Personal Devotions
The first thing I would like to put under the Christian living section is some helpful ideas on how to get the most out of your personal devotions. This is important because personal devotions are vital to a good relationship with your Lord and Saviour.
Most of the notes come from a sermon our church’s youth pastor preached called The Habit of Devotions. Notes from his sermon are in black. Other ideas are mostly my own. They are the ones in read.
May this be a blessing and help to you.
The Habit of Devotions
Definition:
Devotions - time spent daily in the reading of God’s word and in prayer.
I. The Value of the Word
A. It’s actions
1. God’s word is like a fire - “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29)
2. God’s word is like honey - “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” (Psalm 19:10)
3. God’s word is like a sharp sword - “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
B. It’s reading (or rather, the reading of it)
The following verses point out God’s desire for His children to read His word:
1. It is important for leaders of a country to read God’s word. Deuteronomy 17:18-20, “And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.”
2. It is important for the citizens of a country to read God’s word or to have God’s word read to them. Exodus 24:7, “And he [Moses] took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.”
Nehemiah 8:3, “And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.”
3. It is important that God’s word be read in the churches. Colossians 4:16, “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.” See also I Thessalonians 5:27.
Jesus often confronted the Pharisees with, “Have ye not read?”
Paul reminded Timothy to be faithful reading God’s word. (See I Timothy 4:13)
Other places in Scripture also teach us that God’s word is good for imparting wisdom, giving strength and health, bringing comfort, keeping from sin, and providing spiritual nourishment. God’s word is also the source of truth. How can we reap these benefits from God’s word except by reading it or by having it read to us if we are unable to read.
II. The Value of Winning
A. Everything you need is found in God’s word.
Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Also, see Psalm 1:1-3
B. You will be judged by God’s word.
See Exodus 17:14; Deuteronomy 6:9; 17:18; 27:8; 31:19; Isaiah 30:8; Proverbs 3:3,4; 7:3; Habakkuk 2:2; II Corinthians 2:9
III. The Value of Working
A. God says that we should study His word. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15) “
B. Have a plan and work that plan. To fail to plan is to plan to fail.
Here are some practical helps
Get a "read through the Bible" plan or a study plan.
Here is an idea. If you are a moderate to good reader, you can read through the Bible in a year if you begin at Genesis and read 15 - 20 minutes a day.
Another good idea is to journal your devotions.
Below are some practical ideas on how to journal your devotions:
A. Get a ring binder notebook and make a chart or divide it into sections
B. Add other things to your chart besides Bible reading (and Bible study) and prayer. For example, write down problem areas on which you need to spend extra time - for example exercise, proper dietary habits, or other things. Record verses, Biblical principles, and victories for each area you write down.
C. Develop a prayer list
You can use plastic photo pockets for pictures of people to pray for or for missionary prayer cards. Put missionary newsletters or letters with special prayer requests or answers to prayer in the prayer section. Either punch holes in the letters or glue them on paper that has holes punched in it.
I think the ring binder notebook is a good idea. I have been in the habit of keeping three journals - one for prayer requests, one for answers to prayer, and the other for general praises (for example. - a special unexpected blessing, something I’m particularly thankful for that day or that moment - such as a beautiful cloud formation, a special letter, a rainbow, and so forth.) In the “Praises” journal I also often write down what the Lord taught me during my Bible reading/study that day.
Because I include my daily events reports in the same journal as my Praise journal, the Praise journal fills up faster than the other two journals. With the ring binder, the journaling could be divided into three sections. Paper could be added to an individual section as necessary.
If you have a nice Bible study program on your computer, you may wish to journal your devotions in a file on your computer. Lots of charts, layouts, and programs with calendars, and so forth, are available to help your studies be more organized.
At the very least a reading plan, a Strong’s Concordance, and good dictionary (especially an older one) are invaluable tools to help you get the most out of reading, studying God’s word, and communing with your Lord (praying).
If you learn something that really touches your heart, share it with another Christian to encourage that person.