How to write a Bible Devotion Article

 

 Writing an Article

For Daily Devotional Guide

This is an instructional material to help you improve on “How to write a Bible Devotion article?” in connection with the use of our Daily Devotional Planner 2022. 

As discussed in our previous blogpost on How to be productive with our planner, this is a useful material to help you improve your writing skills. The aim of this tutorial is to get you involved with our project to complete writing the Daily Devotional Planner 2022 so that at the end of next year you have completed a one year manuscript of daily devotional which can be a guide to many new believers around the world. You can self publish your own Daily Devotional Guide for distribution to your church members to guide them in their spiritual growth

So you came here to learn how to write an article for daily devotional guide. 

Writing an article

Is not a very scary skill, it’s just a matter of developing what you have. If you are good in speaking you might as well be good in writing but that may not be the case for some. 

How do we start improving this particular skill?

Learn by making a guideline in breaking your ideas into an outline such as;

1. Write the Title of what you intended to write
2. Break down the topics you want to discuss in any order
3. Write the sub topics if there is any
4. Summary
5. Conclusion

Before writing the content, you can organized the way you want your article to appear. This will help you organize your thoughts and evaluate how it will be presented and read by your reader. 

The Title 

Will give the reader the whole idea of what the article is all about. It can be an event, or name of a character, or a situation in the bible. The basis for your writing is the bible. As our aim is to write an article about daily devotional guide, you can the idea and create a title from it. 

The title can compelling and raise curiosity so that you can encouraged the reader to read your article. This can be done also by knowing the whole story of the bible verses you read. 

For example, you read the story of Moses at the edge of the Red sea with all Israelites scared of dying because the Egyptians armies are chasing them. What happens next is the amazing work of God parting the Red Sea. 

You will be amazed on how many titles you can create out of it! Like;

Moses in the midst of crisis

Israelites fear led to blame their leader

God at work 

How to be still as God promised

These are just a few of what we can do to create a title. Perhaps you can start writing about this with your own title. 

The body or content

This is where all your ideas will be written to form the whole article. It will start with an introduction of at least 2 to 3 sentences. Make it short and brief. Then divide the topics into several topics using what, where, when and who and how method. 

What is the story about?

Where did it happen?

When did it happen?

Who were involved?

How did the story go an end up?

These can be done in the introduction as well and narrate the story. As we are writing an article about the devotional guide, the next topic you can discuss is the relevance of that particular story in our days. Is there any particular situation that may have been similar to what you have read?

Write another segment relevant to our situation? 

Example:

In Moses times, what it will be like for us encountering a dead end where there is no point of returning or even moving forward? 

What will you do if you encounter that situation?

Is there any other way?

What is God’s promise?

Will it be applicable in our situation?

What it means to be still? 

Is there a way of deliverance?

The work of God?

The God who rescued?

There are so many list you can write about that story. In your listing, it should be in progression, like start with The Problem

The Solution

The Application

Summary

After you arranged the topics, you can write a brief summary of what you want readers to know. 

Conclusion

Then bring it all together with a conclusion. How did the problem solved? Make a compelling and encouraging solution by asking them about how this story or this article brought light to their situation so that they can apply the biblical truth learned. 

Let’s try doing the whole article:

The Red sea parted at the right time

Introduction:

This is a story of Moses written in the book of exodus chapter __  when moses and the Israelites came at the edge of the red sea. They were terrified because the Egyptian armies are chasing them where Pharaoh changed his mind after releasing them, now they were being chased to be killed in the dessert. 

Moses, as their leader cannot do anything but confronted with complaining Israelites, who demands to go back but they can’t neither didn’t go out in the first place. Moses then turned to God and God commanded him to “be still.” 

As the Egyptians come closer, God blocked their way and parted the Red sea as well. 

This was an amazing story that led the Israelites free from their long years of bondage and now being led to another deliverance passing through the dry ground of the red sea. 

God delivered them from bondage of slavery and the same God delivered them from the point of being killed by the Egyptians

What can we learn from this lesson?

(People of Israel are difficult to lead)

We can learn that in many different perspectives, we can write as much as we can. As we look at the people of Israel,  it is easy to complain when we were brought out of our comfort zone and were led into something more difficult. We cannot blame them because they are in the point of being killed. When our life gets tougher, we do the same thing. Who do we turn to except to complain and get mad!

Moses as a leader has its limitation

As Moses led them, he can’t do anything but wait on God, his limitations led him to go upward. And prayed. 

Moses turned to the right source

God is his source. The will and the ability to never rush and do anything without God’s instruction and approval. Despite the pressure he managed to be silent, to be still and to wait on God’s intervention. 

Being Still as an instant solution to troubles

We may seem to think this is not the right response to such kind of situation. But God taught us one very good example to remember, His promise prevailed and His commands fulfilled by leading Moses to “Be Still”. 

It is easy to be tempted and do a drastic move other than what God had instructed but Moses chose to trust God rather than his instincts. 

God who command fulfilled His promise by a miracle 

of protection and a miracle of provision. He divided the Red Sea at the right time when all of Israel lost their patience and confidence. 

God saves and parted the Red Sea at the right time!

God save them and let them walked on a supposed to be barrier but now becoming a clear passge. What a miracle on display right before the very eyes of a complaining people.

Applying the truth in our lives;

In most cases, we are also faced with a very difficult situation, the word “be still” stands till today as God promised. Yes its a clear and present danger in our eyes, but if we allow God,  follow His command and trust in Him, He can do miracles, even at this time. A situation that can turn everything upside down for our benefit. Instead of complaining, better yet be still and hold our mouth, pray to God, trust Him and listen to His small voice.

In summary, the whole story revolves around a complaining nation to a leader who knows where to turn to when everything is in a deadlock. God is constantly involved despite their frailties. He protects and provides and will let us walk through the seemingly dangerous path as a safe and secure way.

We can always depend on God. No matter how tough we are into, as long as we are in His care, He does not let us walk through smooth sailing situation but let us walk through the roughest and impossible road block. Whenever faced into a point-of-no-return situation, God is always our rescuer, a very help in times of need, if only we can be still, and hear His small voice to trust in His power. In a very busy world, it is also applicable to be still everyday and hear his voice through our daly devotion.

His character remains even till now because He is the same God yesterday, today and forever.  Not bounded by time and age, He is the same God who is actively involved with Moses and throughout all ages even now. 

Additional input you can consider writing: 

How often do we worry and complain to our leaders?

Who do we turn to when there is a crisis?

What can we learn from God’s character? 

.

Final note

Finally, that is how you can improve your writing skills. Try to make your outline and from there, start writing the contents of each topic you have listed. Make it straight. Go directly to what you want to write. You will realize later that you have develop a system that your writing skill is becoming instant and natural You will be able to organize your thoughts and coordinate the way you think and write eventually. 

Hope you enjoyed reading and have learned something from this. 

Why not share your article in our comment box? or even just the outline? I would appreciate if you can share so everyone who reads this will learn from you as well. 

God bless you and enjoy improving your skill happy writing.