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[Word Wise] 2-Point Checklist for Writing Devotionals Effectively
January 27, 2016

Write Better. Right Away.

Volume 12, Number 2: Issue #110 ... ISSN: 1933-9690

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FEATURE: 2-Point Checklist for Writing Devotionals Effectively

A devotional is a short piece of inspiration. Some writers refer to these pieces as “meditations” or even as “devos,” using the abbreviated term that’s so popular with students.

It is a unique form for two reasons.

  1. It is short.
    By short, I mean devos are generally 150-500 words long. On average the total word count clocks in at 200-250 words.

    There is a good reason for brevity. Devos are designed to inspire the reader to apply a biblical principle. A good devo uses one idea from the Bible and gives an example of how that idea is lived out.

  2. It inspires.
    A devo is a short piece of inspiration – not a short piece of instruction.

    This is an important distinction. A good devo sheds light on a particular biblical principle and shows one way God has made it real. It connects the events of real life to scripture. It is that connection factor that makes devos so powerful. It shows how one facet of God has been experienced in another person’s life. 

    A devo does not tear apart the scripture (the way you might find in a sermon or Bible class) by looking for cross-references and seeking to uncover its theological, historical, and cultural context.

    That is not to say that a reader won’t learn more scripture from reading devos. He will. But instruction is not the goal.

Get more help with writing devotionals … and check out more tips on our Writing Devotionals Pinterest board.

More Tips for Writing for the Christian Market

What Makes for Good Christian Writing? How to Find Christian Freelance Writing Jobs Christian Writer’s Market Guide: Do You Need It? Copywriting as a Job: What’s It Like?

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Words matter ... use them wisely!






Kathy with Nonprofit Copywriter
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