Finding Time for Devotion

Finding time for devotion is one of those things that sounds easy in theory. We imagine ourselves sitting at a sunny table with our Bible open and a gentle breeze floating through the window. But in reality, we might be snatching a few minutes in the middle of the grocery store parking lot before running inside or reading a verse on our phone while waiting in line at the bank. If you struggle to find time in your day for devotions, then listen in. I’ll help you find a few of those precious moments, no matter how busy your day gets.

Transcript

Episode 189 - Finding time for Devotion 

It’s funny, isn’t it, how we can fill a whole day without ever meaning to, and then find ourselves at bedtime wondering where all the hours went. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had days where I thought I’d have a nice stretch of quiet in the morning for my devotional time, only to find myself knee-deep in laundry before the coffee even finished brewing. Then there’s the phone call I didn’t expect, the errand I forgot I needed to run, the small “just real quick” project that ends up taking an entire hour. Before I know it, my devotional has been pushed to “later.” And like I said last week, “later” is a slippery little thing that doesn’t always stick around.

Finding time for devotion is one of those things that sounds easy in theory. We imagine ourselves sitting at a sunny table with our Bible open and a gentle breeze floating through the window. But in reality, we might be snatching a few minutes in the middle of the grocery store parking lot before running inside or reading a verse on our phone while waiting in line at the bank. And you know what? That’s okay.

The important thing isn’t where or when we have our devotional time — it’s that we make space for it at all. But here’s the thing: space doesn’t magically appear. We have to create it. And that means getting a little intentional, maybe even protective, about those moments.

When I was younger, I used to think devotion meant a solid 30 minutes to an hour of uninterrupted Bible reading and prayer every single day. That’s a beautiful  and worthy goal, and if you have the time and quiet for it, I say lean into it. But I’ve learned that in different seasons of life, devotion looks different. A mother of toddlers is going to have a much harder time finding an hour than a retiree living alone. And that’s not a failure — that’s just life. God isn’t up there with a stopwatch timing how long you sit with Him. He’s far more interested in the sincerity of your heart than the number of minutes on the clock.

Still, we do have to make the effort. Life will always be full. If we wait for the perfect moment when the house is silent, the to-do list is empty, and our minds are free from distraction, we might wait forever. So instead of waiting for the perfect time, I’ve started looking for the possible time. And when I find it, I take it.

One of the simplest ways to find time for devotion is to attach it to something you already do every day. Think of your routines as little hooks you can hang your devotional time on. Maybe it’s with your morning coffee — before you scroll on your phone or open your laptop, open your Bible instead. Or maybe it’s during your lunch break, when you step outside for a few deep breaths of fresh air and a quiet conversation with God. Maybe it’s the last thing you do before bed, letting scripture be the final word in your day instead of the news or social media.

For me, mornings are the best chance I have. If I wait until the day gets rolling, there’s no telling what might happen. So I’ve learned to get up just a little earlier to make space for that quiet. I use the walk to the barn and coop as one of my devotion times. And I’ll be honest, some mornings I feel tired and tempted to skip it. But I’ve never once regretted the mornings I’ve made that choice to sit with God. The day just feels different. It’s steadier somehow, even if the rest of it goes sideways.

Now, I know not everyone is a morning person. And that’s fine. God isn’t taking attendance at dawn. If you come alive at night, then maybe your devotion time is best after the kids are asleep, or when the house has finally gone still. What matters is that it’s a time you can protect, a time that becomes so much a part of your rhythm that it feels strange to go without it.

But here’s something I want to say, because I think a lot of us need to hear it: devotion doesn’t have to look the same every day. Some days, it might be deep Bible study with a notebook and commentary. Other days, it might be a single Psalm read slowly, letting each word sink in. Some days, it might be prayer while you wash the dishes or take a walk down the road. The point is connection, not performance.

When we simplify our lives, we create more space for God, but that space won’t stay open on its own. Empty space can be a void, and the world will rush to fill it with noise and distraction if we’re not careful. That’s why having a plan — even a loose one — can help. Maybe you decide that for the next month, you’ll read through the book of John, one chapter a day. Or maybe you’ll pick a theme, like gratitude, and look for verses that speak to that. When you have a plan, even a simple one, it’s easier to step into your devotion time without losing those precious minutes trying to figure out where to start.

Another thing that’s helped me is giving myself permission to keep it simple. There’s this idea floating around that if we’re not digging deep into Greek translations or filling pages with notes, we’re somehow not doing enough. But devotion isn’t about impressing anyone — not even ourselves. It’s about showing up to meet with God. If all you can manage today is reading a verse and whispering a prayer, that’s not “less than.” That’s faithfulness in the middle of real life.

Of course, there are days when finding time for devotion means fighting for it. You might have to say no to something else — maybe a TV show, or that extra scroll through social media, or even a bit of work that could be done later. Simple living teaches us to value what matters most, and I can’t think of anything more worth protecting than time with God.

And sometimes, devotion means pulling away from the noise. Even five minutes of silence can feel like a balm in a noisy world. You might sit on your porch and listen to the birds, letting your thoughts drift toward gratitude. You might take a walk without your phone, just noticing God’s handiwork in the trees and sky. You might light a candle in the evening, sit in the glow, and tell Him about your day. These quiet moments have a way of slowing the heart and opening it at the same time.

I’ve also found that the more I involve scripture in my day, the more it seeps into my devotion without me even realizing it. I might write a verse on an index card and keep it by the sink. Or I’ll set a verse as the background on my phone so I see it dozens of times a day. These little reminders keep my mind anchored, even in the middle of busyness.

And here’s the beautiful thing — the more we make space for devotion, the more it begins to spill over into the rest of our lives. A verse you read in the morning might come back to mind in the middle of a stressful afternoon. A moment of prayer over your coffee might shape the way you respond to someone later in the day. It’s not about ticking a box — it’s about letting God’s Word and presence take root so deeply that they influence how we live.

If you’re listening to this and feeling a little guilty because you haven’t been as consistent as you’d like, let me just say — don’t stay stuck in guilt. That’s not from God. His invitation is always open, whether it’s been a day, a month, or even years since you last set aside time for Him. Start where you are. Take the next five minutes and give them to Him. That’s all it takes to begin again.

Finding time for devotion in a simple life is about more than just carving out a slot in your schedule. It’s about making it a priority in your heart, so that even when life gets busy — and it will — you naturally find yourself turning back to Him. And it’s about remembering that devotion isn’t limited to the chair, the journal, or the Bible in your lap. It’s in the conversations you have with God while you’re sweeping the floor. It’s in the gratitude you feel when you see the sun break through after a long rain. It’s in the peace that comes from knowing you’ve handed your day over to Him before it even begins.

Maybe the real question isn’t “How do I find time for devotion?” but “How do I let my devotion to God shape all my time?” That’s the heart of it. We’re not just trying to fit Him in — we’re inviting Him to be part of it all.

And the good news is, He’s already there. We just have to notice.

Are you looking to incorporate a little more faith in your Simple Life? Then be sure to check out my book – Faith & a Simple Life. It’s available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback, and there’s a link for it down in the show notes!