Three WELS members share how they incorporate personal time with their Savior into their daily lives.

Meaningful conversations

Reflecting on 16 years of fatherhood, one of my most cherished activities has been family devotions with my wife and four children. Nothing this world can offer is as fulfilling as sitting together to hear again and again about Jesus’ grace and forgiveness.

Over the years, we have used a variety of resources, but two stand out. The first is the online family devotions from WELS. Based on the previous Sunday’s readings, these devotions are released on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. When paired with regular worship attendance, they help extend the message of Sunday throughout the week. Each devotion includes questions for children of various ages, making it easy to engage the whole family in meaningful conversation.

This past year, we began using the book What Does This Mean? For the first time, our family has worked through devotions based on Luther’s Catechism, with each devotion centered on a specific question. The consistent format and clear content have been a blessing. I especially appreciate how it introduces younger children to catechism concepts, preparing them even before they enter formal instruction in the classroom.

Faithful leadership in the home begins with personal time in God’s Word. Before guiding my family, I am first shaped and strengthened through my own time in Scripture. I typically spend my mornings in a book of the Bible, using both my Bible and a commentary. I record observations and applications that shape my personal faith, guide my role as a staff minister, and influence how I lead my family.

Family and personal devotions have been integral in carrying out two of my most important callings: serving as the spiritual leader of my household and serving God’s people at St. John.

James Boggs

From routine to intention

As a pastor’s daughter, I practically came out of the womb reciting John 3:16. Small group studies, catechism classes, and church meetings took place right below my bedroom. Every breakfast waited for personal Bible reading, and every dinner ended with a devotion. High school and college years were shaped by morning and evening chapels and theology classes with peers and professors of my same faith. I had no shortage of instruction and outside motivators influencing me to remain in God’s Word.

Now the only motivator is me.

It’s understated how uniquely disorienting life as a 20-something can feel. We begin to carry the weight of an adult’s schedule with what feels like a teenager’s competence. We’ll keep up with the unceasing cycle of trends and societal expectations by perfecting workout routines, hosting nights with friends, and adopting new hobbies—all while adjusting to jobs in the “real world.” In this time of maximizing output, however, it’s easy to end up minimizing the only thing that has the real power to sustain.

I have come to realize that spending time in God’s Word is not another habit of self-care or preservation; it’s not just a task to complete in our walk as Christians. It’s about what God does for us, working and building lasting strength in our faith to shape how we think, speak, and live. It’s how the Holy Spirit actively works to equip and prepare us for the many times our faith is put to the test.

I found that making this shift is not suddenly having the perfect routine. It’s adjusting, tweaking, failing, and trying again. It starts by recognizing that what has only ever been externally structured now must be internally chosen. That’s not easy.

Here’s what I’ve learned from many adjustments:

• Take notes on everything. Don’t be afraid to bring a notebook or use your notes app at church. What you write down will stay with you; it’s something to return to later to study and carry into how you live.
• Dig deeper. Use other devotional books and commentaries alongside your Bible for richer understanding and application. Talk to your pastor. Ask questions. Research. Don’t simply move on from what you don’t know.
• Prioritize quality over quantity. I once embarked on a super robust, Bible-in-a-year plan. I fell behind almost immediately. Don’t make your time in God’s Word a looming chore, burden, or punishment. Read just one psalm if you must. Feel every single word and hear your loving Father’s voice.
• Memorize passages. It’s crucial as Christians to internalize not just the overriding message but God’s perfectly chosen words. Learn a passage a month to start. It helps to use sticky notes!
• Fill every moment. Time in the Word does not have to be in the morning on a comfy couch with a hot cup of coffee. Is that glorious? Yes. But if the morning disappears, it’s easy to defer until tomorrow. Instead, use your car ride to listen to a sermon podcast. Read through your Bible on your lunch break. Dedicate time before bed to pray.
• Incorporate prayer, conversation, and reflection. Reflect on a characteristic of God that was highlighted in your reading and thank him for it in prayer. Write down one important lesson and three actionable ways to live it out in the coming week.
• Read and pray out loud. This not only anchors his words within you but also immerses you into God’s very character and voice, reminding you that prayer is a conversation with your Father, who wants to listen.

Some days, time in God’s Word will feel monotonous. Other days, you will feel powerfully moved and perfectly filled. The Holy Spirit’s work remains the same. Trust that God allows for inconsistency and imperfection in our own lives so we are compelled to depend on him to sustain, nourish, and strengthen us.

Moira Schulz

Finding a rhythm

Growing up, I knew I should read the Bible consistently, but a routine never stuck. I tried everything, from e-mail devotions to structured reading plans, but missing a few days made me feel like a failure, so I’d quit. Years later, as a young mom, I felt unqualified when asked to lead a small group. Surely someone else had this figured out better than me!

One day, sitting in my family room, I asked God, “Is this all there is? Head knowledge and a shallow (albeit saving) faith?” I wanted to know him better. I asked him for wisdom, and he answered (see James 1:5).

Over the past decade, he’s led me to simple, sustainable rhythms. One of the most impactful ones has been using audio. Since I already enjoy podcasts about improving my daily life, I began using that same space to nourish my soul: listening to Christian content, like Time of Grace, while driving or doing chores.

But podcasts alone weren’t enough. I also realized that if I want to truly know my Savior, I need to spend time with him. Sermons and devotionals are helpful, but they’re secondhand. If I talked only to my daughter’s friends and never to her, our relationship wouldn’t grow. In the same way, I need to spend time in Scripture directly.

Eventually, the two wove together into a daily habit. I start the day listening to my YouVersion Bible app, filling my soul with the words of God before checking messages or my to-do list. Later, I revisit the same section in my Bible and see if I have any relevant notes on past sermons. I might jot down a key word or bookmark a podcast for later. When I miss a day, I don’t quit, because God’s not going anywhere!

A personal devotional life doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful, and it doesn’t have to look like mine. It just needs consistency and a focus on knowing Jesus better. Over time, what begins as discipline becomes desire: the natural result of spending time with someone who loves you.

Amy Balza

Author: Multiple authors
Volume 113, Number 06
Issue: June 2026

Resources: Putting faith into practice

Want to try some of the resources mentioned in these articles in your devotional life? Here’s what you need to know:

• The book What Does This Mean? Exploring Our Christian Faith by Charles Degner is available from Northwestern Publishing House, nph.net. While you are there, check out other devotional resources.
• Time of Grace offers written, audio, and video devotional materials, including its 30-minute TV programs that dig deeper into God’s Word. Find all the resources at timeofgrace.org.
• A variety of online devotions, including the mentioned family devotions, can be found at wels.net/devotions. Subscribe to have the devotions delivered directly to your e-mail at wels.net/subscribe or download the WELS app at wels.app to access content more easily from your phone.
• A list of various WELS podcasts, including synopses and reviews, is available at forwardinchrist.net/podcasts.
• The free YouVersion Bible app gives easy access to many Bible translations as well as Bible reading plans. Download it from your favorite app store. Read other ways to use this app at forwardinchrist.net/personal-bible-study.
• WELS Women’s Ministry is hosting a webinar called “Sacred Rhythms: Building a Life of Daily Devotion,” 7 P.M. CDT on June 11. Moira Schulz is one of four panelists. Register at wels.net/womens-ministry-webinars.