Going through seminary, students are taught to study the Bible and uphold its doctrines about God while also being encouraged not to neglect their devotional times with God. Yet during my own devotional time I, and probably many others, often ask, “Is this approach the best way to grow spiritually, or is there a better way? What could I do differently? Should I incorporate my studies with my devotions?”
Each week, I ask a different scholar two questions about how he or she spends time with the Lord and continues to love him with all their mind, strength, and heart. While no one method or style is “the only way,” we can draw on one another’s experiences.
This week, I have asked Dr. Kevin Youngblood if he would share his thoughts with us.
1. How do you spend your devotional time with the Lord?
My devotional time consists of a number of activities that I have found keep me spiritually grounded. First, I have recovered the habit of committing Scripture to memory. In addition to doing this by myself I am also doing it with my children. This creates additional incentive as well as accountability. I also try to read meaty devotional literature. I spend some time in the writings of Francois Fenelon, A. W. Tozer, C. S. Lewis, Thomas Merton, G. K. Chesterton, St. John of the Cross, Brother Lawrence and others who have demonstrated profound insight into the spiritual life. I also meet regularly with a trusted brother in Christ who is pursuing greater purity of heart and deeper intimacy with the Father. Walking this path with others keeps us connected to the body of Christ and includes perspectives other than our own through which God can shape us.
2. How do you practically seek to deepen your love for Christ?
To deepen my love for Christ I come to the eucharist every opportunity I have (usually every Sunday). Faithful participation in this meal, more than anything, draws me ever deeper into union with Christ. Additionally, I participate in a small group of couples from the church where my wife and I attend. We share ways in which following Christ impinges on parenting, marriage, housekeeping and other routine activities that can seem anything but spiritual but in reality involve the kind of daily discipline and faithfulness that are basic to discipleship. I have also found that reading Christian biographies helps me appreciate the way Christ has worked in other believers’ lives and opened my eyes to ways in which he is working in my mine. Corrie Ten Boon’s “The Hiding Place” and biographies of C. S. Lewis are among my favorites.
Kevin J. Youngblood is associate Professor of Bible & Religion at Harding University. He has written a commentary on Jonah (ZECOT, my review).
Other Scholars’ Devotions
- Andrew Abernethy
- Michael Bird
- Craig Blomberg
- Darrell Bock
- Denny Burk
- Andrew Das
- Stephen Dempster
- Jason DeRouchie
- Kyle Dunham
- James Edwards
- David Firth
- Stephen Fowl
- Norman Geisler
- Ben Gladd
- Joel Green
- Sigurd Grindheim
- Jim Hamilton
- Matthew Harmon
- Charles Lee Irons
- Dru Johnson (a fan favorite)
- Dru Johnson Redux (extended edition)
- Craig Keener
- Edward (Mickey) Klink
- Tremper Longman
- Ernest Lucas
- Ken Magnuson
- David Moffitt
- Jonathan Moo
- Amy Peeler
- Nicholas Perrin
- Patrick Schreiner
- Tom Schreiner
- Brandon Smith
- Douglas Stuart
- Frank Thielman
- Bruce Ware
- Rikk Watts
- Trevin Wax
- Cynthia Long Westfall
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