CENTRAL THOUGHT
Daily intimate fellowship with God is an assurance against defeat and failure.
HYMN: Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
TEXT: EXODUS 33:8-23; ISAIAH 6:1-12; DANIEL 6:4-23.
INTRODUCTION:
Every believer has a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Father. This personal relationship comes into effect at the new birth and is nurtured and developed through a sustained and effective personal devotional life-style.
Personal devotion is one of the Christian’s exercises that are so beneficial and needed but rarely practiced by many believers. Most of us are so pre-occupied with our struggle for survival in these hard days that we hardly include in our daily routines a time to be with God alone. But if we are to grow spiritually we must devote time each day where we must be alone with Him. We do this by reading, studying, and meditating on His word and spending also some reasonable time in prayers.
When we do this on a daily basis, we find that we will never be barren or unfruitful but live daily a victorious Christian life. Let us be quick to mention at this point that developing an effective personal devotional life-style requires much dedication and commitment. There are a number of distractions within and outside us that will want to frustrate an individual who plans to practice a regular quite time. Hence, we must persevere to ensure that no day passes without us spending time with God preferably in the quietness of our home.
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
- To know what is personal devotion.
- To know the importance of personal devotion in the life of a believer.
- To know what constitutes a personal devotion.
- To know how you can improve your personal devotion.
- To know the results of an effective personal devotional life-style.
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1.) WHAT IS PERSONAL DEVOTION?
Personal devotion is setting oneself apart in order to have a personal fellowship with God. This can be best achieved when we set a time each day to read, study and meditate on the word of God. It is also a time we set aside to pour our hearts to the Lord in worship, praise and prayers. It is a time we set apart to seek the Lord by ourselves. It is essential that every believer observe a quiet time each day for personal devotion. The time set aside should be at that person’s convenience; it could be day or night. It may not be fixed for a particular time of day or night, as some of our daily chores may not make this very convenient. However, one will counsel that where possible this should be a particular time each day.
Personal devotion was a way of life for the men and people of God of old. These men of God who had a mark on the sands of time not only believed in but practiced personal devotion on daily basis. Thus, they were able to say thus said the Lord with all assurance and certainty. Moses often will leave the people and go into the tabernacle to have a ‘table conference’ with the Lord. One of such occasions he was privileged to see the glory and the back parts of God, (Exo.33:8-23). On two occasions he spent 40 days alone with God where he received the Ten Commandments from Him.
Another Prophet of God who had personal devotion was Daniel. Daniel would go into his chambers with his windows opened and will pray and give thanks to the Lord three times a day. (Dan.6:10-11). This of course did not go well with accusers who had him thrown into the ‘lions’ den. But because he had been with God the lions had no power over him. David made a habit of seeking the Lord early in the morning (Ps.63:1). No wonder he was described as a man after God’s heart.
Joshua’s success would depend upon his meditating on the word of God day and night. Feeding on the word will enable him to become strong and of good courage. Isaiah during his time of meditation saw the Lord in His glory and splendor; this changed his whole life. (Isa.6:1-8). King Hezekiah when faced with imminent invasion and possible conquest by the Assyrians sought refuge in the presence of God and he did obtain help from God. Let us be quick to say here that personal devotion should not only be practiced when trouble looms but being in the presence of God was something Hezekiah was used to. Personal devotion should be a life-style of the believer.
Finally, though our Lord Jesus Christ is God, He still set apart times when He would commune with His Father. After a long day’s work He would go unto a mountain apart to pray, (Matt.14:23). If Christ needed a separate and exclusive time with God how much will mortals. Let us make a habit of setting time apart where and when we will be alone with God. Let us practice being lost in His presence and love.
QUESTION 2.) WHY IS PERSONAL DEVOTION IMPORTANT?
A good and well nourishing meal is never taken in a hurry or arbitrarily. We not only plan for it but also look towards it. If we have this attitude towards feeding our bodies, it is only proper if we devote similar and even more earnestness to the feeding of spiritual lives. Having personal devotion ensures that we have both quality and regular feeding of our souls with the food of the spirit.
Personal devotion is the time for renewing our faith and confidence in God. It is also a time when we are able to empty our hearts to Him in privacy. There are some issues we would only want to discuss with God and not want to share with another person even our spouses. Personal devotion enables us to be free in the presence of God, thus able to share our inner deep feeling with Him without the inhibition of another person hearing.
Another reason why personal devotion is important is that we are able to open and freely confess our sins before God and seek for His forgiveness. In personal devotion we are able to be particular and specific regarding particular faults. We can empty our store of secrecy of faults and weaknesses to God. We can say like the Psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.” (Ps.139:23). Thus, we allow God to minister to our hearts, spirit, and soul. The result of this ministration is that we are straightened for the work ahead of us.
We also find that God can only minister to us when we set apart some time of the day to be alone with Him. In doing this we acknowledge His role and involvement in our lives. Consequently, He can share with us His expectations and desires. At such time like quiet times. He can give us directives, instructions, encouragement. We also receive rebuke and correction from our Father during these times. It is like a car going to the filling station for refueling. How many of us wait until we are flat out before going for the refilling? Thus, a regular organized person ensures that we will never run out of fuel or gas. We will always be in His will, bringing glory and honor to Him.
God desires every believer to have meaningful fellowship with Him always. This can best be fulfilled and rewarding during personal devotion. It is at quiet time that we can be patient and serene enough for God to fellowship with us. We can talk to God and He can talk to us also as we listen to Him. Most of the time we want Him to do the listening and we do the talking.
QUESTION 3.) WHAT CONSTITUTES PERSONAL DEVOTION?
As we have said earlier on, personal devotion is that time we spend with God each day alone ministering to and receiving ministration from Him. However, for our quiet time to be meaningful and rewarding certain activities must be carried out. One of the ways God speaks to us is through His written word, THE BIBLE. Thus during our personal devotion we read, study and meditate on the Word. This is the mind of God for humanity. Hence one of the ways we can know the mind of God on any issue of life is by devoting real time to the Word. The Scripture teaches that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. Thus, life is in His word.
The word of God is sweet and to be desired than anything else, (Ps.119:103). We are what we know and not what we imagine or expect to be. The Psalmist says “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word”. (Ps 119:9). Jeremiah speaking of the relevance of God’s word said “Thy words were found and I did eat them; and thy words were onto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart…”( Jer.15:16) God expressly instructed Joshua not to allow the book of the law depart from his mouth but to meditate on it day and night. He will be guaranteed success if he does so. I do not want to believe that Joshua could have done this without having regular personal devotion, because he was very successful. Peter writing to believers encouraged them to desire the sincere milk of the world if they will grow in grace. In conclusion, we must give quality and ample time to the reading, studying, and meditating on the word of God so that we will live victorious Christian lives.
Another component of personal devotion is prayer. Not only must we spend time on God’s word we should spend time to pray. Prayer is the key to opening every door of life’s situations. In prayers we make known to God our hearts, Daniel says “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes…” (Dan.9:3). Paul encouraged believers in Eph.6:18, to “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”.
Furthermore in Phil.4:6, he says “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God”.
Our prayers during personal devotion should not only center on ourselves but also should include other areas such as church or fellowship needs and the need of others, (Gal.6:2). We are also encouraged to pray for our nation (2 Chron.7:14) and those that are in authority in whatever capacity, (1 Tim.2:1-3). A believer should be concerned about what is going on in the land that God has put him to dwell. Finally, our prayer should also include our family and personal needs. There is no restriction on what we can pray for during personal devotion.
During personal devotion we should spend good time to worship God for who He is. We should acknowledge His Lordship and greatness. In worship we give God high praise and adore Him for He is excellent, good, just, and holy. In worship we acknowledge all His qualities as GOD ALMIGHTY. Most of us are always in a hurry to present our shopping list without first hallowing His person and Name.
Finally during our personal devotion we should be patient to listen to God. We should allow God to speak to us personally. If He spoke to men of old, He is still willing and ready to speak and minister to us even today. This is the very desire of God’s heart to minister to us individually. This is only possible if we have daily personal devotion, which should include listening to God.
QUESTION 4.) SUGGEST WAYS ON HOW PERSONAL DEVOTION CAN BE IMPROVED UPON?
Just like in other areas of our lives we have to work at making our personal devotional life worthwhile. We must make deliberate effort to have quite time each day. Consequently, we must set a definite and convenient time of the day or night apart to observe it. This should be as our programs will permit and our personal preference. The Lord Jesus would rise up early a great while before day into a solitary place to pray, (Mark 1:35) and in the evening he would send His disciple away and depart into a mountain to pray, (Mark 6:46). At times He would go into a mountain to pray all night, (Luke 6:12). Your ‘mountain’ could be the closet of your bedroom or the church sanctuary. David will rise up early in the morning to praise the Lord and Daniel would pray three times a day. What is clear here is that there is a definite time set aside each day for communing with God.
We have emphasized the importance of God’s word in the life of the believer and that God’s words are contained in the Bible. Thus, we must possess a complete copy of the Holy Bible if possible in more than one version. Just having either the New Testament alone will not be sufficient if one is to have the whole counsel of God. The Bible must be studied systematically by studying a book at a time or reading a chapter each day or studying particular character or event in the Bible. It could also be a word study. The use of study helps like daily bread, daily power, etc. or the devotional guide accompanying each lesson is highly recommended.
Our daily personal devotion could be more beneficial if we really make it personal. The Lord Jesus would withdraw Himself into a solitary place away from even His disciples. Thus, we should seek a quiet place where one would not be distracted. In such a place we can focus on God. Remember that it is YOU and GOD alone. It is appreciated that in some cases our particular home settings may make this rather difficult. In such a case we can go outside of our home environment to the church, a nearby school, uncompleted building, under a tree, etc. It should be as quiet as possible without distractions.
We can also make our personal devotional time fruitful if we can spend each day with a definite purpose or desire. In other words we should have an aim and something to receive from God. We could keep a record of what we prayed for so that we can give thanks to God when the answer comes. In our quiet time we should be open, real, and sincere with God. Nothing can be so stupid as trying to hide anything from God. Remember He knows the very thoughts of our hearts.
Personal devotion is a serious business and should be taken seriously. Let us make it a part our lives.
QUESTION 5.) WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF AN EFFECTIVE PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL LIFE-STYLE?
An effective personal devotion will result in real spiritual growth and maturity. Just as our physical body grows when we are well fed so also, we grow spiritually when we are well fed in our spirits. When we become mature spiritually we are able to divide the word of truth. Consequently, we will not fall prey to deceitful teachings that abound everywhere today. We grow from being babies to feeding others.
A well-ordered and practiced personal devotion will also result in one having an unshakable and deep personal knowledge of God. Nothing is more stabilizing to the believer than his possession of an intimate knowledge of God.
Another benefit is that such a believer experiences daily victory. Because that person has been equipped and strengthened by God, he cannot be frightened by the devil. This type of daily victorious life-style enables us to be true and effective witnesses.
We will also be able to live a holy and righteous life. This is so as we feed our spirits each day and are kept conscious of the consequences of sin. Each day we receive a new cleansing and refilling at His throne as we confess and receive forgiveness of our sins. The result of this is a joyful, meaningful, and fruitful life-style. There is also abundant spiritual and material blessing for that individual who gives real time to God.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
In the midst of our busy schedule and time-demanding programs, we must make conscious effort to ensure that we maintain an intimate relationship with our Lord God on a daily basis.
While it is prepared to have personal devotion at a set time daily, we must practice being in His presence at any available free period of the day.
This will result in a wholesome and fulfilling Christian life-style, which should be the goal of every believer.
HAVE YOU SPENT AN INTIMATE TIME WITH YOUR FATHER TODAY?
MEMORY VERSE:
PSALM 91:1
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
Mon: MOSES WOULD ENTER THE TABERNACLE TO BE WITH GOD. Exo.33:8-23.
Tue: JOSHUA MUST READ AND MEDITATE ON THE BOOK OF THE LAW DAILY. Josh 1:1-10.
Wed: DAVID WOULD MEDITATE ALL DAY LONG. Ps.63:1-11.
Thu: ISAIAH SAW HIS GLORY. Isa.6:1-10.
Fri: DANIEL WILL ENTER HIS CHAMBERS AND PRAY THREE TIMES A DAY. Dan.6:10-23.
Sat: THE LORD WOULD RISE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING AND RECEDE TO THE MOUNTAIN IN THE EVENING. Matt.14:23; Mark 1:35-39; Luke 22:41.