Live One Day In Devotion

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God." Psalm 42:1

You may ask yourself, why is it important for Christians to participate in regular devotions? I have found, when we are committed to the pursuit of something and want to be steadfast and faithful to it, we must be devoted to it. The most important thing we have to be devoted to is our relationship with God.

Maybe you need to start living your live "Devoted to God" or maybe you are tying to encourage others in your circle to start. Either way this discipline is useful.

While This is a challenge to live just "one day" I will encourage you to try and carry these principles through the week.

In the act of “doing” or “having” devotions, we come into God’s presence as we read and meditate on the Word of God. Jesus, by His example, shows us the importance of regular quiet time with God. Throughout the gospels, Jesus often goes off to a quiet place to be alone with God. Personal devotions help us grow in spiritual maturity.

What Does Devotion To God Look Like?

Over the years, my devotional time has looked different. Even though I have tried many different avenues for having this quiet time with God, the habit remains. In my twenties, I discovered the habit of reading a daily devotion became an anchor for my soul. This brief pause in my day to soak in God’s Word and commune with God became sacred. This was the start of my love for a written devotion.

Go To Bed - Seems simple enough, part of our relationship with God is getting the rest we need to have a good and beautiful day with Him. So try to go to bed before 10PM and try to get 6-8 hours of sleep.

Start The Day Right- When you wake up try to "fix your eyes" on God, maybe this means prayer...maybe this means reading...maybe its worship music to start the day. The main thing is start your day focused on Him.

Set Aside Daily Time- Simply put DEDICATED DEVOTIONAL TIME WITH GOD. for me this means early before the kids wake up.. for you? who knows but you.

Pray Throughout The Day- Don't just limit yourself to praying before meals, pray as you drive...as you get ready for a meeting... with your kids

Read Throughout The Day- Do you bring your bible with you where you go? The blessing of the modern age is it is right at our fingertips! I personally prefer the paper stuff but you can say that you cant get to your bible... you just haven't tried to read through the day instead of social media!

Examine Yourself Before Bed- Sit back and ask yourself .... did I lean in and live with God today? did I walk like Jesus walked? do I feel closer to Him than I did yesterday?

I have identified five benefits to having a regular quiet time with God:

5 Benefits of having a regular devotion time.

1. Getting to know God better. God created us to be in a relationship with Him. What better way to get to know God than by spending time with Him daily? A devotional is a great way to spend devoted time with Him. Like any relationship, our relationship with God requires time and effort.

2. Learning the Word of God better. The Bible is a long and complex book, and a devotion is one way to learn the Bible in small chunks. I encourage you to participate in more in-depth Bible Studies as well. But using your devotion as a daily discipline will be one way you can be sure to be in the Word regularly.

3. Finding ways to apply God’s Word in your life. Daily devotions help us learn the truth. As we learn more and more about God’s truths, we gain wisdom that applies to all areas of our lives. My favorite book of the Bible for finding ways to apply Scripture to my day is Proverbs. I find such practical advice in this book.

4. A way to incorporate many other spiritual disciplines in your life. This year, I will continue the series of devotions on the Spiritual Disciplines. Your devotion time will include many of them, such as prayer, worship, and Bible study.

5. Finding peace. Whether you start your day with a devotion time, end your day it, or fit it into the middle somewhere, you will find the daily discipline of having a devotional time anchors your heart to God and brings a realm of peace to cover you.

How to start living a devoted life.

1. Stay encouraged/connected – practice the disciplines we put out each week. Once a week, you will receive a devotion to help you strengthen your relationship with God.

2. Become part of the deeper community at CCLC- join a small group... help with a ministry... come to an extra event other than Sunday morning. The list goes on and on, but simply dont just check in and check out

   
   

Heavenly Father, I am excited to be committing part of each day to spend with you! As a deer pants for the water, so my soul pants for you. Guide me to useful resources and help make this a consistent habit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.