Devotions Aren't Magic...

Posted: May 4, 2010

There are many articles I've read concerning the importance of having a "set aside time" with God through prayer and His Word. This one is short, to the point, Biblical in its points, and extremely encouraging. I want to ask you to read it, apply it, and let the love for the Lord be the overwhelming wave that drives you to spend time with Him each and every day.

Enjoy!

PT

Devotions Aren't Magic

May 4, 2010  |  By: Jon Bloom  |  Category: Commentary

We know that—for the most part. But still, we can be tempted to think that if we just figure out the secret formula—the right mixture of Bible meditation and prayer—we will experience euphoric moments of rapturous communion with the Lord. And if that doesn’t happen, our formula must be wrong.

The danger of this misconception is that it can produce chronic disappointment and discouragement. Cynicism sets in and we give up because devotions don't seem to work for us.

The longing for intimate communion with God is God-given. He will satisfy it fully some day. And the Spirit gives us occasional tastes. But God has other purposes for us in our daily Bible meditation and prayer. Here are a few:

1. Soul Exercise (1 Corinthians 9:24, Romans 15:4): We exercise our bodies to increase strength, endurance, promote general health, and keep unnecessary weight off. Devotions are like exercise for our souls. They force our attention off of self-indulgent distractions and pursuits and on to God’s purposes and promises. If we neglect this exercise we will go to pot.
   
2. Soul Shaping (Romans 12:2): The body will generally take the shape of how we exercise it. Running shapes one way, weight training shapes another way. The same is true for the soul. It will conform to how we exercise (or don’t exercise) it.
   
3. Bible Copiousness (Psalm 119:11, Psalm 119:97, Proverbs 23:12): A thorough, repeated, soaking in the Bible over the course of years increases our body of biblical knowledge, providing fuel for the fire of worship and increasing our ability to draw from all parts of the Bible in applying God’s wisdom to life.
   
4. Fight Training (Ephesians 6:10-17): Marines undergo rigorous training in order to so ingrain their weapons knowledge that when suddenly faced with the chaos of combat they instinctively know what to do. Similarly, devotions make us more skilled warriors.
   
5. Delight Cultivation (Psalm 37:3-4, James 4:8, Psalm 130:5): When a couple falls in love there are hormonal fireworks. But in marriage they must cultivate delight in one another. It is the consistent, persistent, faithful, intentional, affectionate pursuit of one another during better and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and healthy times that cultivates a capacity for delight in each other far deeper and richer than the fireworks phase. Similarly, devotions are one of the ways we cultivate delight in God. Many days it may seem mundane. But we will be surprised at the cumulative power they have to deepen our love for and awareness of Him.

Who are we fighting against?

Posted: April 5, 2010

While meditating on Romans 12 this morning, verse 9 hit me like a ton of bricks.

Romans 12:9 starts out with a four word sentence that says, "Let love be genuine." 

I can handle that, I think. On the surface it seems to be something "doable" and not 

so difficult. However, when you throw flattery and loving someone for what you can 

get out of the situation and such... Then it gets more complicated. Ok, I need to be 

careful to recognize that I need help there... But that's not what really got me today.

It was the next part of verse 9, "Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

I had a note I had scribbled in at one time that asked the following question: 

"Do you rebel against God, or (Satan) evil?

I didn't write a date beside this one so I don't know when I wrote it, but it floored me

as I asked myself that simple question again today.

I realized, once more, that I am battling the Lord far too much, and far more often than

 I'm willing to publically announce.

I began to think through many of the times I've recently sinned and tried to define 

the reasons I sinned instead of glorifying God by being His obedient servant. 

I found no good reason for me (us) to rebel against God.

Too many to count were the times I've given into temptation and my flesh because I "wanted to". 

So, in other words, instead of wanting to please God, I wanted to please myself.

The ironic thing is that's how God designed us to be! We are made to follow what pleases

 us the most, so, whatever we get the most pleasure in, that's what we go for. If we receive 

the most pleasure from sin, we pursue it. If we receive the most pleasure from God, 

we pursue Him. However, as Lewis put it, "we are far too easily pleased." (meaning, 

too easily pleased by sin and earthly or temporary things).

Because of our flesh we tend to follow the flesh. We follow the LIE  that our flesh feeds us,

 and so in turn we feed our flesh because it's offering (temporary) pleasures and satisfaction; 

which ultimately end up destroying us.

However, if we are born again, Christians, followers of Jesus - our deepest desire 

and joy and comfort and peace and pleasure comes from honoring and pleasing and 

finding our ultimate satisfaction in God and God alone! But that's not so easy to live 

because many times we "buy the LIE" of the flesh instead of seeing it for what it truly is.

In order to live our lives finding God as our ultimate pleasure, we must fight the LIE that 

Satan and our flesh are offering us and wage war against them both! We must 

"Abhor what is evil; (&) hold fast to what is good." we must put Eph. 6:10-29 into action and live it!

So I ask you, as I ask myself today:

1. Do you rebel against God, or Satan?

2. Who do you fight against the most, God or Satan?

3. Do you hold fast and firm to what God says is good; if not, then why?

4. What do you (we) need to change in order to "fight the good fight 

of faith and finish the course" in a way that glorifies God and shows 

others that HE is our greatest peace and pleasure?

5. Now, find someone you can partner with that will help hold you 

accountable, be a Godly teammate with whom you can fight against Satan and your 

flesh, and who will help you love and hold fast to what God loves and 

desires you to do.

PT