ENRICHMENT AND GROWTH THROUGH PERSONAL DEVOTION

Psalm 1:1-3; Mark 1:35

Personal devotion is crucial to spiritual. While it is important to attend Church and have fellowship with other brethren steadfastly (Hebrews 10:25), this cannot take the place of personal fellowship with God (Joshua 1:8). Growing in grace and knowledge (II Peter 3:18) demands that you make personal effort to read the Word, meditate on it and pray its contents into your life. This is what you do during your Quiet Time, which is a period set aside to meditate on God’s Word and pray at a time when your mind is fresh. This practice enables you to feed your soul and receive divine strength for the Christian journey (I Kings 19:5-8). Just as babes and adults alike need food for survival and strength, so do young converts and adult believers alike need daily quiet time for survival, growth and fruitfulness.

PURPOSE OF PERSONAL DEVOTION

Personal devotion is a major element in spiritual development. It is the provision God has made for your renewal, growth in grace and daily infilling with the Spirit. The purpose of devotion is threefold. One, it creates time and environment for God to impress His holy Word on your heart (Exodus 34:1; II Corinthians 3:3). The Word of God is the food for the soul (Deuteronomy 8:3). As you receive His Word daily, your ways are cleansed (Psalm 119:9,11), you gather strength for daily spiritual journey (I Kings 19:5-8; Isaiah 40:30,31), and obtain illumination and guidance from the Lord (Proverbs 6:23). Two, it provides opportunity for God to reveal Himself to you in a personal, intimate way (Exodus 33:18; 34:5). This revelation deepens your conviction in the Lord, binds you more firmly to Him, and transforms your spiritual life (I John 1:1-3; John 20:11-16; II Corinthians 3:18). And three, it creates avenue for personal supplication, intercession, and devotional worship (Exodus 34:8,9; Daniel 6:10). At the time of personal devotion, you can bare your heart before the Lord and pour out your soul before Him on important matters. Devotional worship transports your heart to heaven, honours the Lord and brings deliverance down to men.

PILLARS OF PERSONAL DEVOTION

For your personal devotion to be fruitful, three pillars are important. One, you should ponder on the word of God, which is the main raw material for your growth. Two, you should pen down instructions, lessons and prayer points to make your prayer focused and for future reference. And three, you should pray yourself into God’s presence and pray the word of God into your life for growth and stability.

Pondering on the WORD (Genesis 24:63; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:3; Luke 2:19; I Timothy 4:15)

He who ponders or meditates on God’s word will enrich his spiritual life greatly; he will live deeply and talk deeply – like an oracle of God. Meditation is interaction with a subject so that it can change your life positively. Your meditation should be on the word of God, which reveals God – His Person, will, works, creation, wonders, etc. – to us in a new way. Select a few verses of the Bible, read them a few times over and think upon them deeply. Your heart should be calm and you should avoid every distraction. Moreover, you should ask practical questions to benefit from the Word of God.

Penning-down from the WORD (Exodus 34:1-3; Deuteronomy 6:6,8,9; Isaiah 30:8; James 1:22-25)

Write down the lessons you learnt, the commandments, warnings, encouragement, comfort, etc you received. Write down key prayer points. Write down key decisions. This is important for your prayer and also for easy reference. Be not a forgetful hearer!

Praying-in the WORD (Exodus 34:5-9; Numbers 14:17-20; Luke 24:32)

True meditation leads to rich prayer. It makes your heart to burn and gives you matter for scriptural prayer. Through prayer, you draw God’s power to make what you have learnt practicable. It enables you to deal with God in the light of the new revelation you received. The Word of God mixes with faith in your heart. You receive strength to carry God’s instructions out and overcome the downward pull of the flesh. Prayer is the crown upon your Quiet Time.

Personal devotion is a practical, enriching venture. Those who neglect it live defeated lives (Hosea 8:3); but those who choose this good thing will be commended by the Lord and they will grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 10:41,42; II Peter 3:18).