Deeply thinking about Devotions

I was thinking about how I do devotions and I was questioning the epistemology of our devotions. Meaning, how do we know our devotion. What made me think like this was in James 22
"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves"
I don't want to merely just read God's word and pass by it, I wanted to transform me and and be affected by it. There days I wonder why did I read scripture. I always try to hide it by saying 'it OK, at least its good for you'. But if this is always happening I becoming 'spiritually fat' where I am not obedient or even allowing God to work his salvation in me. does it not say in Philip 2:12 to work our salvation with fear and trembling?
once in a while, it good to reflect deeply about our love for Christ, it questions our motives and desire to see weather it is right with God. You can't do this alone so therefore God gave the holy Spirit and on top of that he gave the church, people supporting each other.
I am not perfect, I am far from it but the only reason I do what I do as a Christian is because of new life Christ brought me in. I still suffer the affects of fallen sinful world but I anticipate what Christ is doing in broken world, in my life and others. it's funny that God chose to reveal himself in the mist of brokenness and pain; example, the cross.
This year, yea I want to focus more on God and be move by him. Therefore for I want allow my devotion and reading to affect my daily life. grasping what God is doing and being attentive to his spirit.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you....(dare you read on)
Colo 3:1-5vv