When the “Devotional Checklist” Stops Working…

I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me. Proverbs 8:17

Have you ever followed a 365-day devotional? I love them!

They are wonderful “icebreakers” for the day. They give me that immediate pickup and a quick moment of encouragement that I might share with a friend later that day, on rare occasions.

My intention is always pure: I plan to grab my Bible later, full of sincere desire. I plan to read the entire chapter surrounding that daily verse. But if I’m being honest? My follow-through is often as limp as a soggy noodle.

The Hidden Guilt of the “Shallow Walk”: For a long time, I carried a hidden guilt. I was checking the box on my daily devotional, but I was just going through the motions. I was “doing” my quiet time, but it wasn’t “doing” anything to me.

Have you ever felt like that?

The root of my frustration was simple: I didn’t know how to study on my own. I would read a chapter of Scripture and—yikes!—immediately forget what I just read. How can that be? This is the living, breathing Word of God! Why wasn’t it sticking?

I had a deep, dark valley that changed everything!

I wanted to go BEYOND the short daily devotional. I wanted to move past empty reading and into what I can finally call “spiritual maturity.”

But that shift didn’t happen in a mountaintop moment. It took a rocky season in a deep valley—one that lasted over half a decade—for God to break my “checklist” habit and teach me how to truly feast on His Word.

So why am I writing this? What is my point? I’m sharing this because I want you to know that God sees your heart. He knows the frustration of the “shallow walk,” and He knows you crave more.

If this resonates with you, I invite you to keep reading the upcoming posts. I want to share more of my story and walk you through the transition from “mere daily moments” to full intimacy with the Lord. It’s about studying His Word with a different perspective and a new intentionality.

Come walk with me.

Dig Deeper: If you want to read more about moving past the “ink on the page,” check out this early post: Exceeding Text Elevation: More than Typography

Let’s Connect: I want to hear from you today. What is one word that describes your current spiritual season? (e.g., “Busy,” “Fulfilling,” “Dry,” “Lonely”) Drop your word in the comments. I’m reading every single one. 👇