to devotions are that it is good for us, it is our guide, and it is the only thing that will last. Scripture is good for us in that it reveals God’s commands. In Psalm 119:14 the psalmist says, “In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.” God’s commands have been set in place for our good. They are given for our delight.

God’s words are a guide for us. It is God’s word that light’s our path. It is God’s word that shows us what is right and wrong. It is a map of the straight and narrow way. We need guidance personally and within our families. The Father has provided guidance in his word.

God’s words are eternal. When all is come to an end, God’s word will still stand. What you will leave behind to your families—whether a legacy, money, property, or your own wisdom—it will fade away, but God’s word will stand forever. Leave them with his word etched in their minds and hearts. We must cling to his word in the good and bad because it will stand the test of time. In fact, it is even ahead of its time!

How Should We Practice Devotions?

As long as Scripture is central to your devotions, there is no right or wrong way to practice devotions. Devotions can simply be reading two chapters of your Bible and praying every day at 6:00 AM. You and your family may only be able to make it through a couple of verses a night, sing one song, and pray a brief prayer. Maybe you only do devotions twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It does not matter how you practice personal and family devotions. What matters is that you are doing them and doing them consistently.

Currently, my wife and I are reading through The Pilgrim’s Progress each night. The copy we use includes verse references that Bunyan quotes in the story. We take time after we have read from the book to look up the Bible references that Bunyan uses. We read those passages and discuss them. The other night, Bunyan quoted Hebrews 6:6, and Melody and I discussed this passage for about half an hour. This is how we have devotions now. We will not do it like this forever, but for now it is getting us in the Word and having us think about what God has said.

Again, consistency is key to personal and family devotions. Consistently meditate on Scripture. Reading two or three verses a night with your family before bed means that you are consistently feeding your family the good eternal words of God. If you can only read twice a week, then consistently read twice a week. Like Christian, keep the light in your eye, and follow it until the very end.

[1] John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress (East Peoria, IL: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2017), 4.