THE ORIGINAL SOURCE FOR WOMEN'S LEADERS SINCE 2001
Wrting Devotions and Lessons
Julia Bettencourt
August 23, 2023
Preparing devotions and lessons can be a big part of being a women's ministry leader's job, so you should know how to go about doing it with confidence. I understand how it can seem intimidating, but really, devotions and lessons are the things we share that we have learned from, are learning from, or trust that we will learn from eventually. Those are the three states of learning from the Bible that we are all in at one time or another, so take heart. Sharing something with your group of women will become easier as you go along.
Make it Personal
There are of course Bible studies and lessons already out there in Christian literature, but I urge you to share from your heart and you can't always do that with someone else's material. And if you do use someone else's material, try making it personal. Share your own experiences on top of a pre-done lesson or Bible study. Your women's group will want to hear what you have to say and how you relate to the topic.
One of the reasons I think sharing what we know personally is productive is that other women relate more when it comes from a personal perspective. And when we share Jesus and God's Word, don't we want it to be personal? Don't we want it to come from our own heart? Don't we want to tell others how the passages and Scripture used has spoken to us through anything we share?
I think of that man that was just a little out of his mind and was running around the tombs and Jesus healed him and put him in his right mind. Afterward, Jesus told him to go home and tell his friends what the Lord had done. I think Jesus wanted that man to make it personal.
Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. Mark 5:19 (KJV)
I also am reminded of the woman Jesus met at the well In John 4. Remember Jesus told her about her husbands and showed her that He knew all about her. That woman went and told her story to others. She shared on a personal level, and people believed on Jesus because of her testimony.
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. John 4:39 (KJV)
Record Your Thoughts
If you are in the situation where you need to provide lessons and devotions with your women's ministry group on a regular basis, I strongly urge you to start a journal of ideas. Just a plain notebook will do. When God shows you something either through nature, something someone says, something you see in everyday life, or anything that speaks to you and reminds of you of God's Word, how God moves, or how God blesses, write it down. If something inspires you in everyday life, no matter what it is, write it down in your journal. You can go back to those things later and maybe develop a lesson or devotional thought to share with your ladies.
Sure, you can find ideas to develop online and from other sources, but jotting down the little things that you notice on the day to day of life will maybe help inspire you to start developing those ideas on your own to share in a group. Hopefully journaling your thoughts and developing them will help you be like that woman at the well and you will be able to testify something about the Lord and what He has done for you.
Personal sharing is a wonderful way to love and teach other women.
Copyright ©2023 Julia Bettencourt.
Here are a few things that I trust will be useful to you.
- Writing Devotionals for Women (This first one I shared back during Covid. It's just a little article about how I started writing. Hope you enjoy!)
- Developing a Devotional
Remember— I have tons of devotional writing ideas on the blog. Many are just little thoughts, some are practically outlines, so check those out if you are trying to find something on a particular topic. I call them "starters" because they are kind of like a soup starter. You add some of your own fresh ingredients! I hope they will be a blessing to you and help you to broaden your mind on the whole idea of writing devotions and lessons on your own.
Go to the Areas of Writing in Women's Ministry.
See the Bible Resources Index.
