Devotional

 

Is devotional time important for a Christian? Is it really something we should take time to do each day? The answer is, yes.

Psalms 42:1 paints a beautiful picture of how our spirits “pant” for God as a deer pants for streams of water. 

Not only does Jesus speak of the importance of time with the Father, but we see repeatedly in scripture Jesus going off to a place of quiet to be alone with God.

Perhaps before we ask if devotional time is important we should remember that God promised us, that if we seek him with all our heart and soul, we would find him. (Deuteronomy 4:29).

Jesus himself said in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”.

We are given a personal invitation to sit at the feet of God.

So why wouldn’t we?

There are a host of reasons I hear as people sheepishly admit to their lack of “God time” in their lives.

“I’m just so busy”, “I don’t know where to begin”, “I forget to”…..

Paul compares personal devotion time to preparing to compete for a prize and explains that it takes personal discipline to persevere (Corinthians 9)

When we fail to move our bodies they start to atrophy and lose health. When we fail to exercise our spiritual fitness, our spiritual fitness declines as well.

Then we often times feel that we are having trouble discerning Gods voice in our lives, or that we can’t hear God;  but the truth is that those spiritual muscles are weak.

Every time we try to “run the race” as Paul says….we wind up spraining our spiritual ankles.

We forget what we know to be true, and we forget how to listen to God. And what those two things do is open the door wide to doubt in our lives.

Doubt is like a weed that grows or a dark cloud that covers the light. Doubt brings hopelessness and despair.

God invites us to come to him boldly in prayer! (Hebrews 4:16)

We’re good at talking to each other about our troubles and needs….but have you told God?

When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray he taught them to address God as their Heavenly Father, which is a beautiful and reverent title. It’s also personal and loving.

Is devotional time important? Yes it is.

Be encouraged; simply taking the time to spend with God will strengthen your spiritual muscles, even if you don’t know what to say. Devotions are about growing closer to God and knowing him more.

Sometimes knowing someone more simply means sitting with them and listening.

-Pastor Patti