Behind the scenes – LCA Daily Devotions

Every morning, LCA Daily Devotions appear in the inboxes of subscribers and on LCANZ Facebook and Instagram feeds across the church. From humble beginnings, LCA Daily Devotions have now been delivered more than 6.2 million times.

While the devotions arrive quietly each morning, they are the result of the faithful work of dozens of people across our church. Let’s take a look behind the scenes.

Until 2019, previously published devotions were sent to subscribers to the service. Then, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, a church member suggested that daily devotions could be written specifically to help people cope with the isolation of lockdowns, restrictions on public worship, and the stresses and fears associated with the pandemic.

The suggestion was taken up, and a new style of Daily Devotions was born. Subscriptions to the service skyrocketed during the COVID period and continue to grow six years later, although at a slower pace.

Today, there are more than 2,500 subscribers to the Daily Devotions. This number does not include people who read the devotions on their social media feeds, on the LCA website or in printed format (a service taken up by some congregations for their members).

Many subscribers speak warmly about the impact the devotions have on their daily lives and faith. One reader wrote that the reflections are ‘very important and highly valued, sometimes by the most unlikely people’, while another shared appreciation for a series of devotions that ‘came at a difficult time for our congregation’ and reminded them of ‘Christ’s bountiful love’.

The devotions are also being shared more widely in local ministry settings. One subscriber explained that they download and enlarge the weekly printable versions to distribute to residents at a residential care home.

The meditations and reflections, based on the lectionary reading for each day of the church year, are written by lay and ordained people from across the LCANZ. Each writer is given seven texts (one week) on which to write. It takes a lot of time sitting with texts that you did not choose – some of them quite obscure – and then capturing what you believe the Holy Spirit wants to say to your readers.

You can see who has written devotions in the past at www.lca.org.au/devotions and keep them in your prayers. To these people, we extend a huge thank you. You point us to Jesus, day after day, and bring encouragement to many people.

But it’s not only we readers who receive; many writers tell us that the praying, pondering, wrestling and writing bring them blessings as well.

One contributor said they had been ‘a little overwhelmed by text messages and emails’ received in response to their devotions, describing the experience as ‘both humbling and affirming’.

After the writer emails the devotions to the LCANZ office, they are reviewed for theological clarity, linked to the relevant text on Bible Gateway’s website, and edited for grammatical correctness and readability. Then they are uploaded to the LCA website and scheduled for distribution via the LCANZ’s eNews service or social media platforms.

So, when you see the familiar blue Bible pop up on your phone or computer, think about the prayers and personal touches that have gone before it to bring it to you.

If you’re not already receiving Daily Devotions in your inbox, today is a good day to start a wonderful habit that’s guaranteed to bring blessings. Click here to sign up.

LCA Communications produces a week of devotions in advance in ready-to-print format for congregations to deliver to their members. You will find each week’s set to download on Friday mornings at www.lca.org.au/devotions

Or, to receive an email reminder when the sets are ready each week, simply ask us at lca.comms@lca.org.au

You can also promote LCA Daily Devotions in your church community by sharing the bulletins and announcements resources you’ll find at www.lca.org.au/bulletins-and-announcements/daily-devotion