One morning as I was doing my devotions I was continually distracted by the view out my window. It was a tremendously beautiful Spring day in South Carolina. A clear blue sky accentuated the blooming trees and bushes. It just made me want to be outside where I could praise God and enjoy the wondertful things He had made.

I kept trying to get back to my devotions, believing that they would help me grow spiritually. I was reading in Ephesians, and I wondered what a Spring morning would look like there.The words seemed flat on the page as I longed to be outdoors enjoying God’s creation.

First I thought I would soon be able to be out enjoying God’s creation, but then the realization hit me that it was Sunday. I felt the disappointment in realizing that I had commitments at church that would last most of the day.

As a Christian you try to do your daily Bible study and devotions, and perhaps have a prayer time each day.

Does this sometimes seem boring? Or does it sometimes just seem to not be working? Maybe you have felt guilty about this, and tried to be more spiritual by trying harder to do the same things.

Maybe the problem is not a spiritual one, but is our own personalities. God has created us all differently. Often in religious circles we want to think that the same thing will work for every person, but this is just not true.

For instance, I love reading books on theology, and I realize that this is terribly boring to most people. Would it not be arrogant and prideful for me to say that others should read theology just because I relate to it? Some people like reading practical books that give simple instructions. I find these books not as interesting, but should I judge them? no.

Often in Christian circles we hear of formulas and ways to do Bible study, prayer and even worship. But we are all different, so it might be good then to find what works for you as an individual.

Some people love reading their Bibles, other people just dont like to read or have trouble reading. In such a case, a person might try getting tapes of scriptures and listening instead of reading. For thousands of years there were no bibles. The idea of everyone having their own personal copy of the Bible is a very new thing. Before the mid 1600's this was really not possible, and bibles have only been affordable to the masses for a couple hundred years. Even so, there were many strong Christians.

I am not advocating not reading your Bible, but I am saying that we should find out what works for us as individuals.

Try different things. Tapes might work. Or perhaps read differently. If you normally read a chapter or two, maybe switch to just reading a couple of verses and meditate on them. Try different translations. Try different times of day.

It is also good to read books by Christians. Some people try to sound spiritual by saying that they read only the Bible, but this is just pride. We can learn from each other, and reading good Christian books is a great way to learn new things about God and the Bible. We should all be able to benefit from the work of others.

As important as the scriptures are, we must remember that we worship God, and not the Bible itself.

The point is to find what works for you. This is also true in prayer and worship. Maybe you could have a good prayer time while walking. Try different things to see what works for you.

Find out what makes you feel closest to God and do those things with a worshipful attitude. As it is writen, We all have different gifts but the same Lord and same Spirit. This means different things will work for different people.

If you feel closest to God while reading your bible then read. If you feel closest to God while serving others, then serve. If you feel closest to God while walking in the woods, then walk. If you love to sing, then sing. Then let us accept each other and encourage each other as we seek the Lord in the way that works best for us as individuals.

There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Ephesians 4:4-7

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There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

I Corinthians 12:4-7

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Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

I I Corinthians 9:6-8