I've been a member of a small, unique club for more than three years now. One of my college classmates, knowing that I like to write, told me about the online PresbyCan Daily Devotional, which celebrates its 26th anniversary today. My classmate has written many PresbyCan devotionals herself and encouraged me to give it a try also. These daily devotionals are written by volunteer writers. This group is fairly elastic, with writers coming and going, but there are usually around 20 or so active members in this "writers' club" at any given time. If you're interested in writing a devotional yourself, click on the "Contribute a Devotional" link in the website menu or in the green bar at the bottom of each day's emailed devotional.

Writers submit their devotionals, and then the PresbyCan staff takes it from there. Each submission is then edited and prepared for publication. It is paired with a hymn for the day and is even recorded for those who prefer to listen to the devotional. Our editor frequently reminds us that our devotional should not just be an interesting story, but it needs to have a point. Readers should be encouraged to make some kind of application or change as a result of reading the devotional.

Though I trust that my devotionals are a blessing to others, writing devotionals has proven to be an even greater blessing to me. I find that I view life through different lenses now. I regularly see spiritual lessons in the big world all around me through my daily experiences and observations. I then sit down later and try to encapsulate those thoughts in the form of a devotional and am blessed myself in the process.

Now, let's look at the PresbyCan devotionals in a different way. These devotionals serve as a sort of conversation — albeit inaudible — between writers and readers. The writers present their ideas in words on the page, and the readers consider those thoughts. The readers may then put some of these ideas into practice in their own lives and may even pass some of those thoughts on to others, thus completing the conversational loop. Because these "conversations" are centred on God and His ways, they honour and please Him.

The writer of the book of Malachi described the process like this:

Malachi 3:16 – Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. (NIV)

Talking about God together honours Him, and He listens and hears us. Let's keep talking!

Prayer: Dear Father, may our daily conversations bring honour to You as we talk to each other about Your majesty and goodness. Please listen and hear our conversations. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share on Facebook

About the author:

Gail Lundquist <gail10833@gmail.com>
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Send your feedback to the author