A devotional is a short, personal story, integrated with scripture to help the reader, or listener, make a personal application.

As a women's ministry leader, there will be times that you are looking for a devotion on a specific subject and just cannot find one. Sometimes writing one may be your only option.

Here are some tips to help you on the way.

1. Make it personal. Use a story from your life that is unique. Women want to read something that is fresh; something that they can identify with.

2. Use scripture. Find one or two verses that help to tell your story. Be very careful not to take verses out of context or twist their meaning. Stay true to Scripture.

3. Keep it short. 200-300 words is just about right for a devotional.

4. Bathe the process in prayer. No explanation needed here!

5. Be descriptive. Share details about your story that help women experience your story. What did you feel, see, hear? Use your senses to describe your story.

6. Stay focused. Keep your story short and focus on what God taught you through the experience. Was there a need that God met or something you lacked that he provided?

7. Make an application. Share what you learned from the experience that makes a difference in your life today. Relate that to the reader and what God is doing in their life.

8. Close with a brief prayer in response to what you learned or use your scripture as an outline for a prayer.

Devotionals can be used at women's meetings, to start a study or in a small group. Write out one or two to have on hand when you need one. Taking time to write out what God is doing in your life is a double blessing. You will reap the reward of seeing how much He has done, and you will be prepared for the next time you need a devotional.

If you have an interesting writing method for your devotionals, I would love to hear about it. Just email me!

In Him... Robyne Beaubien

This week's question.
Can I really control my thoughts? Many times I feel as if I can't.

View Jennifer's Video Answer

Last week's question.
I really struggle with self-loathing and anger. Is there a way to control this?

View Jennifer's Video Answer

Submitted by Suzi Wollman

Purpose: To hold a relaxed, non-threatening Bible study in an open, public place where people will hear the Word of God.

Procedure: We meet once a week on a sidewalk/coffee cafe to share the Word and have Christian fellowship. We meet indoors or outdoors depending on the weather. People around us hear what we are talking about, and respond or simply listen.

It is best to use a study that anyone can come into at any time, rather than one that builds on a previous lesson.

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Objective: We use this to break the ice for our Weekly Bible Study, to help women get to know one another.

Materials: none

Procedure: Each week as we begin our home Bible Study, we take 10-15 minutes to go around the room and have each woman answer the questions: What was your HIGH for the week? What was your LOW for the week?

Many times when a group meeting is focused primarily on Bible Study, there isn't an opportunity to get to know one another, or keep in touch with what is going on in each others' lives. This provides a formatted way to do that, without taking the focus off Bible study. In addition, many times we find solutions to the lows, and answers to the prayers that arise from the sharing time, as we move forward in that week's Bible study.

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From one tool to another, I thank you from the very depths of my heart for your wonderful article, "Tool Talk." It was amazing timing on God's part as I am sitting in a hotel room right this very minute. This weekend, I am one of two speakers at a conference in North Carolina. By the way, they found me through womensministry.net and flew me in from California. May God continue to use and bless your fabulous ministry! ~ Dori Drabek

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